Crime Prevention Works When There is a Security Plan.

"If we can get people to make that commitment, to prevent crime, we can give them the tools they need to do it. Ideally, we should all be working together in partnership with that same goal."

Our guest, internationally known crime prevention expert Tim Zehring knows that crime prevention works best with a plan.If you're interested in the field of crime prevention you simply must listen to this episode.

Crime Prevention Works

Crime prevention is similar to fire scienceElements necessary to commit a crimeBad Seed TheoryMotivation versus consequencesIt's everyone's job to prevent crimeBusiness crime preventionCriminal deterrenceWhy criminals are like big heavy rocks and some like weeds?Proactive versus reactive law enforcementWhy do property owners have more power than the police?Why a public-private partnership works best?Misconceptions about the job of law enforcementCrime prevention worksCrime Free programs

People feel that the government should be responsible for our crime problems…but "we are the government, we are the people…the police are the public and the public are the police. The police are only members of the public that are paid to give full-time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest of community welfare and existence” – Sir Robert Peel -- 1829

Crime is Frustrating

Crime victims are often frustrated because they believe that as taxpayers the laws of society, the police, or property managers should protect them from the criminal acts of others.The police are frustrated because after they arrest the perpetrators, witnesses won’t always testify; the courts won’t always prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law, or convicted felons are released early from incarceration.The courts and prosecutors are frustrated when the law favors the rights of criminals over victims; the police don’t provide the proper evidence necessary for conviction; witnesses become uncooperative and unwilling to testify.Property owners and business operators are frustrated because they believe individuals don’t do enough to protect themselves from harmful situations; some victims fail to control their risky behavior while using their property and then decide to sue when injured.

Clearly, every person and every relevant public agency has a role to play. Crime prevention works. Ideally, we should be working together in partnership with the same goal.

From all perspectives, there is a need for consistent information exchange to improve understanding of this public and private partnership. In this way, we can improve and promote the shared responsibility for a unified crime prevention effort.Crime Prevention DefinedMost criminologists generally define crime prevention as the anticipation, recognition, and assessment of crime risks, and the development of a plan to reduce or eliminate those risks.

This axiom is well-known to crime prevention professionals but is easier to say than it is to accomplish if working without a well-articulated and defined plan. Crime prevention is only a well-intended theory until an assessment is made and a security plan of action is implemented.Arrest & Incarceration ModelThe arrest and incarceration model of crime prevention will temporarily prevent crime by separating perpetrators from society. The crime rate just transfers to our jails and prisons where many will refine their methods of operation.

Ask any professional crime analyst...how is arresting and incarcerating criminals working for us as a national crime prevention strategy?Public-Private PartnershipThere needs to be a better relationship and understanding between the duties and responsibilities of the public law enforcement agency and the private property owner and manager when forming a partnership to prevent crime....