NCJ Number
35542
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 284-296
Date Published
1976
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS AND RELATED DEFINITIONAL ISSUES OF CRIME PREVENTION, OUTLINES A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR CRIME PREVENTION, AND SPECIFIES DIRECTIONS FOR CRIME PREVENTION THEORIES AND PROGRAMS.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT CRIME PREVENTION IS THE PROFESSED MISSION OF EVERY AGENCY FOUND WITHIN THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN PRACTICE, THE TERM PREVENTION SEEMS TO BE APPLIED CONFUSINGLY TO A WIDE ARRAY OF CONTRADICTORY ACTIVITIES. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THIS CONFUSION CAN BE AVOIDED THROUGH THE USE OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL THAT DEFINES THREE LEVELS OF PREVENTION: (1) PRIMARY PREVENTION, DIRECTED AT MODIFICATION OF CRIMINOGENIC CONDITIONS IN THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AT LARGE; (2) SECONDARY PREVENTION, DIRECTED AT EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS IN CRIMINOGENIC CIRCUMSTANCES; AND (3) TERTIARY PREVENTION, DIRECTED AT PREVENTION OF RECIDIVISM. THE AUTHORS MAINTAIN THAT THE USE OF SUCH A CONCEPTUAL MODEL HELPS TO CLARIFY CURRENT CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS, SUGGESTS FRUITFUL DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH BY IDENTIFYING CURRENT LACUNAE IN PRACTICE AND IN THE RESEARCH LITERATURE, AND MAY ULTIMATELY PROVE HELPFUL IN ADDRESSING THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS DEBATE BETWEEN ADVOCATES OF PUNISHMENT AND ADVOCATES OF TREATMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)