Community Crime Prevention and Models of Prevention - Essay Example

Crime Prevention How does carrying a firearm reduce or enhance crime victimization Why do some people choose to carry weapons as a crime prevention method Explain what the research indicates and be sure to discuss both sides of the issue. You may also provide your own opinion. Today in the world there is an increasing debate on the topic of firearms regulation. Different states in the United States of America have allowed people to carry their own weapons for self protection. This law was adopted first by the state of Florida and many people believed that this law would lead to disastrous effects. But it did not have a negative impact as many had thought and many states then followed in implementation of this law. It came to be realized with time that carrying firearms had a positive effect on the crime prevention. There are many reasons to this effect. The crime committers have a fear that they will be counter attacked hence this leads to a decrease in the crime rate. There is a second thought to this as well. People believe that this can lead to an increase in crimes because even normal people under pressure might be subject to committing crimes and due to the easy availability of weapons they would more easily be able to commit crimes. Carrying of firearms thus has both effects. It increases the crime rate as well but it has a greater effect in decreasing the crime rate. People choose to carry weapons as a crime prevention method so as to increase their quality and standard of life. It provides them with security and it opens for them a path which makes them self dependant. They can themselves take care of their life and property and save themselves from different criminals. Carrying of firearms is very essential for people because at times when there is no police in sight and people need greater protection and safety these weapons are their sole helpers which provide them with a greater security where they can protect them by themselves. People also consider it important to keep firearms at their house because this helps them to guard themselves against robberies. Weapons to people act as tools and these laws which empower people to carry weapons actually help in decreasing crime rate. But then it has negative impact as well. Open allowance of carrying weapons can lead to deaths without any reason that is if the gun gets fired unintentionally this may lead to the death of the person himself or of others who are along with the person. But in the end it can be said that despite of the negative impact the carrying of firearms has it still has greater benefits and it is essential for one to carry weapons with him for self protection (Worsnop 1994). 2. Discuss the fundamental concepts of community crime prevention, providing specific examples of such programs. How did it arise Who participates and why Provide characteristics and demographics. Community Crime Prevention is a department of major concern to the authorities these days. Social Crime Prevention these days is handled by the authorities efficiently and professionally. New strategies are being implemented to involve the community towards the betterment of the criminal activities in the society. This involvement of the community can not only help the individuals living in the community to realize their duty but also help to decrease the rate of criminal activities occurring in a certain area. Different strategies formulated by the authorities urge the communities to work towards the betterment of the society. The community plays a major role in limiting the criminal activities in the area. The community works in cohesion with the authority to avoid the crimes. The authority gives specific instructions to the community members which are to be followed by them to lessen the criminal activities. These instructions include the installation of Closed Circuit Television Cameras, the structure in which the house is built and the cohesion of the community. The community acts together to improve the situation in a society. It acts to have a safe environment in their territory and outside. Many programs have been launched by the government authorities that include programs such as crime prevention through environmental design. Special development programs arranged for the community members are also a way of community crime prevention. Patrolling and installation of cameras is a common program in different states to solve the problem of criminal activities in these states (Rosenbaum & Cahn 1986). 3. Discuss three ways the mass media is used in crime prevention. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches Over the years there has been great progress and development in the field of media. The impact of the mass media on the world and the people who live in it has greatly increased over the years. Mass media has also played a great role in crime prevention but again it also has a dark side. It also has many disadvantages. Media teaches a person that what act is right and what act is wrong that is thus telling a person that which acts will be awarded and which acts will be punished. This gives a clear picture to people that which acts are considered as offensive and would be counted as a crime. Media creates awareness amongst people telling them about the different crimes and how they are overcome. it reaches to the people telling them about the effectiveness of the forces an d how they are serving people. It makes them alert about the different dangers that they might have to face and how to protect themselves. Media has a great role to play in the prevention of crime. People tend to buy smuggled clothes and cigarettes not realizing that this money might be contributing to certain criminal groups. These people can be made conscious through media that the acts that they are committing might actually be increasing the crime rate and decreasing their quality of life. When success stories of crime prevention are put on the media it actually puts spirit in people making them feel secure and open paths for people who are in need of justice teaching them that they should not remain silent and come forward and they might also be helped as others. But with all these affects media also has its negative effects. It does tell people about the different crimes but more exposure to such criminal documentaries and violence tends to divert the attention of people and makes them turn on such similar lines and this might change the psychology of the people leading them to take similar violent decisions in their personal life. Surveys have shown t5hat children exposed to such crimes and violence in television leads to changes in their behavior making them more violent and aggressive that is it leads a negative impact on them. Thus media has both advantages and disadvantages but it does play a role in crime prevention (Wilson, Putnis, Stapleton 1995). 4. What are the three theoretical models that serve as the foundation for collective crime prevention efforts Explain each and how they work. Provide examples (you need to come up with some based on the theory) Criminologists have formed out different strategies through out the world to curb out the problem of crime. Different criminologists have different views on the problem of crime and thus they present different strategies to restrict crime in this world. However it is known that all criminologists base their strategy by following the three theoretical models of crime prevention. Some of them observe a rational or conservative approach while some approach both the ways simultaneously. The three theoretical models are known as Conservative, Liberal and Radical respectively. The Conservative model of prevention revolves around efficient organization of crime by the authorities. By efficient organization here it means that the respective authorities should take such measures that the wrong doer is discouraged to commit a certain crime. Similarly this efficient organization would also tend to catch the culprit who commits any criminal activity. In this type of model the authorities increase the surveillance of a particular area. Cameras are installed in the sensitive areas to lower down the opportunity of any criminal activity which could occur in the area. The public in this type of model plays the role of a back up for the authorities. It is required to inform the authorities of any mishap which happens in their vicinity. Similarly the response by public is monitored by different authorities. However this model has its own setbacks as it does not privilege the people who cannot afford surveillance and cameras. This helps the criminals to target people who are made to be under privileged by the authorities. One example of this type of model is "broken windows" which was given by Wilson and Kelling. The Liberal model of prevention is related to the problems exhibited by different people in the community. The model is used to curb out the issues of the people who are at a disadvantage or underprivileged. It tends to mark the people who are lacking basic necessities of life and work on them. These people according to the model are more likely to commit crimes; because of the social problems which these people face. The model emphasizes on diminishing the gap between the underprivileged and privileged people. It involves the whole community together to work towards the betterment of the society. The people are provided with more opportunities and are helped to overcome their social weaknesses. The help of the different community members is sought in this kind of model. However this model also has its own setbacks when being implemented. The main problem of this model is that it does not address the basic reason of the emerging social problems in the society. One example of this model is shown in the measure of the work of Coventry et al. Through his work he addressed the basic problems faced by the youth and asked the authorities to develop programs which would overcome the social problems faced by the youth. The Radical model of prevention revolves around the social inequalities of the community. It emphasizes on the hardships faced by the minority groups living in the society i.e. women, poor and people who belong to a different race). The power used unlawfully by the rich people is considered to be a major crime in this model. This model plans out ways to curb the problem of marginalization in the community. It emphasizes on the better allocation of resources through out the community. The model also emphasizes on the reallocation of wealth through out the community to overcome the problem of social inequality. This model has many setbacks too as the authorities claim to have social equality maintained through out the community, it is rejected by the powerful people. This model emphasizes more on the status quo rather than on controlling the criminal activities committed by everyone at large. It targets a certain audience when enforcing law. An example of this model is given through the work of Sim et al. It shows how the authorities curb out the criminal activities of the people who possess power (Lanier & Lanier 2006). Bibliography Henry, S., Lanier, M., & Lanier, M. (2006). The essential criminology reader. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press. Rosenbaum, D. P., & Cahn, M. F. (1986). Community crime prevention: does it work Sage criminal justice system annuals, v. 22. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications. Worsnop, R. L. (1994). Gun control: will it help reduce violent crime in the U.S. CQ researcher, 1994, v. 4, no. 22. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly. Wilson, P., Putnis, P., & Stapleton, C. (1995). Background paper for the workshop on mass media and crime prevention. Vienna: UN. Read More