NCJ Number
78539
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1981) Pages: 41-49
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Intended to stimulate new ideas for prevention efforts in North America, this article reports the observations of a study tour of Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland regarding crime prevention programs and their evaluation.
Abstract
It was found that the systematic study of the programmatic effectiveness and efficiency of crime and delinquency prevention is unknown to European practitioners and researchers. However, descriptive material was obtained on a variety of operational programs in these countries whose strategies may be of value in the North American context. The types of prevention programs found include family casework aimed at improving the socialization and living conditions of delinquent and predelinquent children and the organization of socially accepted leisure activities as an alternative to delinquent behavior. Additional European preventive efforts are being pursued by community organizations, crisis intervention centers offering immediate assistance to young persons in existential crisis situations, and preventive police activities. Information is also dispersed to potential victims on ways of protecting themselves against crime. Among the programs described is a preexperimental Belgian evaluation of a family counseling service, which was found to be successful in preventing the institutionalization of children as well as being financially viable. Leisure time activities are illustrated by Parisian year-round prevention clubs offering sports, excursions, and paid employment in the clubs' workshops as well as by police-run vacation camps for French youths. Some Belgian community organizations were found to have encountered conflict with local authorities, while a public information program in West Germany boasted a very wide coverage for their primary crime prevention TV spots and press circulation. Most European crisis prevention centers are run by private organizations and rely heavily on volunteer work with support from public funds. Fifteen references are provided.