The Prevention of Crime

"This is the most complete description of the history, theories, strategies, methods, evaluations and outcomes of efforts to prevent crime ever written. Encyclopedic in scope, it is exceptionally well organized and clearly presented. It is essential reading for students, professionals, policy makers, and citizens seeking to understand how criminal behavior can be prevented. It is equally instructive regarding what has not worked to prevent crime. There is simply nothing like it. Truly a remarkable achievement."
—J. David Hawkins, University of Washington

Criminology and criminal justice currently place great emphasis on the need to implement evidence-based crime prevention strategies. The Prevention of Crime is the first text to draw from multiple, emerging, cutting-edge frameworks to demonstrate how this can be done. It describes many effective models of prevention programs and strategies that have been developed and are available for use both in the US and abroad. The text includes attention to situational crime prevention, developmental prevention programs and correctional practices to provide a unique, integrated and holistic review of what works.

In contrast to most crime prevention books, The Prevention of Crime includes attention to the many challenges associated with the implementation of crime prevention strategies, along with practical guidance regarding how communities can best select and implement such efforts, both nationally and internationally. The text also describes popular prevention models that are widely used, yet which have been shown to be largely ineffective in reducing crime, thus helping to dispel the many myths that persist in the field.