NCJ Number
67329
Date Published
1976
Length
22 pages
Annotation
WHILE THERE ARE BASIC CRIMINOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN CRIME PREVENTION SOME POLICE CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN.
Abstract
DESPITE ITS HIGH ESTEEM AMONG INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS, CRIME PREVENTION STILL FACES NUMEROUS SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH HAS SO FAR NOT YIELDED THE TYPE OF FUNDAMENTAL AND RELIABLE RESULTS ON WHICH A THEORY CAN BE BASED. PRIOR TO A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTIVE THEORY, SUCH BASIC QUESTIONS AS (1) WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS CRIMINAL? AND (2) WHY DO HUMAN BEINGS ADHERE TO NORMS AT ALL? NEED TO BE ANSWERED. WIDESPREAD MISCONCEPTIONS AND PREJUDICES (E.G., THE FAITH IN CRIME DETERRENCE, THE OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF THE CAUSAL CONNECTIONS OF OFFENSES, AND AN OVERDEPENDENCE ON THEORETICAL CONCEPTS) ALSO HINDER SOBER AND SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. THE POLICE, HOWEVER, MUST TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTION DESPITE GAPS IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH. CERTAIN PREVENTIVE METHODS COULD SERVE AS PREVENTIVE STEPS: CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS, POLICE PRESENCE (TO A LIMITED EXTENT), A CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY, A RATIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE PRESENTATION OF THE CRIME PROBLEM TO THE POPULATION, MORE DECISIVE ACTION IN THE GREY ZONE BETWEEN CRIMINAL AND LEGITIMATE ACTIVITY (GUN LEGISLATION, SPECIAL COURTS FOR SMALL OFFENSES), AND PREVENTION THROUGH REPRESSION. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES A DETAILED BIBLIOGRAPHY. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)