What are the different ways we can observe criminal justice?

Criminal justice is a broad area that can be divided into several subjects. Crime prevention is one of these areas and involves the strategies or measures that are aimed at reducing the risks of the crimes occurring and eliminating the harmful effects, it would have to an individual or a society. Crime prevention can be categorized into four main types that include crime prevention through social development, which can be applied in various social institutions like schools, hospitals and where target risks individuals with young age (Johnson, 2015). The sources provide significant information on crime prevention include the types of crime prevention and effective ways to identify and prevent crime

According to UNODC (2010), other type of crime prevention includes preventing crime by community or local area intervention.  In this case, the risk or the target is not an individual but an entire community that is being victimized. Such crime prevention involves various programs and strategies that minimize the potential risks and cover the entire community. The other type of crime prevention depends with the situation and it’s referred to as situational crime prevention. It aims to prevent crime by reducing the opportunity of the people potentially able to commit crime by increasing their chances of being caught as well as reducing passible benefits from committing the crime. The last type of crime prevention is the reintegration program and aims individuals already involved with the criminal justice system (UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME, 2010).

Morgan et al (2011) notes several methods that are effective in crime prevention. They include increasing the efforts that are in involved in committing crime, increasing the risks that associated with the crime, minimizing the rewards that result from committing the crime, reducing the situations through which crime can easily occur and eliminating the excuses for offenders who have committed crime. In addition, the government plays a significant role in preventing crime by implementing crime prevention strategies (Morgan et al, 2011)  

Welsh & Farrington, (2010) identify developmental and situational strategies that are effective in crime prevention. Developmental strategies aim at preventing crime through limiting the developmental potential of committing crimes by criminals. Situational strategies aim to reduce the opportunities for committing crime and increasing difficulty to offenders (Welsh & Farrington, 2010).

Kazdin et al, (2007) highlight on the risk factors that developmental factors should target in crime prevention as proved by research on developmental psychology. These risk factors include the frequency of the crime occurrence, the duration and its persistency and the risk of the onset of the crime. Some of the predictors that show the likelihood of committing crime, which can be used in crime prevention, include social problems, and the low school attainment and family background. These predictors indicate the likelihood of individuals to commit crime (Kazdin et al, 2007).

Smith, R. (2005) indicates that biometric solutions are ideal information sources in recording people and any crime related activities, which can be of use in formulating crime reduction strategies. Use of biometric solution can also play a role in identifying fraud related crimes. Similarly, they act as an effective tool in preventing crime through authentication and verification identity in various transactions (Smith, 2005).   

References

Johnson, W. A., Rettig, R. P., Scott, G. M., & Garrison, S. M. (2015). The criminal justice student writer’s manual (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Kazdin, A. E., Kraemer, H. C., Kessler, R. C., Kupfer, D. J. & Offord, D. R. (1997) Contributions of risk-factor research to developmental psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 375-406.

Morgan, A., Boxall, H., Lindeman, K., & Anderson, J. (2011). Effective crime prevention interventions for implementation by local government. AIC Reports Research and Public Policy Series, 120. Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rpp/120/rpp120.pdf

Smith, R. (2005). Biometric solutions to identity-related crime evidence versus policy. Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/2005-cp/smith.pdf

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME. (2010). Handbook on the crime prevention guidelines. CRIMINAL JUSTICE HANDBOOK SERIES, 10(9). Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/Handbook_on_Crime_Prevention_Guidelines_-_Making_them_work.pdf

Welsh,, B., & Farrington, D. (2010). The Future of Crime Prevention: Developmental and Situational Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/david_farrington/nijprev.pdf.