NCJ Number
209850
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 389-405
Date Published
April 2005
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the history of and recent developments in crime prevention and safety policies in Finland.
Abstract
Modern crime prevention formally began in Finland in 1989 with the founding of the National Council for Crime Prevention (NCCP). The NCCP developed a national crime prevention program in the late 1990s that was adopted by the Finnish Government in 1999. The program was based on the “Nordic model” that uses a national coordinating and steering body to provide funds and advice to local crime prevention committees and projects. Generally, the Nordic model of crime prevention emphasizes a balance between social and situational crime prevention initiatives and stresses a strong affiliation with organizations outside of the traditional justice system. Following a review of crime prevention projects in Finland, the authors question whether the politicization of crime policy issues has led to a one-sided approach to crime prevention in Finland. It is suggested that the Nordic model may need to be supplemented with other models of crime control, such as early intervention approaches, social crime prevention approaches, and multidisciplinary approaches involving the various organizations with a stake in community crime prevention. Notes, references