CRIME PREVENTION APPROACHES

Crime Prevention Approaches

Crime Prevention Approaches

Introduction

By definition the word prevention means, measures and actions set forth in advance in order to avoid or prevent this dangerous phenomenon to reduce its effects on the population. This coupled with the legal definition of the word crime is needed as a behavior, action or omission typical (typified by the law), unlawful (unlawful), guilty and punishable. In fractional conduct involves criminal law, i.e. an act or omission typed and punishable by law. Therefore, "Crime Prevention" is nothing more to take action and take action to avoid any conduct or behavior that may harm or make the subject population or victims of a crime.

Discussion

Crime prevention actions are not restricted to the efforts of the criminal justice system. They include activities by individuals and groups, both public and private. Just as there are many causes of crime, there are many potentially valuable approaches to crime prevention. This paper examines crime prevention from a very broad perspective. Included here is a discussion of the crime prevention and major crime prevention approaches, as well as insight into the compare and contrast of prevention activities.

The Crime Prevention Approaches

Crime prevention encompasses a wide range of actions and activities, all geared toward reducing crime and/or the fear of crime. One way to organize the many approaches is to look at models of crime prevention. Three areas of prevention appear in this model— primary, secondary, and tertiary—and each attacks the problem at different stages of development. The types of crime prevention approaches subsumed here included environmental design, Neighborhood Watch, general deterrence, private security, and education about crime and crime prevention used by the law enforcement, courts and correction agencies (Smith, 2005).

Comparison and Contrast

Environmental design includes a wide range of crime prevention techniques aimed at making crime more difficult for the offender, surveillance easier for residents, and feelings of safety more widespread. The use of building plans conducive to visibility, the addition of lights and locks, and the marking of property for ease of identification fall within the realm of environmental design. Neighborhood watches and citizen patrols increase the ability of residents to exert control over their neighborhood and add risk of observation for potential offenders.

The Physical Environment and Crime

One of the more well-known approaches in primary prevention entails modifying the physical environment. Changing the physical design of a home, business, or neighborhood has the potential of effecting crime in a variety of ways. It is also possible to change the design of different items. Such changes may make it more difficult to carry out a crime. This difficulty can result in lower payoff in relationship to the effort. Another potential impact is that the risk of being seen and caught while committing an offense may be enhanced. Finally, the physical design changes may prompt local residents to alter their behavior in ways that make crime more difficult to commit. Efforts to alter the physical design to impact crime are generally referred to as crime prevention through environmental design ...