CrimeEmma Grimley

The BasicsO Acts and OmissionsO Damage society as a wholeO Punishable by the stateO Different social, cultural political perspectives

= NO UNIVERSAL DEFINTION OF CRIMEO Acts deemed ‘criminal’ by law making

authoritiesO Listed in legislation under:

O Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)O Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) O Criminal Code 1995 (Cth)

Factors leading to Criminal Behaviour

O Psychological – mental and emotionalO Pathological – mental conditionO Social – Edwin Sutherland’s Theory of

Differential association – the peer environment encourages crime

O Economic –poverty, unemployment, in sufficient income, believing necessity to steal to survive etc.

O Cultural - your cultural background may cause disadvantage or its practices differ from the one supported by the law

O Genetics – is the need to commit crimes embedded in our DNA?

O Self Interest

Situational Crime Prevention

O aims at preventing crime by reducing the physical ability to commit crime or removing the incentive

O CPTED – Crime Prevention through Environmental Design develops methods of situational crime prevention

O Recommendations: O signs, O landscaping that allows natural

observationO LightingO CCTV – Closed Circuit Television

(Cameras)O Security GuardsO Limiting movement through design

Situational Crime Prevention – Effectiveness?

O CCTV is dependent on the active response of its operators – can they reach the scene in time to prevent the crime?

O Does CCTV show what needs to be done in the way of social crime prevention? Particularly their use in alcohol issue zones

O Intruder alarms are effective in wider layers of protection – lights and gravel in driveways

O Attempts to reduce crime through situational prevention are ongoing

Social Crime PreventionO Crime prevention aimed at curing the social

causes behind criminal activity (economic, cultural, educational etc.)

O Typically target social-economic disadvantageO Free entertainment - conquers boredom and

prevents the self interest of committing crime

O Educational programs – conflict resolution and life skills, alcohol and drug information

O Racial tolerance education tries to dissolve cultural problems within society

Youth Off the Streets and Social Crime PreventionO Initiated in the 1990sO Rehabilitation programs – solving substance

abuseO Assistive Services – financial assistance,

housing assistance, counseling etc.O Outreach in economically disadvantaged

suburbsO School Program: ‘YOUth making a difference’

O Conflict resolutionO Racial ToleranceO Drug and Alcohol Information Kit

In Summary…O Crime will not disappear soon,

though it can be reduced through…O Understanding why people commit

crimesO Continued development into

situational and social crime prevention methods