Crime Prevention: Key Programs that Can Prevent the Spread of Detrimental Activities of Criminal Gangs
Introduction
Criminal activities are increasingly becoming prevalent in various communities with the majority being affected. Because of its wide-ranging effects on communities, crime has become a major topic of political and academic discussion in recent years. It is a major public concern since it poses severe social and economic implications. Despite its salience in public conversations, very little is known about the factors that drive crime and how they can be prevented. This has prompted the need for the establishment of more viable and effective crime prevention programs. This explains why authorities in various settings including California State are deliberating on how best criminal activities can be mitigated. They are keen on adopting effective programs that are socially acceptable and security-oriented as opposed to the stringent guidelines that they have been using.
Their aim is to identify a program that can promote sanity within the criminal justice system by ensuring that fairness is administered to both adults and juvenile offenders. They also aim at adopting a program that would provide primary solutions towards averting or curbing criminal activities of various gangs or illegal groups that always pose security threats to the locals. Major crime prevention programs that authorities can adopt to foster safety include community policing, continuous neighborhood watch, and weed and seed technique (Robinson, 2013). These techniques are essential since they provide requisite incentives that ensure effective mitigation of criminal activities in prior. Indeed, this report provides comprehensive information pertaining to the best programs that can be used to curb criminal activities, especially in California. It adopts California as the state whose security system is under scrutiny while Michigan, Minnesota, and Colorado and used as comparative states.
Information about the selected state and the criminal justice system the study is to address
Generally, there are various criminal activities, which have been widely reported to have a significant influence on individuals and organizations in California including the comparative states that are adopted in this report. The activities limit an individual’s performance capacity socially, economically, and mentally (Gould, Weinberg & Mustard, 2002). Currently, common crimes that various individuals and institutions are facing in California include gang robbery and economic and cybercrimes, which degenerate economic prospects and gains. Others include rape, sexual attack, and terrorism. Consequently, gang-raping and sexual
battering which has been rated in the world UN criminal report as the 3rd rampant criminal activity also affects several individuals especially women and children in the state.
Crime statistics indicate that one woman is raped on an hourly basis, which remains a shocking revelation. Evidently, the increasing cases of crime in California have been raising concerns among key stakeholders. The stakeholders affirmed that amicable solutions should be put in place to help in curbing criminal activities that are executed by various gangs (Robinson, 2013). This saw authorities in the state form a task force to study, investigate and assess the security situation in the state, causes of crime, and best approaches of preventing criminal activities. The task force performed its work and came up with a recommendation that the state needed to adopt community policing.
Analysis of the current trends of population size and crime rate using SARA Model
Indeed, a proper understanding of criminal activities that takes place in a setting and their effects requires the use of the SARA model that facilitates superior scanning, analysis, response, and assessment of the data provided (Arrington, 2006). This is because it provides individuals with clear guidelines or a basis with which criminal data can be analyzed and credible findings are obtained. Indeed, the model helped in the establishment of in-depth and factual information about population size including the crime rate in Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan. Analyzed data from the states indicated that the crime rate was increasing steadily in the states except in Minnesota where their crime rate was stagnant (Arrington, 2006). For instance, Michigan reported an increase of 0.5% in its crime rate, while Colorado reported an increase of 0.3%. Although the states recorded an increased percentage rate in crime levels, California still reported a higher increase in crime rate. Consequently, Michigan recorded a high number of residents compared to Colorado and Minnesota. The state reported a population index of 8.2m people as reported in its data.
The appropriate crime prevention strategy for the jurisdiction, its imperativeness, and value
Based on the information provided about criminal activities in California, community policing is the best approach that would ensure that various criminal gangs are fished out among community members. The prevention program was fronted since it gives clear systems through which locals can help law enforcers in identifying criminals. It also provides clear systems through which law enforcers can receive information from locals about criminal plans and respond promptly (Clarke & Eck, 2011). If adopted holistically, the program is projected to see a drastic reduction of the crime rate in California by 5%. Similarly, the program would facilitate a reduction of the crime rate in Michigan, Colorado, and Minnesota by 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.5% respectively.
A review of academic literature on crime prevention programs
Black (2005) provided comprehensive information in his article about factors that promote crime in various settings and key programs that can lead to effective mitigation of the activities. The author who is a renowned scholar noted that the passé at which the crime rate is increasing is alarming in the whole world and those amicable solutions need to be found. He was passionate about ensuring that various stakeholders understand the major causes of crime. Black was also passionate about facilitating understanding about the major prevention programs that are essential in ensuring that criminal gangs are eliminated among community members. Key factors that contribute to crime as noted by the author include unemployment, social imbalance, poverty, and political differences. Consequently, the author focused on major prevention programs that hold the capacity of curbing criminal activities. The programs he emphasized include community policing which he identified as an effective program, neighborhood watch, weed, and seed technique. He noted that institutions or states that seek to promote social and economic integration should consider adopting one of these programs. They should analyze and evaluate their potential and choose a program that suits their needs in a better way. This is because the programs yield the best results if they are implemented effectively.
How crime prevention programs address social justice issues of the community
Community policing is an effective crime prevention program that ensures that the social justice system is not compromised in any way. This is evident since the program’s fundamental principle is to foster understanding, peace, and cohesion. This advances social integration and economic development that is significant for sustainable growth (Clarke & Eck, 2011). Indeed, the program is bound to restore sanity in California including the comparative states that include Michigan, Colorado, and Minnesota. It will ensure that individuals become their brother’s keeper and alert to identify illegal activities that go on in their surroundings, thus notifying police officials. This is bound to help in eliminating criminals in societies. Similarly, it will ensure that justice is delivered to innocent citizens who become victims of crimes that are executed by illegal gangs. Notably, the program is bound to contribute to ensuring the complete eradication of criminal gangs in California.
Analysis of the programs showing their effectiveness in comparable jurisdictions
Clearly, effective crime prevention requires holistic integration and collaboration between stakeholders to eliminate suspicious elements with ill motives in communities and states. It also requires continuous coordination and sharing of information about illegal gangs to ensure that they are eliminated (Karmen, 2009). This explains why authorities in comparative states that are highlighted in this report should consider adopting various crime prevention programs. The authorities in the states that include Michigan, Minnesota, and Colorado should adopt the program to enable them to curb the spread of crime in their jurisdictions. The program will enable them to analyze security situations in the jurisdictions extensively, identify key issues that impede security, and establishment of best strategies that they can implement.
Recommendations based on the analysis
It is prudent to recommend that California state officials should adopt community policing to foster crime mitigation without hesitation. This is essential since the program holds the capacity of providing credible solutions to major complications that affect locals in the state. Secondly, authorities in the state should develop viable modalities of eradicating major factors that make individuals engage in criminal activities. That is the officials should consistently strive to create job opportunities, correct social imbalances, and promote the living standards of locals. Thirdly, law enforcers in the state should provide adequate resources to facilitate research on security issues, purchase of equipment, and advancement of technology.
Short and long term benefits that are anticipated and how crime prevention program is bound to affect social justice in California
Indeed, various benefits and outcomes are anticipated with the adoption of community policing especially in California. The anticipated benefits are categorized into two categories that include long-term and short-term benefits. These benefits or outcomes will be realized if the policing program is implemented properly. In particular, short-term outcomes that are anticipated include systematic elimination of criminal gangs, correction of social imbalance, and creation of employment. Similarly, long-term outcomes that are anticipated include the transformation of the behavior of the gangs, understanding of each other, and attaining social coherence. As noted, the crime prevention program only affects the social justice system positively by ensuring that sanity and order are restored.
Conclusion
Ideally, the report has evaluated fundamental aspects of illegal activities based on research data from various states in the US where detailed information on criminal activities has been provided. It shows that there is a need for authorities in various states to provide and design amicable solutions to criminal activities where increased coordination between various stakeholders is reported as the best and ideal measure that could effectively be adopted. The report notes that locals have sole responsibility to liars with authorities by providing sufficient information on suspicious individuals who may harbor ill motives.
References
Arrington, R. (2006). Crime prevention: The law enforcement officer’s practical guide. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Black, D. J. (2005). Prevention of crime rates. American Sociological Review, 35 (4), 733-748.
Clarke, V & Eck, E. (2011). Crime analysis for problem solvers in 60 small steps. Web.
Gould, D., Weinberg, A & Mustard, B. (2002). Crime rates and local labor market opportunities in the United States. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 84 (1), 45-61.
Karmen, A, 2009, Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology, New York NY: Cengage Learning.
Robinson, M. B. (2013). Crime prevention. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.