The intensified interest in crime prevention was fueled primarily by: (4)
- problem solving
- fear of crime
- Wilson and Kelling’s (1982) treatise on “broken windows”
- a realization that the police could not control crime without the assistance of community
This thesis declared that if the police concentrated on disorder and minor crimes, it would have an impact on more serious crime in a neighborhood,
Wilson and Kellings “broken windows” thesis
There are three theories that can help to explain the workings of crime prevention programming. They are: (3)
- social disorganization theory
- rational choice theory
- routine activities theory
Which Theory?
Impoverished groups would move intothe area and, over time, they were able to improve their socioeconomic status and move to more affluent areas, usually middle-class neighborhoods. However, they would be replaced by new, lower socio-economically bound individuals.
Social Disorganization Theory
Bursik and Grasmick identified three levels of social control:
- private
- parochial
- public
Which Theory?
It is claimed that there is a calculus, or decision-making process, that people perform when deciding to commit crime.
Rational Choice Theory
Basically, Routine Activities Theory posits that a crime consists of three elements
- a motivated criminal
- a target or object of a crime
- the absence of quardianship
Lindon has identified general types of crime prevention: What are they? (5)
- social development programs
- situational prvention
- community crime prevention
- legislative/administrative programs
- police programs
These programs attempt to reduce the number of motivated offenders in society. They focus on the conditions that contribute to crime.
Social Developement Programs
Situational Crime Prevention is defined as opportunity-reducing tactics that have the following elements: (3)
- are directed at highly specific forms of crime
- involve management,design or manipulation of the immediate enviroment in as systemic and permanent way as possible
- make crime more difficult and risky, or less rewarding and excusable as judged by a wide range of offenders
Essentially, there are two primary modes of situatioinal crime prevention:
- Crime Prevention through enviromental design (CPTED)
2. Criminal behavioral change
This refers to when building and public areas are constructed in such a fashion as to deter criminals
Crime Prevention through Enviromental Change (CPTED)
This term refers to when measures are taken to make it more difficult to commit a crime,
Targeting Hardening
These locations are more frequently targeted for robbery: (2)
- Convenient Store and
2. Gasoline Service Stations
This refers to the efforts to entice people to be more observant in their physicla enviroments. It can consist of physical changes or it can consist of programs that encourage people to observe their neighborhood more closely.
Natural surveillance
Lighting can be a strong deterrent. Painter and Farrinton (1997) conducted an experiment, and found that additional lighting resulted in a _______ percent decrease in crime incidents in the area.
41%
Most efforts in community crime prevention have centered on:
- neighborhood watches
- community anti-drug programs
- public media campaigns
Garofalo and McLeod (1989) identified two primary expectations for neighborhood watches:
- First, it is meant to reduce crime, both directly, through the “observe and report” function, and indirectly, by being a vehicle for the encouragement of other prevention practices.
- Second, there is a more general hope that NW (neighborhood watches) will kindle a sense of community among residents by giving them a common purpose, and by getting them to talk to each other and watch out for each other.
This information is the most common type of public education.
Media Reporting of Crime
What percentage of TV programming is crime related?
25%
This is the best-known crime-prevention media campaign:
The “Taking a Bite our of Crime”
In regards to Crime Stoppers, Rosenbaum found that most of the tips received by the police came from: (2)
- Other criminals attempting to eliminate a competitor or even an old score
or - “fringe-players” who hung around or associated with the criminals whom they reported
This occurs when police executives too frequently attempt to implant everything that is available:
The Shotgun Approach
Legislative and administrative changes can provide new tools to law enforcement tofight old problems. Today, many departments use these to counter prostitution and drug problems.
- building and nuisnance code enforcement
2. public health regulations
