NCJ Number
220823
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 13 Issue: 3-4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 327-356
Date Published
2007
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This article briefly reviews the violence prevention policies of seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States and their convergence towards evidence-based decisionmaking regarding policies and programs to prevent violence.
Abstract
In obtaining comparable information about all seven countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States), policies can be easily contrasted and trends observed. By conducting this review, the many similarities among countries as they proceed towards an evidence-based decisionmaking orientation is established. A review of these similarities include: (1) no single, coordinated policy to fight crime or violence; (2) increase punitiveness; (3) evidence-based science and policy; (4) common programs; (5) more experimental studies are needed; (6) criteria of success; (7) the influence of crises; (8) organizational problems; and (9) the impact of elected politicians. This paper provides a brief review of the situation in all seven countries. While all seven countries are moving towards evidence-based decisionmaking regarding policies and programs to prevent violence, there remain a number of difficulties before this end can be achieved. The recent establishment of the Campbell Collaboration, formed to provide international systematic reviews of program effectiveness, will make these results more available and accessible to politicians and those charged with making key policy decisions. Appendix and references