NCJ Number
177812
Journal
Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: 1999 Pages: 71-87
Date Published
1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Situational crime prevention is considered with respect to its theoretical basis and its application to violence prevention in several Australian jurisdictions, including remote townships in Western Australia.
Abstract
The discussion argues that an analysis of the situation in which violence occurs, together with an understanding of offender decision making, provides a useful basis for proximal violence prevention strategies. However, situational prevention of violence should be regarded as complementary to and compatible with developmental and social approaches, rather than as alternatives to these approach. Violence prevention strategies developed in various Australian jurisdictions were not designed as situational crime prevention approaches, but they used the same techniques as those in situational crime prevention. Some efforts have focused on alcohol-related violence. The efforts to reduce disruptive violent behavior in remote townships in Western Australia involve the use of volunteer Aboriginal citizen patrols, who intervene directly to take intoxicated and disruptive persons to safe places. These efforts take the police out of the situation, thus deflecting opportunities for confrontations between Aboriginals and police. These efforts have not yet been formally evaluated, but early indications are promising. Findings from a number of studies suggest that situational crime prevention is relevant not only to offenders but also to persons with some influence over offenders. Figures, tables, footnotes, and 61 references (Author abstract modified)