RECENT CHANGES IN THE CONCEPT OF PREVENTION

• NCJ Number: 9927
• Author(s): P P LEJINS
• Date Published: 1965
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. REPRINTED FROM PROCEEDINGS OF 95TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF CORRECTION OF ACA, 1965

Annotation

BASIC CATEGORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION INCLUDING PUNITIVE, CORRECTIVE, AND MECHANICAL AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EACH CATEGORY ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

PUNITIVE PREVENTION IS THE METHOD OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION BY WHICH THE THREAT OF PUNISHMENT IS EXPECTED TO FORESTALL THE CRIMINAL ACT. ITS EFFECTIVENESS DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE PUNISHMENT. THE SECOND TYPE, CORRECTIVE PREVENTION, RELIES ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS CAUSED BEHAVIOR AND IS THEREFORE DIRECTED TOWARDS CONDITIONS IN SOCIETY WHICH CAUSE CRIME. MECHANICAL PREVENTION PLACES OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF POTENTIAL OFFENDERS SO THAT IT BECOMES DIFFIDULT FOR THEM TO PERPETRATE THE OFFENSE. VARIOUS KINDS OF SECURITY MEASURES ARE EXAMPLES OF MECHANICAL PREVENTION. CORRECTIVE PREVENTION IS GIVEN THE FULLEST TREATMENT SINCE MOST OF THE CURRENT THINKING, PROPOSALS, AND ACTION UNDERTAKEN FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY.