Weeks 9-13

Question 1

What crimes prevention strategies connect with neoclassical theories?

Answer 1

Situational crime prevention (e.g. CPTED)

Target Hardening

Question 2

What crimes prevention strategies connect with biological theories?

Answer 2

Nutrition interventions

Trauma Therapy

External Brain

Incarceration (public safety)

Question 3

What crimes prevention strategies connect with Psychological/Psychiatric Theories?

Answer 3

Medications

Programs which address criminogenic domains/risk factors

Cognitive skills for the development for prosocial thinking/attitudes

Substance use interventions

Question 4

What crimes prevention strategies connect with social structure theories?

Answer 4

CPTED

Broken Windows theory (this would be relevant if we were in the 80s)

Question 5

What crimes prevention strategies connect with social process theories?

Answer 5

Crime Prevention through social development

Formal and Informal social controls

Question 6

Which approach to crime prevention is Canada’s crime prevention strategy based on? What does this mean?

Answer 6

Canada takes a social responsibility perspective to crime (over an individual responsibility)

This means the crime prevention strategy is proactive, preventative, and targets social factors contributing to crime (e.g. social inequality)

Canada’s national crime prevention strategy focuses especially on SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Question 7

What is crime prevention? How does it relate to the criminal justice system (CJS)?

Answer 7

Crime prevention is “any pre-emptive intervention intended to block or reduce the risk of a criminal act occurring in a particular time and place”, or an intervention intended to limit “the onset of criminal behaviour within an individual”.

This involves philosophies, strategies, programs, and practices which occur both within but more often outside of the CJS.

There is a difference between crime prevention and the CJS.
- Crime prevention is proactive, and addresses risk of crime with a wide range of strategies. It operates through citizens and includes groups like NGOs, community groups, schools, public health, social services etc. Crime prevention strategies use informal social control.
- the CJS is reactive and has a more narrow range of intervention strategies. It operates through the state and includes groups like the police, public prosecutors, corrections, parole boards, and legislative branches. the CJS uses formal social control

Question 8

What are three types of crime prevention strategies?

Answer 8

1. Nurturant: these improve the early life experiences and channel child/adolescent development into desirable directions to prevent criminality.
2. Protection/Avoidance: these reduce criminal opportunities through target-hardening or opportunity reduction (e.g. incarceration, ankle-bracelets, monitoring etc.)
3. Deterrence: these diminish motivation for crime by increasing perceived certainty and severity of penalties (e.g. bait cars, tougher sentences)

Question 9

In terms of social development/ social process theories relating to crime prevention, what are most common markers that an individual is in need of intervention?

Answer 9

The person has poor school performance, has a history of running away, history of substance abuse, behavioural problems and/or delinquency, anti-social behaviours, or associates with anti-social peers.

Question 10

What is the key intention for crime prevention through social development?

Answer 10

The intention of these crime prevention strategies is to address the root causes of crime, particularly in at-risk children/youth

These strategies intend to prevent the predispositions and risk factors from developing to begin with. They focus on building resilience, moral reasoning skills etc.

Question 11

What are examples of social development crime prevention strategies occurring in schools, at homes, and in the community?

Answer 11

In school programs: Drop out prevention programs, life skill development programs, anti-bulling/harassment programs at schools

In home programs: Nurse-family partnership; parenting programs, family counseling

Community programs: Mentorship programs (big brothers big sisters) Enriched pre-school programs, after school programs

Question 12

What do situational crime prevention strategies do? What are some examples?

Answer 12

The strategies are intended to manipulate the human and physical environment to reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. (i.e. increase the risks and reduce the rewards). These are connected to theories of rational choice and routine activities.

For example, CPTED involves things like providing lit up walkways, limiting shrubbery, encouraging public usages of community spaces etc.

Question 13

What is community crime prevention?

Answer 13

These strategies are based on social process and social control theories (Hirschi). They use social cohesion combined with informal social control (trust linked with willingness to intervene for the common good)

This can include things like community defense programs (e.g. neighbourhood watch), community development projects (e.g. beautification projects), and Business Improvement

Question 14

What is community policing?

Answer 14

This is partnership between the community and the police (e.g. citizen inititives which reinforce formal social control)

Question 15

What is recidivism prevention?

Answer 15

These are programs devoted to preventing people from re-offending. It is based on the fact that a small percentage of the population is responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime.

Question 16

What are the three levels of prevention?

Answer 16

Primary Prevention: targets all citizens to intervene early before problems occur

Secondary: target an identified group who is most at risk and needing intervention

Tertiary: responds after the problem has occurred (e.g. restorative justice (minimizing harm) and recidivism prevention programs)

Question 17

What is the goal of evidence based practice?

Answer 17

The base important programming and policy decisions on sound research and information. Creates a gold-standard for programs to follow and helps develop accountability within programs where they have to define their goals and demonstrate how they are meeting them.

Question 18

Who was Robert Peel?

Answer 18

Robert Peel established the first organized police force based on a military format which is still used today. He had 9 principles which are still relevant in modern policing.

Question 19

What are Peel’s nine principles of law enforcement?

Answer 19

1 the basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2 the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.

3 police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4 the degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes the proportionality to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to the public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law

6 police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion advice and warning is not found to be sufficient.

7 police at all times should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare an existence.

8 police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions an never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9 the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Question 20

What is victimogenesis?

Answer 20

This explains how people can undergo life experiences that eventually place them in circumstances that contribute to their future victimization. Involved a great deal of victim blaming.

Question 21

What is lifestyle exposure theory?

Answer 21

This is the theory which suggests that how pople live can increase their chances of being victimized. (e.g. routine activities theory, working late nights in dangerous areas)

This connects to rational choice thoery: the idea that a motivated offender, suitable target, and lack of capable “guardian” create crime

Question 22

What are 4 risk factors for victimization?

Answer 22

1. The victim is exposed to potential offenders and high risk situations
2. the person has personal, professional, or social relationships with offenders
3. The person works in dangerous times or places (evenings, weekends, places of entertainment)
4. The person engages in dangerous behaviour such as provoking violence, leaving belongings unattended

Question 23

Who, according to a general social survey in Canada are the at the highest risk for victimization?

Answer 23

Women, ages 10-24, who engage in binge drinking, have a mental health condition, have a history of homelessness, and/or live in a neighbourhood with low social cohesion.

Question 24

What is deviant places theory?

Answer 24

The theory that crime occurs in areas with social disorganization and higher levels of transience.

These neighbourhoods are stigmatized and have a bad reputation. Those with the ability to do so, often leave these neighbourhoods.

Question 25

What do victims often experience as a result of their experiences?

Answer 25

Psychological impacts: fear, trauma, self doubt, changed perception of the world and others, social isolation, mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, flashbacks, PTSD, etc)

Processing the event: guilt, self-blame, rumination, “if only”

Physical: sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, jumpiness, muscle tension, high blood pressure, problems with eating/drinking

Behavioural: changes in patterns, disruption of normal behaviours to new behaviours, substance use as a coping/self-medicating strategy

Question 26

What are some basic needs of victims?

Answer 26

Find the blame (who is responsible)

Uncover/ explore their feelings of guilt

Fix the harm

Restore relationships

Find meaning in the event

Place the memory (move the event from the present to the past.)

Find perspective (place the event within the context of their lives)

Be able to let go and look ahead

Question 27

What does the funnel model tell us?

Answer 27

Because this model shows that there are more offenses committed than convictions, it suggests that most victims of crime do not experience justice in a formal sense.

Question 28

What is restorative justice based on?

Answer 28

It is based on old, common-sense understanding of wrongdoing:

• Crime is a violation of people and relationships (social harms)
• Violations create obligations
• Those harmed should have a say in how the matter is resolved
• Justice involves victims, offenders, and community members in an effort to put it right.

It is based on the principles of cooperation and reconciliation

Question 29

Define Restorative Justice

Answer 29

Any process in which the victim and the offender and, where appropriate, any other individuals or community members affected by a crime participate together actively in the resolution of matters arising from the crime, generally with the help of a facilitator.

Deal with the harmful effects of crime by engaging victims, offenders and the community in a process of reparation and healing. Suffering of victims is central to defining the harm done, and how things need to be made right. Community is active in offering support to victims and in holding offenders accountable, giving them opportunity to make amends

Question 30

How is restorative justice different from criminal justice

Answer 30

In the traditional justice system: crime is a violation of the law and the state, violations create guilt, and justice requires the State to determine blame/guilt and impose pain (punishment)

In RJ: crime is a violation of a person, it creates harm and justice involves repairing that harm.

Question 31

What are the 5 principles of restorative justice?

Answer 31

1. Invite full participation and consensus.
   - everyone freely participates and has input in the process
2. Heal what has been broken.
   - The focus is on the harm, not the law
3. Seek full and direct accountability.
   - The offender has to take responsibility for their actions
4. Reunite what has been divided.
   - dismantles the “us vs. them” mentality and focuses on building connection and community.
5. Strengthen the community, to prevent further harms
   - seeks to identify the underlying causes which led to the crime

Question 32

Why does RJ work?

Answer 32

1. More cost-effective and immediate than the court process. Provides restitution and creative outcomes.
2. Offenders take responsibility for their actions, and are linked with resources and support to help them not re-offend
3. Victims are informed of community resources available to them for their care and support, including from the RJ program itself
4. All participants have a chance to speak freely and to learn from one another within an emotionally safe environment. They find the solutions together.
5. Victims receive an answer as to why the offence was committed.
6. Offenders, victims and supporters gain a deeper perspective on the incident
7. Healing and closure are possible

Question 33

What are the limitations of RJ (according to our professor because apparently other sources on RJ are irrelevant…)

Answer 33

It requires the offender to admit guilt and be cooperative (otherwise, they go to court)

It requires skilled facilitation, and community buy-in

It’s frequently ignored and underfunded by government, and governments download cases to RJ without providing the support to ensure they can be handled well, leaving the organization to find their own funding

It is appropriate for certain cases, but not all cases