NCJ Number
37320
Date Published
1975
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ARGUES THAT CRIMINOLOGISTS SHOULD SUPPLEMENT THEIR INTEREST IN 'SOCIAL' CRIME PREVENTION BY OFFERING MORE SUPPORT TO 'PHYSICAL' PREVENTION AND THE AVAILABILITY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIME.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY LACK OF SURVEILLANCE OR PHYSICAL SECURITY (AS OPPOSED TO THOSE PRESENTED BY THE ABUNDANCE OF STEALABLE PROPERTY OR BY PEOPLE'S PATTERNS OF ACTIVITY) ARE THOSE WHICH CRIMINOLOGISTS COULD MOST USEFULLY EXAMINE IN RELATION TO CRIME PREVENTION PRACTICES. THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, HOWEVER, THAT ANY EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OPPORTUNITY PLAYS IN CRIME MUST DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER MEASURES WHICH PHYSICALLY RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFENDING LEAD TO THE REDUCTION OF CRIME OR SIMPLY TO A 'DISPLACEMENT' OF IT ELSEWHERE. THE EMPIRICAL STUDIES REPORTED EXAMINE TWO FORMS OF OFFENDING TERMS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE. THE FIRST LOOKS AT THE EFFECT ON PATTERNS OF CAR STEALING OF THE FITTING OF STEERING COLUMN LOCKS TO ALL NEW CARS. IT SHOWS ON THE ONE HAND, THAT CARS PROTECTED BY SUCH LOCKS HAVE A REDUCED CHANCE OF BEING DRIVEN AWAY ILLEGALLY; BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT THEIR INCREASED SECURITY HAS IN ALL PROBABILITY RESULTED IN OLDER VEHICLES BEING STOLEN. THE SECOND STUDY EXAMINES HOW SUPERVISION OF PASSENGERS BY THE DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS OF BUSES AFFECTS THE EXTENT AND LOCATION OF BUS VANDALISM AND CONFIRMS THAT MORE DAMAGE IS COMMITTED IN THOSE PARTS OF THE BUS NOT EASILY SUPERVISED BY THE CREW. BOTH THESE STUDIES HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR CRIME PREVENTION WHICH ARE DRAWN OUT IN THE DISCUSSION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)