Showing papers in "Crime and Justice in 1995"
TL;DR: Situational prevention seeks to reduce opportunities for specific categories of crime by increasing the associated risks and difficulties and reducing the rewards as discussed by the authors, which is composed of three main elements: an articulated theoretical framework, a standard methodology for tackling specific crime problems, and a set of opportunity-reducing techniques.
Abstract: Situational prevention seeks to reduce opportunities for specific categories of crime by increasing the associated risks and difficulties and reducing the rewards. It is composed of three main elements: an articulated theoretical framework, a standard methodology for tackling specific crime problems, and a set of opportunity-reducing techniques. The theoretical framework is informed by a variety of "opportunity" theories, including the routine activity and rational choice perspectives. The standard methodology is a version of the action research paradigm in which researchers work with practitioners to analyze and define the problem, to identify and try out possible solutions, and to evaluate and disseminate the results. The opportunity-reducing techniques range from simple target hardening to more sophisticated methods of deflecting offenders and reducing inducements. Displacement of crime has not proved to be the serious problem once thought, and there is now increasing recognition that situational measu...
934 citations
TL;DR: Early childhood interventions with socially disruptive behavior, cognitive deficits, or parenting as an outcome generally have positive effects as discussed by the authors, and positive results are more likely when interventions are aimed at more than one risk factor, last for a relatively long period of time, and are implemented before adolescence.
Abstract: Prevention experiments with children have targeted the development of antisocial behavior and confirm the hypothesis that early childhood factors are important precursors of delinquent behavior and that a cumulative effect model best fits the data. Experiments have aimed to prevent criminal behavior or one of three important delinquency risk factors: socially disruptive behavior, cognitive deficits, and poor parenting. Experiments with juvenile delinquency as an outcome demonstrate that positive results are more likely when interventions are aimed at more than one risk factor, last for a relatively long period of time, and are implemented before adolescence. Experiments featuring early childhood interventions with socially disruptive behavior, cognitive deficits, or parenting as an outcome generally have positive effects. The majority of studies, small-scale confirmation or replication experiments, need to be followed by large-scale field experiments that test the efficacy and cost of implementation in re...
208 citations
TL;DR: Efforts to reduce risk and enhance protective factors in multiple domains hold promise for effective substance abuse prevention among high-risk populations.
Abstract: Although the prevalence of drug use among high school students and household members has been declining in recent years, high rates of substance use among arrestees, homeless individuals, and school dropouts, and an increasing trend in the number of drug-related hospital emergency room incidents, suggest that substance abuse among some populations has not declined. Prospective longitudinal studies have identified a number of risk factors that consistently predict greater likelihood of substance abuse. Individuals experiencing multiple risk factors and few protective influences during infancy, childhood, and early adolescence are at greatest risk for abusing substances during late adolescence and early adulthood. Efforts to reduce risk and enhance protective factors in multiple domains hold promise for effective substance abuse prevention among high-risk populations.
202 citations
TL;DR: Community crime prevention refers to actions intended to change the social conditions that are believed to sustain crime in residential communities as mentioned in this paper, which can be best understood as a succession of policy paradigms emerging as responses to changing urban conditions: community organizing; tenant involvement; resource mobilization; community defense (both intentional organizing and environmental modification); preserving order; and protecting the vulnerable.
Abstract: Community crime prevention refers to actions intended to change the social conditions that are believed to sustain crime in residential communities. Different approaches have evolved, which can be best understood as a succession of policy paradigms emerging as responses to changing urban conditions: community organizing; tenant involvement; resource mobilization; community defense (both intentional organizing and environmental modification); preserving order; and protecting the vulnerable. Prevention in high-crime areas presents particular difficulties for community approaches. Community approaches have foundered mostly because of insufficient understanding of the nature of social relations within residential areas and of how community crime careers are shaped by the wider urban market.
197 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, quick response alarms, loaned to high-risk targets on a temporary basis, are proposed as a possible way forward for efficient crime prevention and offender detection in high-crime areas and in the period shortly after a crime.
Abstract: Revictimization or repeat victimization of people and places represent a large proportion of all victimization. Preventing revictimization may prevent a large proportion of all offenses. Repeat crimes are disproportionately likely in high-crime areas and in the period shortly after a crime-suggesting that efficient crime prevention might be achieved through rapid, transitory responses to victimization. The extent of revictimization is typically underestimated. Knowledge of revictimization patterns may provide bases for more effective prevention of domestic violence, burglary, car crimes, and other offenses. Quick response alarms, loaned to "high-risk" targets on a temporary basis, are one possible way forward for efficient crime prevention and offender detection.
132 citations
TL;DR: The problem facing modern governments, however, is that the principal tools used to advance public safety-enactment and enforcement of criminal laws and punishment of offenders-are increasingly understood to have modest effects on rates or patterns of serious crime as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: No one wants themselves or their loved ones to be victimized by crime or to live in fear. Most theories of the state make public safety a core responsibility of government. The problem facing modern governments, however, is that the principal tools used to advance public safety-enactment and enforcement of criminal laws and punishment of offenders-are increasingly understood to have modest effects on rates or patterns of serious crime. As a result, a number of Western governments, including those in France, England, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have established specialized agencies to develop, test, and evaluate crime preventive initiatives using other than law enforcement tools.
120 citations
TL;DR: Most evaluations of crime prevention are carried out with little regard for methodological probity as discussed by the authors, and the standard designs are the before-after comparison group and the interrupted time series, and the critical questions are whether a program has an effect (and if not, whether because of theory failure, implementation failure, or measurement failure), the extent of any effect achieved and the means by which it was achieved.
Abstract: Most evaluations of crime prevention are carried out with little regard for methodological probity. Of work that aspires to methodological adequacy, the standard designs are the before-after comparison group and the interrupted time series. The critical questions are whether a program has an effect (and if not, whether because of theory failure, implementation failure, or measurement failure), the extent of any effect achieved, and the means by which it was achieved. The reduction of crime is a measure of outcomes, but others are often used. Clarity is necessary in the use of noncrime measures. Too often, evaluators settle for the "consolation prizes" of reductions in fear and incivilities. Distinct evaluative requirements attach to different types of prevention. Improvements in standard methodology and innovation by nonstandard approaches are needed. The "scientific realist" tradition eschews conventional one-shot quasi experimentation in favor of repeated manipulations leading to the cataloging of possible mechanisms and consistency of outcome pattern with presumed mechanisms. Different actors (practitioners, evaluators, administrators) have different objectives and interests; evaluators must take account of those differences. Language: en
89 citations
TL;DR: The public health perspective on interpersonal violence complements that of criminal justice by focusing on violence as a threat to community health, not only as an obstacle to community order, but also on victims and offenders as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The public health perspective on interpersonal violence complements that of criminal justice by focusing on violence as a threat to community health, not only as a threat to community order; on victims, not only on offenders; and on violence between intimates, not only on violence among strangers. The public health perspective views violence as emerging from a complex causal system, not only offenders' intentions, motivations, and characters. Favored interventions take place at the level of primary prevention-the prevention of harms before they occur. This complements criminal justice efforts, which mostly take place at secondary and tertiary levels, when the risk of violence has been identified or when violence has already occurred. The public health approach brings a new platform for observation and intervention, additional resources for developing and using data, and a new constituency. It reminds us we cannot rely only on concepts of justice to achieve change among those involved in violent offenses.
56 citations
TL;DR: Situational crime prevention is increasingly proving its worth in crime control, but crime rates in many countries continue to rise as discussed by the authors, and existing small-scale, but effective, measures should be more wid...
Abstract: Situational crime prevention is increasingly proving its worth in crime control, but crime rates in many countries continue to rise. Existing small-scale, but effective, measures should be more wid...
51 citations
TL;DR: The prevalence of crime in the retail sector is higher than for residents, and multiple victimization is common as discussed by the authors, and there are documented and cost-effective examples of prevention against all the major crime risks; the most useful approach to implementing these will require development and dissemination of crime audit methods and good practice in crime prevention.
Abstract: The prevalence of crime in the retail sector is higher than for residents, and multiple victimization is common. Shops and stores have major exposure to external crime such as theft, burglary, robbery and threats, and violence to staff. Internal crime, such as fraud and theft by employees, is less of a problem. The location, siting, and design of a store significantly affects its crime risk, as does the type of neighborhood in which it is situated. Expenditure on security measures is high, but evaluated and published accounts of crime-prevention experiments are rare. Nonetheless, there are documented and cost-effective examples of prevention against all the major crime risks; the most useful approach to implementing these will require development and dissemination of crime audit methods and good practice in crime prevention. Cooperative methods of crime prevention in local areas, involving changes in security management within companies, and participation of public agencies, are likely also to be required.
48 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied the patterns and causes of city-center crime and disorder and developed focused strategies of policing and surveillance to prevent crime in the city center, which is basically a question of influencing routine activities generating temptations and friction.
Abstract: Prevention of crime and disorder in the city center is a neglected research topic. Few evaluations have been conducted of city-center street-crime prevention measures or programs. However, strategic insights for preventing crime and disorder in public in the city center can be gleaned from research into the patterns and causes of city-center crime and disorder. City centers are largely nonresidential areas where strangers from different social backgrounds mix in public space. City-center legal activities such as shopping and entertainment attract both conventional people and criminals, but they also create temptations and friction between people. Preventing crime in the city center is basically a question of influencing routine activities generating temptations and friction and of developing focused strategies of policing and surveillance.