Sociology: Crime Prevention and Justice Concepts

Strategies that target individuals to reduce their likelihood of becoming criminals.

Aimed at making the potential offender less likely to commit crimes, often by addressing factors like poverty or unemployment.

This type of prevention aims to reduce individual risk factors such as lack of self-control or impulsivity.

Emphasizes the impact of family, peers, and community on individual behavior.

This type of prevention focuses on changing the attitudes, values, and beliefs of individuals to make them less likely to commit crimes.

This concept argues that focusing on the environment and opportunities for crime can effectively reduce criminal behavior.

This approach aims to lower the potential for crime by changing the circumstances that encourage it. For example, improving lighting, increasing security patrols, or making it more difficult to steal items.

This refers to reducing the number of potential victims by making them less appealing targets for criminals. Strategies include self-defense training, community programs, and awareness campaigns.

This refers to directly confronting crime by using physical or technological barriers, such as fences, surveillance cameras, or alarms. It aims to discourage potential criminals and make detection more likely.

A restorative justice approach focuses on repairing harm done to individuals and communities, rather than simply punishing the offender. It emphasizes dialogue, accountability, and amends between the victim and perpetrator.

A theory in criminology that suggests people rationally weigh the costs and benefits of committing a crime. If the benefits outweigh the costs (like potential punishment), they are more likely to commit a crime.

An approach to crime prevention that aims to deter crime by increasing the costs of committing the crime and reducing the potential benefits.

The belief that traditional prison systems are counterproductive and should be abolished. Proponents argue that prisons often do more harm than good.

A philosophy that aims to reduce recidivism (the likelihood of re-offending) by emphasizing shame and public disapproval of the criminal act. The focus is on deterring the offender by publicly recognizing their wrongdoing.

A form of recidivism prevention that aims to deter offenders by emphasizing shame and public disapproval of their actions. This strategy is most effective for serious crimes and works best with individuals who are not part of a criminal group.

Restorative justice aims to improve the victim's role in the justice process by actively including them in discussions and decisions. It prioritizes healing and reconciliation over punishment, but this approach is less effective for serious crimes and group crimes.