NCJ Number
54528
Date Published
1976
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE CONTRIBUTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE PREVENTION OF CRIME WAS EXAMINED IN THE NETHERLANDS AND POSSIBLE MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN IN PREVENTION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN CRIMINOLOGICAL LITERATURE LITTLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO BIG CRIME PREVENTION AND TO THE SITUATIONAL ASPECTS THAT FACILITATE THE REALIZATION OF A CRIME. HOWEVER, LARGE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BANKS ALREADY USE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY FROM BIG CRIME. TECHNOLOGY COULD ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE GROWING OCCURRENCE OF SMALL CRIMES THAT HAVE A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF SOLVED CASES. CERTAIN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES SUCH AS LOCKS ON THE STEERING MECHANISM OF CARS, AND THE INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS IN SUPERMARKETS HAVE ALREADY PROVEN EFFECTIVE. OTHER POSSIBLE MEASURES SUCH AS ZIPPERS IN BACKPOCKETS, BARLOCKS ON BICYCLES AND ELECTRONICALLY DETECTABLE PRICE TAGS COULD HAVE AN EQUALLY POSITIVE EFFECT. TO DETECT TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS RED-LIGHT CAMERAS AND ELECTRONIC SPEEDREADING DEVICES COULD BE USED MORE EXTENSIVELY. IN ORDER TO TAKE THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE ACTION, THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE CRIME IS COMMITTED HAVE TO BE KNOWN. THESE SO-CALLED 'RISK-ANALYSES,' ALREADY CONDUCTED BY LARGE COMPANIES, SHOULD BE APPLIED TO CRIMES THAT VICTIMIZE THE PRIVATE CITIZEN. RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS THAT WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE U.S. AND GERMANY, SHOULD BE STIMULATED IN THE NETHERLANDS. THE BUREAU FOR APPLIED BASIC SCIENCES (TNO) COULD TEST THE QUALITY OF NEW PROTECTIVE DEVICES. INITIATIVES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO EDUCATE AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES TO PROTECT THEM FROM CRIME. TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES DO NOT SEEM TO INCREASE UNSAFE FEELINGS AND COULD HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE POTENTIAL CRIMINAL AS WELL AS ON THE VICTIM. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN DUTCH. (WVK)