Successful Crime Prevention Programs
Assignment Details
In the last 4 weeks, you have explored the development of criminological theory, its relationship to the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections), and the cost of crime to your community.
In this activity, you are going to further develop your analytical and writing skills while applying critical thinking by researching crime prevention programs that have proven successful in reducing crime.
Using your reading assignments, intellipath® lessons, and other resources, address the following a 2-page paper:
Provide separate examples of a successful program or policy for primary, secondary, and tertiary crime prevention. (3 examples total)
Show how each of the examples you chose is supported by a specific criminological theory.
Explain why you believe the program was a success. Support your position with specific cases or real examples or actual statistics.
Criminal Justice System Assignment
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Criminal Justice System Assignment
The criminal justice system encompasses a range of institutions and processes, including law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities (Clarke, 2018). Within this system, there are distinct levels of prevention of crime programs and guidelines that can help to reduce crime and promote public safety by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, intervening before criminal activity occurs, and providing support to individuals who have already engaged in criminal behavior. This essay aims to look at successful initiatives or guidelines for preventing criminal activities among people.
First of all, Primary Crime Prevention, or D.A.R.E., is the key prevention program that educates different levels of students about the consequences of drug and substance abuse and violence (Clarke, 2018). Ideally, the program aims to curb drug use and violence by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions. D.A.R.E. program is well-known as successful because it has been shown to reduce drug use and violent behavior among students who participate in the program.
Secondly, the Secondary Crime Prevention: Project Safe Neighborhoods (P.S.N.) is a secondary prevention program that reduces gun violence and other violent crimes in high-crime areas (Clarke, 2018). The program brings together law enforcement, community leaders, and other participants to develop and implement strategies to reduce violent crime. P.S.N. is considered a successful program because it has significantly reduced gun violence and other violent crimes in the areas where it has been implemented.
Thirdly, Tertiary Crime Prevention: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (C.B.T.) is a tertiary prevention program designed to reduce recidivism among individuals who have already committed crimes (Clarke, 2018). C.B.T. is a type of therapy that assists its users in pointing out and adjusting to conflicting thoughts and behaviors that are likely to play a part in criminal behavior. C.B.T. is considered a successful program because it has been shown to reduce recidivism rates among offenders who participate in the program.
Significantly, the D.A.R.E. Program promotes Rational Choice Theory which suggests that individuals rationally analyze their actions' potential costs and benefits. The Rational Choice Theory lends support to the D.A.R.E program (Clarke, 2018). It seeks to make students aware of the potential negative consequences of drug use, violence, and gang activity and encourages them to make rational decisions based on this information. By educating students about the risks associated with these behaviors, the D.A.R.E. Program aims to deter them from engaging in these activities in the first place.
Similarly, Project Safe Neighborhoods promotes the Social Disorganization Theory. The theory suggests that criminal activities are most likely to happen in areas with a breakdown in social institutions and a lack of social cohesion (Clarke, 201...