Crime Prevention Criminal Justice

The problem analysis triangle or the crime triangle is the situation where a person (handler) is an a location (manager) where he has the opportunity (guardian) to commit a crime. Those three components person + location + opportunity must be available for a crime to be committed. Remove any one of those components and the crime cannot be committed. In order to use this as a prevention tool; one must first analyze the crime and the situation. If there were safety precautions such as surveillance cameras or even police of security guards on duty, the opportunity to commit the crime would be greatly reduced. Another way to eliminate the opportunity would be: “Target Hardening: To decrease the ability of the criminal to physically cause damage by such means as: “Improved Doors and Windows. Improved Locks, Alarm Systems, Lighting”. (Wilcox. 2013.). If incarceration is a known consequence for criminal behavior; this would be a huge deterrent to criminal behavior. Often times criminals a very savvy in their knowledge of the law and what their consequences will be for a specific infraction. Positive punishment is a necessity in dealing with criminal prevention. “In positive punishment, a particular behavior or response is decreased or weakened when it is followed by an aversive stimulus.” (DiLisi. 2013). This is the theory that everything has consequences.

It is proven that more police activity and presence in high crime areas is a great crime prevention tool, as is neighborhood watches. The presence of anyone who is there to deter crime is a very effective tool.

Reference:

DiLisi, M. (2013). Criminal Psychology. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, LLC.

(YOU NEED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THIS STUDENT’S RESPONSE IN 200 WORDS LENGTH. NOTHING NEGATIVE BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK WITH PROPER GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATIONS AND SENTENCING.

The initial post focuses on the components of the problem analysis triangle. Based on your classmates’ assessments of the Crime Analysis Triangle and your readings, which area(s) do you think would provide the greatest benefit in targeting your crime prevention initiative selected for your Final Project? When trying to determine the best response to crime, does it help to look at the triangle from different perspectives before, during, and after crimes? What considering crime from the perspective of the victim or perpetrator?

SECOND RESPONSE FROM MICHELLE G.

The components of the problem analysis triangle are the three inner components which would be the offender, target, and location or place. This triangle helps the police think about other things that are important like the victims involved and where the crime took place. A newer version of the triangle has an outer triangle around the inner triangle that are known as controllers. So each outer triangle component is linked to the inner triangle component. So the target is connected to the capable guardian. This would be someone who is protecting the criminal. This does not have to be just family, friends, or associates. This could also include a guardian police officer or a private security person. The controller for the offender would be considered the handler. This is someone who is in the position of taking care of that person. For example if a juvenile was in trouble with the police the guardian or parent has control over the situation instead of the juvenile since they are legally not considered to be an adult. However, handlers do not just mean that it is the parents or guardians responsibility. A handler could also be people that are close to the offender like a brother, sister, teacher, significant other, or friends. So if the offender is over 18 that is where those handlers would come into place. The controller for place is the manager. This is someone who has some control over the place. For instance if a crime was committed during class the teacher has some responsibility for the behavior that takes place and could possibly prevent an incident by managing the student in a certain manner. The analysis triangle also connects with the theory of duck, den, and wolf. The duck problem is considered to be a person who comes in contact with potential offenders often and are vulnerable, because they do not know that they are going to be the next victim and this happens frequently, but by different offenders. Also, what makes them to be considered a duck is because they do not take measures to prevent being a victim in the future. The den theory is where there are always incidents in the same place, but always by different people. The most common for this is probably a bar considering people are drinking and their judgement on what is right and wrong is impaired. The wolf theory is where certain places are targeted because the offender sees their weakness and thrives off of it. So they continue to commit crimes in the same types of businesses but not the same one over and over again.

It is important to analyze crime and criminal issues so the law enforcement can find common factors and come up with strategies that they could use to prevent the crime in the future. It helps us understand and develop crime prevention strategies by seeing what the weaknesses are and finding ways to make those weaknesses stronger so they are not so vulnerable. This helps the police present crime prevention strategies to the public informing them of what is going on and why. By being able to say why by talking about the weaknesses and how to make them stronger will give the public insight on how to keep their guard up and see a potential crime in the making and be able to prevent it with preventative measures.

References: