Crime Prevention: The North American Experience (From Geography of Crime, P 331-360, 1989, David J Evans and David T Herbert, eds. -- See NCJ-124763)

• NCJ Number: 124778
• Author(s): P L Brantingham
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 30 pages
• Sale Source: Routledge
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This analysis of crime prevention activities in Canada and the United States notes that the main activities currently consist of standardized programs involving community social programs, police surveillance, and target hardening and of programs that are highly specific to particular social and geographic environments.

Abstract

Crime prevention has long been stated as the main goal of the North American criminal justice system and has been variously conceptualized in terms of techniques, targets, and the criminal processes of decisionmaking, searching, and action. Interventions have included laws, efforts to improve socioeconomic conditions, education, neighborhood watch programs, changes in architectural design, and target hardening. The theoretical and applied research showing that standardized programs are unlikely to prevent crime is underscoring the need for further research on criminal choices and decisionmaking and for new prevention approaches that reflect this research. 88 references.