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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC SYSTEMS APPROACH IN PREVENTIVE CRIME CONTROL

NCJ Number
68526
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 53-65
Author(s)
R VADER
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
TYPICAL CRIME PROBLEMS AND POLICE REACTIONS ARE DISCUSSED; SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION MODELS.
Abstract
STATISTICS INDICATE THAT CRIME RATES IN GENERAL AND THEFT RATES IN PARTICULAR ARE RISING. THE REACTION OF THE POLICE IS TYPICALLY REPRESSIVE AND DIRECTED AT INDIVIDUAL CASES. FURTHERMORE, THE PENALTY EFFECTIVENESS IS BEING QUESTIONED. CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIR GOALS (E.G., DO THEY AFFECT THE OFFENDER, THE VICTIM, OR THE SITUATION?); THE TIME POINT AT WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED (BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THE OFFENSE); AND THE LEVEL ON WHICH THEY ARE APPLIED (INDIVIDUAL CASES OR TOTAL STRUCTURES). WHEN A PARTICULAR CRIME PREVENTION MODEL IS USED, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MODEL IN ACHIEVING PARTICULAR GOALS MUST BE CONSIDERED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE SIDE-EFFECTS. POLICE CRIME CONTROL MEASURES SHOULD IMPROVE CITIZEN OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE SECURITY BY REDUCING INDIVIDUAL VICTIMIZATION POTENTIAL AND GENERAL CRIME VOLUME, AND BY CREATING A REALISTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEAR OF CRIME AND THE ACTUAL THREAT. POLICE MUST ALSO ATTEMPT TO BETTER THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH POLICE COUNSELING AND CRIME-REPORTING CAMPAIGNS. A CRIME CONTROL STRATEGY SHOULD BEGIN WITH DIAGNOSIS OF CRIME TYPES, THEIR EXTENT AND CHARACTERISTICS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING PUBLIC INSECURITY, CRIME COMMISSION. PLANNING SHOULD SET FORTH GOALS, CONSIDER COST ESTIMATES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AND PROVIDE FOR EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. A TABLE IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN.