All worksheets / Crime Prevention
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Crime Prevention
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Crime Prevention teaches how laws protect communities and how individuals, families, and neighborhoods work together to prevent crime. You will study why people commit crimes, conduct a physical security survey of a home or facility, teach personal protection using the EDGE method, examine retail loss prevention and online scams, and interview a law enforcement officer or civil servant.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Home Security & Risk Assessment
- Community Policing & Neighborhood Watch
- Cybercrime Prevention & Identity Theft
- Law Enforcement Careers & Crime Analysis
13Printable Pages
11Requirements
2025Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Crime Prevention Requirements
Every requirement for the Crime Prevention merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Laws and Society
Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a Why we have criminal laws
- b The types of crimes, including property crimes, crimes against people, white collar crime, and environmental crime
- c Why people commit crimes
- d Why everyone should follow the law even when no one is watching
- e The meaning of crime prevention
2Groups Working to Prevent Crime
Research how the following groups contribute to crime prevention and share your findings with your counselor:
- a Citizens, including youth
- b Schools
- c Neighborhood, social and civic groups, including youth groups
- d Private security
- e Law enforcement agencies
- f Courts
- g Corrections and rehabilitation programs
3Crime in Your Community, State, and Nation
Do the following:
- a With your parent or guardian's permission and the approval of your counselor, research local, state, or national news coverage of three crimes of different types. Research how common these types of crimes are in your state or in the United States.
- b Record notes on which law enforcement agencies and courts were involved in the pursuit of justice for the victims and the accused person, why you think these crimes were committed, and what could be done to prevent similar crimes. Review your research with your counselor.
4Home and Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Do the following:
- a Discuss the following with your counselor:
- b Conduct a security survey of a home, a neighborhood, a park, or a camp building with adult supervision and following youth protection guidelines using a security checklist in the Crime Prevention merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor.
- c Use information from your survey for requirement 4(b) and the EDGE method to develop a lesson about how a family or Scouts can protect themselves from crime. Review your teaching plan with your counselor, then present your lesson to your family or to Scouts.
5Retail Crime Prevention
Research the following topics and review them with your counselor:
- a The impact of shoplifting and employee theft (also known as shrinkage) and loss prevention on retail finances, customer service, and reputation
- b Techniques used by retail stores to prevent shoplifting
6Reporting Crime
Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a When and how to report a crime or an impending crime
- b The warning signs for child abuse and domestic violence and how to report these situations
- c The three R's of personal safety and protection and how to apply them
- d How reporting a crime can help law enforcement provide resources for crime victim
7Peers and Crime
Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a The role that peers play in crime, crime prevention, and experiencing crime
- b How to resist peer influence
- c Bullying and hazing behaviors and signs that a friend may be bullying you or someone else
- d The impact of gangs on communities
8Substance Use and Crime
Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a The legal and health consequences of using alcohol, tobacco and vaping products, illegal drugs, and diverted prescription drugs
- b How substance use contributes to violence and property crime and increases a person's risk of becoming a victim of crime
- c How drug abuse awareness, prevention, and recovery programs help prevent crime
- d How to get help if you or someone you know needs help with drugs or alcohol
9Online Crime and You
Discuss the following with your counselor:
- a How to avoid being the victim of online crimes
- b Common online financial scams
- c Effective online security
- d Identity theft and how to prevent it
- e How criminals use social media to target victims
- f How bullying, texting, and sharing photos can become crimes
10Interview
With your parent or guardian's permission and your counselor's approval, interview a law enforcement officer or a civil servant about their work in crime prevention. Learn about how they chose this career and about their duties. Discuss what you learned with your counselor.
11Careers
Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in the field of crime prevention. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Crime Prevention requirements in 2025. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/crime-prevention/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Spotted a discrepancy on this sheet? Tell us and we will re-check it against the official requirements.
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