NCJ Number
209853
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 447-462
Date Published
April 2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes current trends in American crime prevention.
Abstract
The prevention of crime has finally become part of the mainstream discourse on crime response in the United States. Despite its acceptance into public policy, there remain many uncertainties regarding the form, function, and emphasis of justice-related crime prevention programs. While prevention efforts of the past focused primarily on surveillance and incapacitation, over the past 10 years more progressive forms of crime prevention began to surface in American public policy. The author argues that the current conservative political climate, along with the fear of terrorism and declining economic standing, has resulted in a renewed focus on surveillance and incapacitation as the primary modes of crime prevention. The current trends dominating American discourse on crime prevention fall under the categories of information integration, prevention technologies, law enforcement partnerships, and targeted interventions. While an impressive amount of research literature has underscored the importance of developing evidence-based crime prevention programming, policymakers continue to feel pressure to return to the days of deterrence and punishment as the primary modes of controlling crime in America. The next 10 years in American crime prevention will prove interesting especially given the fact that the current decline in the national crime rate will likely reverse itself in the coming years. Note, references