Situational Crime Prevention (From Building a Safer Society: Strategic Approaches to Crime Prevention, Volume 19, P 91-150, 1995, Michael Tonry and David P Farrington, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 159617
• Author(s): R V Clarke
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 60 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Great Britain Home Office
• Sale Source: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Situational crime prevention seeks to reduce opportunities for specific crime categories by increasing associated risks and difficulties and reducing rewards.

Abstract

Situational crime prevention has three main elements: articulated theoretical framework, standard methodology for tackling specific crime problems, and opportunity-reducing techniques. The theoretical framework is informed by various opportunity theories, including routine activity and rational choice perspectives. The standard methodology is a version of the action research paradigm in which researchers work with practitioners to analyze and define problems, identify and try out possible solutions, and evaluate and disseminate results. Opportunity-reducing techniques range from simple target hardening to more sophisticated methods of deflecting offenders and minimizing inducements. Crime displacement has not proven to be the serious problem once thought, and there is now increasing recognition that situational crime prevention measures may result in some "diffusion of benefits" to crimes not directly targeted. Although slow to gain acceptance in some academic and government circles, the theoretical and empirical basis of situational crime prevention has been strengthened by recent criminological research. 203 references, 2 tables, and 2 figures