Section i. Overview of crime prevention
The concept of crime prevention
The concept of crime prevention has been elaborated in a variety of existing criminological works by experts and scholars. From the standpoint of behavioural science, crime prevention is described as a “system of conduct that severes or weakens the causal link between crime and its causes”; from a systemic perspective, crime prevention is considered a “systemic project”; from a broad societal perspective, crime prevention is considered to be “social activity for the prevention, reduction and eradication of crime”; and from an operational perspective, crime prevention is considered to be “the cure”。
On the basis of popularism, we define crime prevention as follows: so-called crime prevention is the mobilization by the state of the various positive elements of society and the forces that may be mobilized in response to the circumstances, characteristics, causes and conditions of crime during a given period of social history, using a combination of political, economic, cultural, educational, administrative and legal means to prevent, contain, reduce and eventually eliminate crime. From the concept of crime prevention, it is clear that crime prevention encompasses three aspects:
(1) crime prevention is premised on research and scientific analysis of the causes and conditions of crime. The reasons for the crime are unclear or the conclusions reached are incorrect and no targeted crime prevention measures can be taken. Crime prevention can therefore only be based on research and scientific analysis of the causes and conditions of crime, leaving the causes of crime to talk about crime prevention, either empty words or unfoundedly engaged in so-called prevention, the results of which are self-evident. Because the crime arises from its causes and conditions, crime, as a social phenomenon, results from the behaviour of a person. Preventing the occurrence of crime therefore requires seeking to limit and eliminate the causes and conditions that give rise to crime. Thus, crime prevention, in one sentence, is a series of measures taken to address the causes and conditions of crime。
(2) crime prevention is a series of measures taken to address the causes and conditions of crime. The so-called "series" is the corresponding measure taken in response to or on the basis of the complex nature of the causes of crime. The causes of crime are a multi-mass, multi-layered, multi-system complex and there is an intrinsic link between the various elements of crime, between the subsystems and the subsystems, and between the subsystems and the parent system. Crime prevention must therefore mobilize all the positive elements of society, employ all means and adopt social and specialized measures. Social prevention refers to the mobilization of society as a whole for crime prevention activities, such as family prevention, school prevention, community prevention and people's mediation in crime prevention, social assistance, labour education, etc., using means such as education, moral, customary, public opinion and even administrative. Specialized prevention refers to the activities of specialized agencies set up by the state to prevent crime, such as public security organs, people's courts, people's procuratorates and prisons. The importance of specialized judicial work is self-evident. It has a special place and function in crime prevention and is irreplaceable in any other endeavour. However, those specialized tasks alone cannot be achieved. Crime prevention can only be firmly based if it is supported by the general public. In sum, since crime is a combination of multiple systems and a combination of factors, its response must be an integrated approach, and it must be a range of measures and tools。
(3) crime prevention is aimed at preventing, containing and reducing crime. The comprehensive approach we have taken to tackle crime and the range of measures we have adopted and the instruments we have used to deal with it are all aimed at undermining, cutting or weakening the causal link between the crime and its causes, so that the cause cannot be determined or the corresponding consequences thereof. The objectivity of causation lies in the intrinsic link between cause and effect. By destroying, cutting off or weakening such links, crime is bound to be prevented, contained and reduced. This is the theoretical and practical value of crime prevention research。
Crime as a phenomenon, like other things, has its own patterns of occurrence, development and change, which can be understood. Once we have acquired knowledge of the patterns of crime, based on a wealth of research and detailed analytical studies, all targeted crime responses can be taken to effectively prevent, contain and reduce the incidence of crime. The reason why we do not speak of non-offence but of reducing the incidence of crime results is that, to date, not only our objective environment is not equipped in this regard, but in particular our awareness capacity is limited, and it is not possible to exhaust the truth of the causes of crime, especially the internal mechanisms in the system of causes of crime and their interrelationships, yet to be further understood. It is therefore only about prevention, containment and reduction, not about the absolute elimination or even eradication of crime. We are convinced, however, that with the conditions in which the objective environment is in place, and with the growing awareness of people's capacities, and the establishment of the scientific criminology of the causes of crime, one step at a time will be taken towards a thorough understanding of the causes of crime, together with the use of modern scientific and technological means, in order to prevent, contain and, ultimately, eliminate the vast majority of crimes caused by adverse social factors。
The importance of crime prevention
Crime prevention is a fundamental way to reduce and manage crime, and its importance is reflected in the following:
(1) making crime prevention work to avoid and reduce the harm that crime causes to society. Crime is a serious social problem that has been threatening, plaguing and undermining human production, life and security since the emergence of private ownership in human society. Crime has been a worldwide scourge since the twentieth century. Its threat to humanity, particularly materially and spiritually, is far greater than war. The annual cost to the economy of the united states of america from crime amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars, significantly exceeding its annual expenditure on armaments and, even more, on education and health throughout the year. As for the human toll of crime, it is even worse. According to statistics, one person in 14 minutes is killed in the united states. The number of people killed every 100 hours on american street is three times higher than the number of american soldiers killed during the gulf war. During the eighth five-year plan, crime caused 36 billion yuan in economic losses and 171,000 deaths. The city of tianjin is one of the cities in which the social security situation is relatively good, but each year there is a rapid increase in human casualties and damage to property caused by crime. According to the survey, in 1996, 4512 offenders were sentenced to prison in tianjin city, resulting in economic losses of $19,257. 35 per person, and direct economic losses of $8,681. 21 million were incurred by prisoners in that year, excluding unsolved and unsolved cases. It is clear that the scourge of crime on human beings, which today is well beyond war, is a serious cancer and has become the greatest obstacle to social development today. It is therefore not only necessary, but also essential, to put in place crime prevention to prevent, contain and reduce the occurrence of crime. Because any crime is committed in such a way as to cause certain harm and damage to society and people, even if the offender is subjected to the harshest punishment, he/she cannot recover the damage he/she has caused. At the same time, the state has to pay considerable human, material and financial costs in order to detect, punish and rehabilitate criminals. It is clear that ex ante crime prevention is more advantageous and proactive than the punishment of offenders。
