Prevention and control of crime – revision notes with evaluative points
Prevention and control of crime
There are different approaches to crime prevention
Crime control and prevention has been discussed throughout the realist perspectives and locality and crime. See the following pages for a more in depth explanation:
- Situational crime prevention – designing out crime (see Right Realism)
- Routine Activity Theory
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- Felson and Clarke, say that crime is part of everyday routines and there are three conditions that make it more likely for one to commit crime -> There is a suitable target for the potential offender, there is no capable guardian to protect the target, and there is a potential offender present
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- Rational Choice theory
- Offenders weigh up the costs and benefits of committing a crime before they commit it, and so make a rational choice when carrying out a criminal act.
- Rational Choice theory
- Target hardening (see Right Realism)
- Introducing measures to make it more difficult to steal things, such as by installing CCTV, a neighbourhood watch or alarms etc.
- Zero tolerance policing (see Right Realism)
- The police should challenge even the slightest sign of criminal behaviour.
- Broken Windows Thesis (see locality and crime)
- This theory argues that if an area is run down or isn’t being taken care of, people won’t be inclined to look after the area and keep it looking nice. This means that they will feel that committing crimes such as vandalism or breaking into shop windows makes no difference to the area, and no one will care or notice, which may increase the chances of crime
sociologytwynham.com 
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