Offers guidance to the refugee and law enforcement communities in working together, with an emphasis on building partnerships. Community service officers, crime-prevention organizations, local neighborhood associations, mediators, teachers, school- and community-based organizations, state refugee coordinators, and others working with refugees get practical tips on the process of bringing culturally diverse groups together. In particular, they get basic information about: (1) techniques for fostering mutual trust, creating a multicultural coalition, setting priorities, securing funding, managing conflicts, and working with the media and schools; (2) refugees’ backgrounds and experiences, formal and informal access to refugee communities, and forms of community outreach; (3) effective ways to work with young refugees, address hate- or bias-motivated crimes, and promote personal safety; (4) key program goals, including both reducing crime and lessening fear of crime as well as improving the quality of life for refugees moving into the community; and (5) program best practices. The guide also offers, for the benefit of new arrivals, an overview of the U.S. criminal justice system and tips on how refugees can help law enforcement officers protect them. In this way, bridges are built that not only link communities, but facilitate two-way communication and understanding. This resource can be used as a model for building bridges between other systems, including child welfare, and refugee communities. Child and youth-specific sections include ‘Working With Schools’ (pages 24-25) and ‘Working With Young Refugees’ (pages 37-38).
