NCJ Number
196752
Journal
Crime Prevention and Community Safety: An International Journal Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 49-59
Editor(s)
Rob Mawby
Date Published
2002
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article provides a critical appraisal of the trend to create an evaluated body of knowledge that delineates best practice in crime prevention.
Abstract
The trend, begun in the 1990's, to establish policy-related research to identify what works in crime prevention, and a body of knowledge concerning best-practice principles, and to develop best-practice models is critiqued in this article. Section one attempts to situate what-works research within crime prevention, discussing why it has gained prominence and currency. The second section provides a critical appraisal of the trend to specify what works in the context of crime prevention's wider political and symbolic significance. The third section canvasses the issue of replication. In conclusion, it is noted that all what-works programs should be more extensive than the current technicist agenda being used, and a primary goal should be to focus on the programmatic useability of what-works research in relation to duplication and, also, on testing processes by which best-practices lessons can be brought into the mainstream and utilized most effectively.