NCJ Number
67343
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE POSSIBILITIES OF CRIME PREVENTION, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PREVENTION, PREVENTIVE METHODS, AND FOCAL IMPROVEMENT AREAS FOR POLICE PREVENTION IN WEST GERMANY ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
OF THE 2.7 MILLION OFFENSES REPORTED IN WEST GERMANY IN 1974, AT LEAST 2 MILLION ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PREVENTIVE EFFORTS. PREVENTION NOT ONLY LIMITED POLICE MEASURES BUT IS A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL EFFORT REMEDYING SHORTCOMINGS IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH CARE, FAMILY RELATIONS, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE. FOR INSTANCE, THE QUICK APPREHENSION AND PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS FUNCTIONS AS SPECIFIC AND AS GENERAL PREVENTION BY DETERRING INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS FROM RISKING FURTHER OFFENSES AND BY DEMONSTRATING THE CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME TO THE PUBLIC. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN IN WEST GERMAN CITIES THAT AN EFFECTIVE CRIME REPRESSION SYSTEM ALSO HAS PREVENTIVE EFFECTS. THE POSSIBLE TARGETS OF CRIME PREVENTION INCLUDE PERSONS (THROUGH EDUCATION, AN IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT, OR INFLUENCE ON POTENTIAL OFFENDERS OR VICTIMS) AS WELL AS OBJECTS (THROUGH GUARDS AND ELECTRONIC PROTECTION EQUIPMENT). IN BOTH ASPECTS, THE PREVENTIVE PROGRAM OF THE BAVARIAN CRIMINAL POLICE, WHICH ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC VIA THE MASS MEDIA, HAS BEEN HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. IMPROVEMENTS IN POLICE PREVENTIVE EFFORTS WHICH DO NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE LARGE FUNDS LIE IN (1) THE BETTER DEPLOYMENT OF AVAILABLE FORCES, (2) A UNIFIED WEST GERMAN POLICE COUNSELING SYSTEM, (3) A MORE PURPOSEFUL USE OF CRIME STATISTICS, AND (4) THE OVERCOMING OF PUBLIC RELUCTANCE TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE POLICE. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)