The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is committed to helping individuals, families, and communities prevent crime. NCPC focuses its efforts on teaching crime prevention strategies, engaging local communities, and partnering with law enforcement and other government agencies to enhance public safety. NCPC is perhaps best known as the organization responsible for McGruff the Crime Dog, whose purpose, as stated on the NCPC website, includes empowering people to help themselves and others to prevent crime, while also being respectful of police and community officials, teachers, parents, youth, senior citizens, businesses, and community organizations.

This entry examines the founding and history of the NCPC, focusing in particular on McGruff as a symbol for the organization over the past 30 years. The ...