NCJ Number
67328
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
WEST GERMAN POLICE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS, THEIR DEFECTS, AND SUITABLE AREAS FOR CRIME PREVENTION ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL POLICE HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES RESEARCH ON CRIME CAUSES, CAUSE REMOVAL, AND SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC MEASURES. THE WEST GERMAN SECURITY PROGRAM OF 1972 ALLOCATES CONSIDERABLE FUNDS FOR LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMATIC PREVENTIVE EFFORTS BASED ON EXISTING RESEARCH RESULTS AND USING PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES. IN SPITE OF THE AMBITIOUS PLANNING AND PROMISING LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS, THE PRESENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM REMAINS INSUFFICIENT DUE TO THE LACK OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN POLICE, SOCIAL WORKERS, JUDICIAL EXPERTS, AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY MAKERS; AND DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF A UNIFORM AND INTERDISCIPLINARY WEST GERMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM EXPLORING CRIME PREVENTION. THE FOREMOST TASK OF SUCH A PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING CRIME PREVENTION AND ITS IMPACT (E.G., THROUGH EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS, PUBLIC ATTITUDE EXPLORATIONS, AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE GROUPS AT WHICH CRIME PREVENTION IS AIMED). THE ROLE OF REPRESSIVE MEASURES IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE RESEARCHED ALTHOUGH PRACTICAL POLICE EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT NO SINGLE CATEGORICAL ANSWER EXISTS SINCE THE EFFECTIVENESS VARIES FROM OFFENDER TO OFFENDER. THE MOST PROMISING AREA FOR CRIME PREVENTION LIES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND HERE POLICE OFFICERS MUST GO BEYOND MERE LAW ENFORCEMENT TOWARDS GAINING JUVENILES' CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT. A SYSTEMATIC AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF CRIME VICTIMS WILL ANSWER MANY STILL UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS SUCH AS THE PREDOMINANT TYPES OF CRIME VICTIMS, THE RELATION BETWEEN A PROFIT-SEEKING SOCIETY AND CRIME, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE MODERN ANONYMOUS ENVIRONMENT ON CRIME. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)