Crime Prevention in an International Context

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The law and the criminal justice system constitute the modern state’s first line of defense against crime. These formal systems of control serve the dual purposes of deterring law breaking among the population at large and of apprehending, punishing, and treating those who offend. Complementing the formal systems of control are society’s informal social controls. These include measures taken by parents, by schools, and by religious bodies to (1) instill respect for the law among children and young people, (2) regulate the conduct of people as they go about their daily lives, and (3) afford protection to persons and property by routine precautions and security measures. The formal and informal systems of control depend upon each other for their effectiveness. Without informal social controls, the criminal justice system would soon be swamped with crime and, without the threat of arrest and punishment provided by the criminal justice system, informal social controls would face a constant challenge to their credibility. As governments have come to recognize the costs and limitations of the formal system of crime control, they have begun to explore more direct ways of improving informal social controls. This activity falls under the general heading of “crime prevention,” which can be defined as interventions that seek to promote the security of individuals and communities without resort to formal criminal justice sanctions.