Lecture 3: Prevention PDF

Lecture 3: Prevention Opening Problem A town in your country is having significant problems with drug selling. A variety of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and LSD, are being widely consumed by young people in the town. The recent arrest of a high-profile drug lord, John, who lives in the are...

Lecture 3: Prevention Opening Problem A town in your country is having significant problems with drug selling. A variety of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and LSD, are being widely consumed by young people in the town. The recent arrest of a high-profile drug lord, John, who lives in the area, has done nothing to stop the influx of drugs. Many people are concerned that John’s children, even though they are only teenagers, will also get into the drug business, taking on the knowledge of the father, and making matters worse for the already struggling town. There have also been a high number of arrests of drug users, who police have considered it imperative to prosecute in other to deter other people from starting to use drugs. Violence has not yet erupted, but police and other town officials fear that the proliferation of this black market will eventually result in murder, corruption, and exploitation. They hire you as an expert crime consultant to address the problem. What would you advise them to do, and why? Week 38 Prevention September 2024 2  How can we stop people from becoming criminals? Week 38 Prevention September 2024 3 Individual Level Crime Prevention Week 38 Prevention September 2024 4 Individual Level Crime Prevention Week 38 Prevention September 2024 5  How can we stop people from committing crime? Week 38 Prevention September 2024 6 Situational Crime Prevention 1 Week 38 Prevention September 2024 7 Situational Crime Prevention `2 Rational Choice Costs and Benefits Focus on a Specific Crime Design Crime out of Environment Achieve this by Increasing Costs and Reducing Benefits Week 38 Prevention September 2024 8 Abolitionism 1: Prison Prison is Counterproductive Abolish Prison Replacement Replacement Discourse Means Week 38 Prevention September 2024 9 Abolitionism 2: Legalisation *Source: Nutt et al., (2010) Drug Harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis, The Lancet, 376(9752), 1558-1566 Week 38 Prevention September 2024 10  How can we stop people from recidivating? Week 38 Prevention September 2024 11 Two forms of Recidivism Prevention Type of Recidivism Prevention Reintegrative Shaming Restorative Justice Philosophy Shame Compassion Event Positive Judgement Mediation Session Actors Community Families, Criminal, Victim Crimes Serious Crimes Petty Crimes Benefit Emphasises Redemption Increased Victim Role Limitation 1 Group Crimes Group Crimes Limitation 2 Distant Crimes Serious Crimes Week 38 Prevention September 2024 12  Questions and Discussion Week 38 Prevention September 2024 13 Question 1 Billy (16), though from a happy home, with loving parents, started misbehaving at school some years ago, looking for attention. He fell in with a crowd of young men who often disrespected their teachers, failed to do their homework, and even committed small crimes, like robbing the local grocery store. As they got a little older, things started to worsen. The gang started to drink and smoke marijuana behind the local church and having fights with other boys in the neighbourhood. During one such brawl, another boy, Sean, turned to punch Billy in the face. Billy kicked him in the stomach with such force that Sean fell back on the stone pavement. Unfortunately, the fall was so hard that the top of Sean’s spinal cord was irreparably damaged: Sean would never walk again. Billy’s parents are currently pleading with Law Enforcement, and Sean’s parents, not to press charges. They think that restorative justice would be a better means of achieving reparation for all. Do you agree? Why/why not? Week 38 Prevention September 2024 14 Question 2 Many academics have argued that drug prohibition causes more harm than good. Do you agree? Please give a clear argument with 3 reasons to support your answer. Week 38 Prevention September 2024 15 Question 3 Jasper and Quirine run a high-end fashion store in downtown Amsterdam. While they are making a lot of money selling expensive clothes, jewelry, and accessories, they have noticed that they are not making as much as they should be; they are experiencing theft. It appears that shoppers are stealing items from the store, and that staff members are stealing money from the till. Given you knowledge of Situational Crime Prevention, provide Jasper and Quirine with 5 measures that they could take to reduce their losses, and explain why they would work. Week 38 Prevention September 2024 16