The Possibilities for Crime Prevention
Elliott Currie
Introduction
Do programs designed to reduce crime rates work?
Elliott Currie argues that prevention strategies can work. Currie believes that instead of simply insisting the prevention works better than incarceration, sociologists need to identify what types of prevention work and why some approaches are more effective than others.
Key Points
- Currie believes we should invest in prevention strategies in four areas:
- Reducing child abuse and neglect. The evidence is compelling that most
violent criminals, the ones we fear most, are victims of child abuse.
Child abuse results directly in approximately 5,000 deaths per year, 18,000
permanent, severe disabilities, and 150,000 serious injuries. Its delayed
effects are devastating. Victims of child abuse are far more likely to
engage in violent crime. Sound evidence supports more home visits by social
case workers. Even modest and relatively inexpensive interventions into
the home can significantly reduce child abuse. Programs that are carried
out for an extended period of time and address the comprehensive problems
of families can be effective and highly cost effective means of helping
children and reducing the violent crimes they might commit later in their
lives.
- Enhance children's intellectual and social development. Children want
to learn and do well. When opportunities are blocked, when they are discouraged
rather than supported in the school environment, when they stop believing
in themselves, then they do not develop as they should and become antisocial
in their attitudes and behavior. Early intervention for children with
identified intellectual disabilities is an important element of helping
children do their best. Programs aimed at children at risk help children
and their parents. Parents become more confident in themselves and their
children when they receive help in overcoming disabilities.
- Provide support for vulnerable adolescents. At risk children can
change, learn skills, and become good citizens. Again, comprehensive programs
that stay with children and their parents for a long period have shown
to be very effective and cost effective.
- Work intensively with juvenile offenders. The key word here is juvenile.
These are kids. They can learn and often want to learn. Sometimes removal
from the home is the best option. Harsh treatments, like juvenile "boot
camps," might sound appealing to adults, but have not been effective overall
in treating juveniles. Programs that address problems at home, at school,
and with friends have been effective.
- Social scientists find it difficult to determine why successful intervention programs work because of the complex nature of family, school, neighborhood, and mass media influences on childhood socialization.
Discussion Questions
- From a symbolic interactionist perspective, what types of programs likely will be most effective in reducing violent crime.
- From a structure-functionalist perspective, what types of programs likely will be most effective in reducing violent crime.
- From a conflict perspective, what types of programs likely will be most effective in reducing violent crime.
