Example Of Targeting Crime Prevention Programs Towards The Community Course Work

Question 1

Various strengths and weaknesses are associated with the federal engagement in the crime prevention and community safety. Strengths of the crime prevention strategy include direct contact, social development approach and increased funding. The officers engaged in the crime prevention have the opportunity to develop direct contact and relationship with the society they serve (Tilley 2005). The social development approach is also considered as strength because it opens the window of opportunity to the community to handle crime before crime happens. The increased funding that allows expansion for the strategy and enables it to cover more communities also boosts the crime prevention in the community.

On the other hand, weaknesses o f the crime prevention strategy focused on the community include inadequate administrative support, timelines, reduced operating budget, and inadequate private sector engagement. The strategy has unrealistic expectations concerning how quick the result can be achieved and requires more staff and financial resources to be effective. However, these requirements becomes challenging to achieve. In addition, community involvement, which is required in community policing, is not achieved due to fear of apathy and reprisal.

Question 2

The crime prevention strategy contributes to social and criminal justice by reducing the urban crime and stopping crime before they happen. For instance, according to National Crime Prevention Centre (Canada) (2008) the crime prevention strategy has been linked with sixty percent reduction of youth homicide in Boston. In Indianapolis, the total homicide has been reduced by forty percent (Tilley 2005).

There are also programs such as Neighborhood Watch that helps community policing by integrating law enforcement and citizens in the common interest to mitigate crime. These programs have helped t to ensure justice is administered in the community.

References

National Crime Prevention Centre (Canada) (2008). Promising and model crime prevention programs. Ottawa: National Crime Prevention Centre.
Tilley, N. (2005). Handbook of crime prevention and community safety. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Pub.