NCJ Number
65129
Journal
South African Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 183-191
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS SOUTH AFRICAN REPORT STATES THAT ENGLAND IS MAKING SPECIFIC, ORGANIZED, AND SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF CRIME.
Abstract
DISCUSSION COVERS BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CRIME PREVENTION, INCLUDING PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT CRIME IN ENGLAND. PRIVATELY OPERATED, BUT LARGELY STATE-FUNDED, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE CARE AND RESETTLEMENT OF OFFENDERS (NACRO) COORDINATES THE WORK OF AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS IN PREVENTING CRIME AND REHABILITATING OFFENDERS. NACRO'S PROGRAMS CONSISTS OF THREE BASIC ELEMENTS: EDUCATION, THE IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY CARE FACILITIES, AND THE ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME (GENERAL PREVENTION AND REFORM). THE EDUCATION PROGRAM PUBLICIZES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADVERSE ENVIRONMENT AND CRIME AND SPONSORS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON ASPECTS OF CRIME PREVENTION INVOLVING RELEVANT DISCIPLINES. NACRO ALSO DIVERTS INDIVIDUALS WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS AWAY FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO AN AGENCY GEARED TO MEET THOSE PROBLEMS. ONE SUCH EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT IS THE HAMMERSMITH TEENAGE PROJECT--AN EXPERIMENT IN FINDING NEW METHODS TO DEAL WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENCY THAT ARE NOT PURELY PUNITIVE AND CUSTODIAL. AN OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION, THE HOME OFFICE RESEARCH UNIT, PROVIDES BRITAIN'S HOME OFFICE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE OF RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SCIENCE--ESPECIALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PENAL TREATMENT. FIFTY PROFESSIONALS CONDUCT RESEARCH MAINLY ON DELINQUENCY AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. THE UNIT ALSO ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, PARTICULAR CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH AIMED AT FORMULATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY. EFFORTS OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE (NEW SCOTLAND YARD) IN CRIME PREVENTION INCLUDE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND OPERATION OF THE JUVENILE BUREAU (AIMED AT DIVERTING JUVENILES FROM THE ADULT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO THE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS). INCREASED EFFORTS AIMED AT REDUCING RACIAL TENSION AND IN IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNDERTAKEN. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE THE CRIME PREVENTION UNITS OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE AND THE HOME OFFICE'S CRIME PREVENTION PANELS. (MJW)