Deck 19: Crime Prevention

Question 1

Give an example of why the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime says that crime prevention as a social policy objective remains marginalized in most countries, being subsumed by larger public safety and community building objectives.

Answer 1

Responses could include: the emphasis in Europe on the reduction of racial discrimination and the integration of immigrants and minority ethnic groups; demobilising and integrating those who have participated in armed conflicts (Africa and Latin America); politically driven crime prevention funding in Australia.

Question 2

What are some of the issues that need to be considered when designing a developmental prevention program for a family?

Answer 2

Responses could include:
-Risk factors for the family
-Personal resources available to the family (e.g.family and social connections, socio-economic status, skills and education)
-Willingness to participate
-Past experience with services
-What services/supports are available that could be of benefit

Question 3

Is deterrence effective in reducing crime? Discuss.

Answer 3

Responses should include:
• Deterrence refers to fear of punishment
• Increasing the severity of the punishment does not appear to decrease crime, however, increasing the certainty of punishment does
• Of course, if an offender does not believe they will be caught, they are not going to be concerned about the severity of punishment
• Deterrence does not appear to have an impact on recidivism
• Policing strategies like crackdowns and blitzes in crime hot spots have been shown to work. Because they cannot be predicted by offenders, they lead to a high level of uncertainty about being apprehended. Random breath testing is an example of this policing approach.

Question 4

What are some of the issues that need to be considered when designing a developmental prevention program for a family?

Question 5

Situational crime prevention strategies seek to change the environments in which crimes occur.

Question 6

Compare and contrast situational crime prevention and community crime prevention.Use examples to support your discussion.

Question 7

Case study 19.4 'Fight at the 'Armageddon' nightclub' shows elements of which crime prevention approach?

A)Situational
B)Criminal justice
C)Developmental
D)Community

Question 8

Provide an outline of action research methodology.

Question 9

What are risk factors for crime? Give examples of risk factors with your response.

Question 10

What action can local councils take to influence crime rates in their area?

Question 11

Refer to Case study 19.1 'Jack's story'.Identify the risk factors for Jack.

Question 12

What is situational crime prevention? Provide examples with your response.

Question 13

What is 'criminal justice prevention'?

Question 14

What does 'community prevention' refer to? Is it effective in reducing crime?

Question 15

Identify some of the criticisms of community prevention programs.