Introduction
In every society throughout history, there has been a certain amount of crime that took place. To keep crime and criminals from harming others in society, systems of rules and laws were set up to deter crime and punish the offenders. Crime prevention is an important part of the criminal justice system. Throughout this paper, I will define crime prevention and discuss its relationship to the criminal justice system. Furthermore, I will discuss a few institutions that deliver crime prevention programs.
The Function of the Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice system serves several functions in society. The criminal justice system offers a means to punish offenders for crimes that they commit. Punishment serves several important functions; these functions include deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and retribution. Therefore, the main functions of the criminal justice system are to deter crime, punish offenders, prevent offenders from reoffending, and allow the victims of crime to seek legal recourse.
What is Crime Prevention?
Governments and law enforcement agencies have criminal justice systems that operate to decrease the occurrences of crime in society. Crime prevention is an attempt to reduce the level of crime in a given society and deter potential criminals from committing crimes. Crime prevention is done through the use of laws, police, the courts, jails, prisons, and other measures. Those who work in these sectors of society often work together in an effort to make people away of the acts that are considered to be illegal as well as the punishment for these acts. The legislature enacts laws that let member of society know the acts that are prohibited. The police enforce these laws. The courts try and sentence people who have violated these laws. Jails and prisons punish people who have been convicted of violating the law.
Institutions the Deliver Crime Prevention Programs
One institution that delivers crime prevention programs is the juvenile court system. In the early days of this court, juveniles with the capacity were treated the same way in the criminal justice system with a focus on punishing juvenile wrongdoers for their acts. In the middle of the 1900s, juvenile court systems were set up changing the focus to prevention and rehabilitation. One way juvenile court systems seek to prevent crime is by educating wrongdoers and offering rehabilitation programs in an effort to dissuade the offender from engaging in criminal behavior, in the future.
Additionally, organizations such as the National Police Athletic League offer crime prevention programs through community involvement. The organization provides civic, educational, and athletic opportunities. Juveniles, especially those who may be at risk for being involved in crime, are encouraged to participate in positive activities. Furthermore, at risk youths are given mentors who take an interest in their well-being and try to encourage them to make positive choices. Moreover, the presence of law enforcement personnel interacting with youths in a positive manner encourages these youths and others in the community to see authority figures involved in crime prevention in a positive light.
