policy development right realism

• SCP (situational crime prevention):

  • basis = criminals making rational choice to reduce crime
  • SCP = increasing risk/difficulty of crime and reducing rewards. includes target hardening
  • effective = problem of displacement and further victimisation of vulnerable groups
• ECP (environmental crime prevention)

  • ECP = influenced by broken window theory. neighbourhoods in dis-repair attract crime as they are seen as easy targets
  • environmental improvement = all signs of disorder tackled promptly. graffiti removed and broken windows repaired
• ZTP (zero tolerance policy)

  • ZTP = tough stance on all crime even the most trivial. police concentrate on things like prostitution and begging.
  • effective = crime fell in NYC after ZTP introduced but other cities without ZTP also fell. can lead to targeting ethnic minorities. fails to tackle structural causes of crime like poverty. may lead to more crime as streets are emptier
• penal populism:

  • penal populism = higher costs such as prison sentences would deter criminals
  • prison works = UK 1990'S prison works because of incapacitation and deterrence.
• conservative policies:

  • automatic life sentences for second serious offence
  • minimum 3 years for third burglary
  • minimum 7 years for third class A drug trafficking offence
• new labour policies:

  • tough on crime and tough on causes of crime
  • ASBOS = anti social behaviour order sanction for causing harassment, alarm or distress within designated area
  • curfews = given time where criminals cant leave home
• effective penal populism:

  • incapacitation = gets criminals off the streets but may offend against prisoners and staff
  • rehabilitation = overcrowding and lack of funding makes this difficult
  • recidivism = no 48% inmates reoffend in first year of release
  • deterrence = studies show prison doesn't deter offenders enough to affect overall crime rates