Deterrence Theory Of Crime Prevention Essay

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Recommended: Strategies to reduce crime

This paper is based on the analysis of the United States crime prevention programs that are being implemented at the state level, law enforcement authorities, government authorities or both. In this essay, I have critically analyzed the effectiveness of some crime prevention strategies. The effort and societies attempt to reduce victimization and stop criminal acts and crimes are known as crime prevention.

There exist basic programs and strategies used and established to reduce and stopping the ever exceeding rate of criminal activities in most states and countries around the world. The adoption of crime prevention programs in most places help the society as well as law enforcement in maintaining criminal justice, enforcement of law and …show more content…

Harsh sanctions by the criminal justice system should deter an individual from committing a crime. It also incorporates the rational choice theory which emphasizes that an offender will weigh the pros and cons of a crime. It describes that “the offender perceives that the cost and benefits of punishment are not outweighed by the crime” (Mackenzie, 2002). The chance that an individual will commit a crime is reduced when they think about how the threatened punishment will impact their lives. The deterrence theory, especially specific deterrence, is the basis for programs such as Scared Straight, chain gangs and shock probation where “ the major emphasis is on the punitive nature of the punishment and not on reducing crime through restraint, discipline or challenge” (Mackenzie, 2002). The shock probation or parole programs are a sort of split sentence where offenders are briefly incarcerated with other offenders and then go on community supervision. The incarceration should shock the individual into “abandoning criminal activity and into more conventional and law-abiding behavior” (Mackenzie,

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