Essay
Essay evaluating crime prevention strategies
- Institution
- AQA
Aqa A level sociology essay 30 mark question Evaluate sociological explanations of the impact of crime prevention strategies.
[Show more]
Content preview
Evaluate sociological explanations of the impact of crime prevention strategies.Crime prevention is often seen as the most useful way of reducing crime and deviance. Sociologists have
presented several ways of preventing crime. This includes right realist approach of harsh and strict
policing, left realist approaches of education and social changes, and deterrent surveillance strategies.
Overall left realists have the most convincing crime prevention strategies due to their evidenced
methods, however they still do not account for all crime.
Some sociologists argue that the most effective crime prevention strategy is a deterrent. A pre-emptive
measure that strongly discourages the offender from committing the crime. For example, Foucault
argued that as there has been a change in power and governance, this has transferred how we perceive
crime. Pre 18th century there was sovereign power which meant that the monarch had control over the
people, and used harsh physical and public punishments, this changed to disciplinary power which
means that states use psychological control and punishment. The change of methods also means a shift
from punishment to prevention with the increase of surveillance. We now have mass CCTV, guards and
feel like we are under constant watch, like the panopticon prison, which means that we are less likely to
commit crime because the likelihood of being caught is so high. This is amplified when we consider the
mass media. Mathisen agrees that we are watched by the few, but that we are also watched by the
many through social media, dashcams, camera doorbells. Individuals watch other individuals which
creates another level of informal social control to prevent crime. The use of surveillance as a crime
prevention tool is so effective because, as Foucault argued, it turns surveillance into self-surveillance
and discipline into self-discipline. Therefore, people control and prevent their own criminal actions
without a need for any intervention. Not only does this seem very efficient, but also cost effective.
However, the reliability and utility of surveillance as a form of crime prevention is not highly effective.
Norris suggests that apart from car parks, there is no evidence that the presence of CCTV reduces crime
or the likelihood of someone to commit crime is that location. The reliance of being deterred from CCTV
is that the criminals have rational choice. They are aware of the high likelihood of being caught for the
crime and are aware that the punishment is not worth the reward of the criminal act. However, it has to
be considered that the rationality of criminals may not be overly high and therefore surveillance cannot
be said to be the best crime prevention strategy.
Right realists also use deterrence as their main way of preventing crime, disrupting the ability and
capacity of criminals to commit crime. A key element of this is target hardening- making the target or
victim of the criminal act less accessible to deter the criminal from attempting to target it. This is done
through what Felson calls hostile architecture. This is when buildings and social areas are altered to
prevent their misuse (designing out crime), such as putting bars over benches to prevent homeless
people from sleeping on them or skateboarders from using them. This therefore reduces crime as that
location is much harder to commit crimes on. Felson also argues that crime is part of a person's routine
activity and therefore to prevent it, action needs to be taken to disrupt this routine. A crime is
committed when there is a motivated offender, an accessible target, and a lack of a capable guardian.
Therefore, if we remove the conditions, then crime can be prevented through target hardening (to
remove the accessible target), increasing surveillance (to create a capable guardian), and reduce the
benefits of crime (to demotivate the offender). Action needs to be taken to the situation, and changes to
the environment to prevent crime. Further environmental crime prevention includes improving areas to
demotivate criminals from attacking that area. Broken windows theory outlines that when there are
signs of disorder, such as broken windows, that are not quickly repaired, then this tells deviants that no
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rachelfindlay52. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53008 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now