Crime Prevention Programs: The Criminal Justice System
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Crime prevention
Crime prevention refers to mechanisms put in place by government to restrain any victimization or commission of crime by criminals. It is an initiative, which ensures that laws are enforced, and criminals are held responsibility in an effort to reducing crime and in maintaining criminal justice. Different countries observe different laws according to their criminal justice systems. For instance, United States justice system has the three component of crime prevention.
The first component of the crime prevention is the law enforcement agencies, geared with the responsibilities of gathering evidence and capturing the suspected criminals. After the crime has been committed, a curfew is set where the perpetrators are lynched and captured and held accountable for their actions. The second component is the trial process (Kuttschreuter & Oene, 1998). During this phase, the judicial system in place tries the suspects in the court of law. When proved guilty, offenders are sentenced to a certain period or another form of punishment is administered that equals the adversaries committed. The last component in criminal prevention is the correction agencies. At this phase, the convicted criminals are taken to various corrections agencies such as prisons, treatment centers, jails or any other places of confinements set and approved for such purposes. Most of the criminal justice systems, lock the convicts behind bars, they are restricted to movements and meeting other people. Such offenders that are put behind bar and subjected to harsh punishments have committed adverse crimes. The criminals convicted for minor offenses are not subjected to harsh penalties and may be allowed to enjoy some freedoms like movements and such are taken to correctional centers and trained on becoming responsible members of society.
Various institutions set provide and ensure that crime prevention programs and practices are delivered in accordance with the law. Some of these includes; the jails, prisons, correctional centers, schools and family settings. For instance, criminal programs are used in schools in curbing escalation of or involvement of the students in the pro-social activities and in decreasing their probability or potential of involving in criminals. Furthermore, family level factors come into handy in assisting curb criminal groups through emphasize on good parenting styles. Communities also play a vital role in reducing the incidences of criminal activities. Communities can come together and institute appropriate measures aimed at stamping out those people with orthodox characters and with criminal characters. For example, cities such as Birmingham, and Bogota have recorded diminished cases of crimes due to adherence to youth social programs that were geared at preventing crimes. Therefore, it is apparent that with appropriate polices and laws in place, crime prevention programs can to a greater magnitude reduce the crime rates in cities and country as a whole (Metropolitan Police, n.d, para. 1)
Crime prevention programs are important since they are used in various ways. First, they deter other people from joining the criminal groups that victimize innocent people. The criminal justice systems has laws that allow r convictions of any person suspected and proved to engage in criminal acts and therefore enforce laws by prescribing an appropriate kind of punishments as a deterrent for further crime commitment (Wilpen, & Richard, 2003). They are also used in creation, implementation and monitoring the national action plan which fights for prevention of violence. The crime prevention assists in enactment of necessary legislation on criminal justice laws that foster unity and ensure that the criminal gangs do not perpetrate violence. Furthermore, the crime prevention is also helpful in providing justice to the victims or the sufferers of the actions of the criminals. Without such programs, people who are hurt, injured, or even victimized by the criminal groups would not be able to access justice. These programs strengthen the victims of violence by providing a voice or a platform for them to respond by giving their side of story against the victims (Wilpen & Richard, 2003). It is through such programs that the accusers get an opportunity to explain and give their side of story. These prevention programs also ensure promotion and adherence to the international, laws, and treaties and other mechanisms geared at protecting the rights of people. The crime prevention ensures that both the rights of the criminals and the accusers are brought into limelight and respected. This is achieved through the pursuit of laws and observance of the rights of people under custody and the level of punishment that is supposed to be leveled against them.
It is therefore evident that the crime prevention programs are salient to the process of enforcing law and ensuring that criminals are stamped out from the society. However, the program cannot be successful without the input of the people and the society in collaborating and ensuring that criminal justice laws are instituted and well implemented. Even though the program has not yet gained full attention, it is paramount that the crime prevention programs enters into a cordial relationship with the criminal justice system to ensure that fair and justice prevails in the court of laws. The criminals brought into the courts need to have a fair trial and if convicted, their rights should be respected and therefore, the level of punishment accorded to each one of them should reciprocate the offenses committed. The system should also perform to the expectation of the society to deter any other groups of youths from sprouting out and becoming criminal gangs. A case like that of Birmingham presents a practical initiative of how the crime prevention programs can be of great assistance in ensuring that crime is stamped out.
References
Kuttschreuter, M., & Oene, W. (1998). Crime prevention and the attitude toward the criminal justice system: The effects of a multimedia campaign . Journal of Criminal Justice, 26(6), 441-452.
Metropolitan police. (n.d). Crime Prevention. Retrieved on 24th October, 2011 from http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/
Wilpen, G., & Richard, H. (2003). Introduction to crime forecasting . International Journal of Forecasting, 19(4), 551-555.
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