Crime Prevention and Control

Situational Crime Prevention

A strategy focused on reducing opportunities for crime rather than improving society or its institutions.

Target Hardening

Measures taken to reduce crime opportunities, such as locks, surveillance cameras, and security alarms.

Displacement

The process where crime doesn't actually decrease but rather shifts to a different location, time, target, method, or type.

Rational Choice Theory

The theory that criminals evaluate the costs and benefits before committing a crime.

Broken Window Thesis

The idea that allowing minor crimes to occur can lead to more serious crimes.

Zero Tolerance Policing

A policing strategy that addresses even minor signs of disorder to prevent serious crime.

Environmental Improvement Strategy

A strategy that mandates immediate repair of any signs of disorder, such as broken windows.

Opportunity Theory

A theory suggesting that crime is opportunistic and can be reduced by minimizing opportunities.

Felson's Example

Redesigning poorly constructed environments, like the Port Authority Bus terminal, reduces deviant behavior.

Perry Pre-School Project

An experimental program that provided education and support to disadvantaged children, leading to reduced crime rates later in life.

Spatial Displacement

The form of displacement where criminals move to different locations to commit crimes.

Temporal Displacement

The form of displacement where criminals change the time they commit crimes.

Tactical Displacement

The form of displacement where criminals change their methods for committing crimes.

Functional Displacement

The form of displacement where criminals commit a different type of crime.

Social and Community Crime Prevention

An approach focusing on addressing the root causes of crime within the community and among offenders.

Environmental Crime Prevention

An approach that addresses the physical and social environment to prevent crime.

Research on Suicide and Gas Replacement

A case study showing that replacing toxic coal gas with natural gas significantly reduced suicides without displacement to other methods.

Criticism of Displacement Theory

Critiques that point out the focus on petty crime, the assumption of rational behavior in all crimes, and overlook root causes of crime.