NCJ Number
43158
Date Published
1975
Length
229 pages
Annotation
THE ROLES OF HOME, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIAL AGENCIES IN PREVENTING CRIME AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POLICE AND COURTS IN PREVENTING FUTURE CRIME ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
RISING CRIME RATES IN ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY POINT TO A GREATER NEED FOR PREVENTION WORK. VARIOUS THEORIES ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME ARE SUMMARIZED: ALL CALL THE ROLE OF THE HOME VITAL. IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN OF POLICE AND SOCIAL AGENCIES TO EDUCATE PARENTS ON THE NEED FOR CONTROL AND DESCIPLINE IN THE HOME. SCHOOLS ARE CRITICIZED FOR NOT EXERTING ENOUGH LEADERSHIP IN INFLUENCING CHILDREN TOWARD LAW-ABIDING STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR AND FOR NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE BUSY. THE ROLE OF COUNSELING AGENCIES IN PREVENTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY STRENGTHENING HOMES AND FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT IS EXPLORED. POLICE NEED TO BE TRAINED IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION, BOTH TO KEEP FAMILY DISPUTES FROM GROWING INTO MORE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND ALSO TO ENHANCE THE IMAGE OF THE POLICE IN THE EYES OF THE COMMUNITY. POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME ARE ESSENTIAL. ONCE A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, THE COURTS ENTER THE PICTURE. ONLY IF JUSTICE IS SEEN AS SWIFT, CONSISTENT, AND FAIR WILL FURTHER CRIME BE DETERRED. PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS CAN DETER FURTHER CRIME; PERSONS WORKING IN SUCH AREAS ALSO CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE ADVICE TO THOSE ATTEMPTING TO PREVENT CRIME AMONG NOT-YET-OFFENDERS. GREATER COMMITMENT TO CRIME PREVENTION ON THE PART OF ALL INVOLVED IS ESSENTIAL.