Chapter 2 – Crime Prevention

Publisher Summary Crime prevention is an idea that has been around for as long as there has been crime. While the form has changed and the term “crime prevention” is relatively new, the concern over safety is age-old. Crime prevention can take a variety of forms. This chapter presents a discussion on crime prevention throughout history, the definition of crime prevention, and the general crime prevention model. The chapter also encompasses diverse prevention methods ranging from physical design of homes and communities, to neighborhood watch, educating the public, unique interventions, the prevention of drug abuse, and deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. Crime prevention is not limited to the work of the criminal justice system. Instead, it relies on the knowledge and abilities of a very diverse set of individuals and groups who work to apply scientific principles to the understanding and prevention of crime. Beyond just presenting a discussion of different prevention approaches, this book attempts to provide insight to the effectiveness of each approach. Evaluating prevention initiatives, however, is not without its own set of problems, which have been discussed in the chapter.