NCJ Number
212224
Journal
International Criminal Justice Review Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: May 2005 Pages: 58-74
Date Published
May 2005
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This paper explores the links between criminological knowledge and crime prevention with reference to Popper’s social philosophy; that government interest in social science would not necessarily bring about rational improvements.
Abstract
Within international policy, crime prevention has emerged as a significant theme. Within this theme, it has been suggested the possibility exists of internationalizing crime prevention strategies from a common base of criminological knowledge. Two models of knowledge management are identified: the evidence-based model and the reflexive model. The evidence-based model derives from medicine and the reflexive model from financial markets, both finding their way to crime prevention. This paper explores the links between criminological knowledge and crime prevention with reference to Karl Popper’s social philosophy. The paper begins by explaining the two models of knowledge management and their implications for crime prevention and then offers a deeper look at central themes in Popper’s outlook which states that government interest in social science would not necessarily bring about rational improvements. Lastly, the paper brings Popper to the discussion about internationalizing crime prevention. Popper emphasizes the social situation as an important concept in social theory and advocates social tinkering as the means of making reforms after the model of Viennese progressivism. Overall, Popper’s social philosophy contributes to discussions concerning the internationalization of crime prevention in many ways. References