NCJ Number
187299
Editor(s)
Brandon C. Welsh,
David P. Farrington,
Lawrence W. Sherman
Date Published
2001
Length
304 pages
Annotation
This book reports on and assesses the current state of knowledge on the monetary costs and benefits of crime prevention programs.
Abstract
This book originated from a 2-day meeting and workshop on the costs and benefits of preventing crime, held at the University of Maryland at College Park in March 1999. The conference brought together leading researchers in the fields of crime prevention, experimental criminology, welfare economics, and operations research to discuss the state of knowledge on the benefit-cost analysis of crime prevention programs and to identify priorities for future research and policy development. The book has 10 chapters, which are divided into four categories: methods and perspectives of economic analysis, economic analysis findings, international policy perspectives on the economics of preventing crime, and future directions for research and policy development. Chapters 1 and 2 address methodological perspectives in performing economic analyses of crime prevention programs. The next three chapters provide up-to-date information on the independent and comparative economic efficiency from benefit-cost analyses of programs that span a broad range of crime prevention strategies, including developmental (e.g., early childhood and family); situational (e.g., reducing opportunities for crime); and correctional intervention (e.g., rehabilitation in community and institutional settings and with juveniles and adults). Three chapters then discuss international policy perspectives on the economics of preventing crime. Two of the chapters report on current policy developments regarding economic analysis of crime prevention in the United Kingdom and Australia. The third chapter discusses the recent evolution of governmental crime prevention strategies in Western countries and the increasing importance of an evidence-based and efficiency-based model, aiming to put in place programs with demonstrated effectiveness and economic efficiency. The concluding two chapters report on future directions for research and policy development in the economic analysis of crime prevention programs. 25 tables, 12 figures, chapter references, and a subject index