Status of Knowledge in the United States (From Politiques de Prevention de la Delinquance. A l'Aune de la Recherche, P 226-243, 1991, Philippe Robert, ed. See NCJ-137844)

• NCJ Number: 137859
• Author(s): W Skogan
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Editions L'Harmattan
• Publication Type: Presentation
• Language: French
• Country: France

Annotation

This article summarizes preventive policy and research in the United States.

Abstract

American drug policy has focused both on reducing demand (through primary prevention and rehabilitation) and on reducing the supply through police action. While preventive approaches via demand have successfully reduced drug abuse, research shows massive police intervention to be a disruptive and potentially explosive tool. Community-based preventive efforts include information campaigns, neighborhood surveillance groups, and organizations providing leisure activities to juveniles. Though some individual evaluations tell of striking successes, reliable research has not shown a convincing preventive impact of these efforts. Systematic analyses of press coverage and TV programs indicate that the media present a false image of both the nature of crime and of police success, but the media have also been used successfully as part of crime prevention programs. In recidivism, research showing the importance of the environment into which ex-convicts are released have sparked numerous programs for preventing recidivism in the localities. However, more detailed research is needed to show that these programs are truly effective.