NCJ Number
81272
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The article evaluates the success of delinquency prevention programs in the United States and Canada and describes crime prevention efforts in Europe.
Abstract
Prevention measures are classified as primary (changes in the physical or social environment to reduce criminogenic effects); secondary (treatment of individuals at risk through social intervention); and tertiary prevention (treatment of offenders to forestall recidivism). Most of the programs in Canada and the United States are secondary and tertiary -designed to remove social and psychological causes of crime by concentrating on the offender's personality. These programs of behavior modification are difficult to assess and appear to have met with little success. In comparison, some more technical primary programs such as Operation Identification (labeling valuables), home and business security surveys, and improved street lighting have been very successful. In general, much effort is exerted in North America on evaluative assessment of program effects. In Europe, there is little sense of the need for evaluation. Noteworthy programs are in the form of family assistance to prevent socialization deficits, organization of socially acceptable leisure activities, formation of community work groups to deal with local problems, crisis intervention centers for juveniles, self-help information for potential victims of crime, and police prevention measures. Among the latter are prohibitions against parking unlocked cars and minimum standards for security systems in financial institutions, which appear to have lessened auto theft and bank holdups. Footnotes and tabular information are supplied.