NCJ Number
60169
Date Published
1975
Length
35 pages
Annotation
TRADITIONAL AND NEW APPROACHES TO CRIME PREVENTION ARE ANALYZED AND EVALUATED WITH EMPHASIS ON CANADIAN TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
TRADITIONALLY, PREVENTIVE EFFORTS EMPHASIZED INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT (PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL THERAPY), SOCIAL REFORMS (COMMUNITY PROJECTS BRINGING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES), AND INCREASED POLICE PATROLS; ALL OF THESE MEASURES WERE WELL-MEANT, BUT USUALLY INEFFECTIVE. RECENTLY, THE FOCUS OF CRIME PREVENTION HAS SHIFTED TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH LEGAL REFORMS, ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIVE MEASURES. A PROVOCATIVE PROPOSAL FOR A CANADIAN LEGAL REFORM FAVORS THE LEAST POSSIBLE JUDICIAL INTERFERENCE (ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF VICTIMLESS OR PETTY CRIME) THROUGH THE FOLLOWING DIVERSION PROGRAMS: (1) CRIME CONTROL THROUGH COMMUNITY GROUPS INDEPENDENT OF COURTS OR POLICE, (2) POLICE REFERENCE OF REPORTED OFFENSES TO THE OFFENDER'S FAMILY OR COMMUNITY, (3) AMICABLE SETTLEMENTS BEFORE THE TRIAL, AND (4) ALTERNATIVE PUNISHMENTS (E.G. RESTITUTION, FINES). ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF 'DEFENSIBLE SPACE' (OSCAR NEWMAN) SUGGESTING ARCHITECTURAL MEANS FOR INCITING CITIZENS TO GREATER WATCHFULNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS IS ENVISAGED FOR NEW HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH, CONSTRUCTED IN CENTRAL LOCATIONS, WOULD MAINTAIN VERY CLOSE TIES TO SCHOOLS, EMPLOYERS, AND UNIVERSITIES. IN ADDITION, 156 CANADIAN 'COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL CENTERS' (EACH LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 50 INMATES) ARE READY TO HOUSE 5,700 CONVICTS. A TESTING OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE MEASURES WOULD, HOWEVER, REQUIRE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY; UNFORTUNATELY THE CANADIAN PUBLIC MAY NOT YET BE READY TO OPT FOR THIS KIND OF PREVENTION. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION AND SEVERAL STATISTICAL CHARTS --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)