1. What works?
Key outcomes from a systematic inventory of 260 meta-evaluations within three knowledge domains: Situational Crime Prevention, Policing and Offender Oriented (Criminal) Justice Interventions
The Hague: Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, Jaap de Waard
22 November 2017

2. What are we going to do during this presentation?
Introduction and background
Aim of this presentation
What works?
- Situationel crime prevention
- Policing
- Offender oriented (criminal) justice interventions
How to put this knowledge into policy and practice
Conclusions

3. Introduction and background
An efective crime (prevention) policy is based upon reliable and validated knowledge
It can only be drawn up using ’lessons from empirical knowledge’ from high-quality and edited research
This presentation presents a systematic inventory and key outcomes of 260 recently published meta-evaluations
Three knowledge domains: (1) situational crime prevention (2) policing (3) offender oriented (criminal) justice interventions

4. Aim of this presentation
Offer insight and overview of proven effective criminal justice interventions and measures
This insight must contribute to a policy that is effective in the criminal justice system
Partly bridge the (traditional) gap between the policy arena, research and practice
To make synoptic the apparent complex pile of empirical scientific studies out of three knowledge domains

5. Effective situational crime prevention: what works?
It is easier to change places than people
Opportunity makes the thief
The raising of lighting levels in (semi) public spaces
The use of CCTV in certain locations, aimed at specific crime categories
The us of the Secured by Design instrument
The raising of the general security level and the restructuring of residential areas
The obligatory inbuilt of standard security measures during the production phase of consumer goods (cars, cameras, bicycles, mobile telephones)
Limitation of the availability of alcohol / requirements to the set-up of catering industry / responsible serving
The deployment of supervisors / informal-social control in housing complexes, public transport and public space

6. Effective policing: what works?
Focused and selective strategy
Problem oriented policing
Focus on repeat victimization
Hotspots policing
Third party policing
Focused deterrence strategies
Hot offender / prolific offender strategy

7. Interpersonal skills training / self control mechanism
Effective offender oriented (criminal) justice interventions: what works?
Community sanctions
Interpersonal skills training / self control mechanism
Parental training / early prevention
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Employment / job training
Mentoring
Drug / alcohol therapy within prison setting

8. How to put this knowledge into policy and practice?
The incorrect or non-dissemination of knowledge is useless knowledge
Within policy and practice there is a (large) obscurity with what is known
The dissemination of available knowledge can be improved by:
- Selecting the best channels to reach a target audience
- Excellent style and design
- Readable and understandabale products
- Actively participate in bipartite discussions
- Well-timed making available of knowledge
- More interaction between research / policy and practice by organizing expert sessions

9. Conclusions
There is reason for optimism about what works as regards tackling crime and reducing reoffending
A key characteristic of effective crime policy is that it is specific and concentrated: problem analysis and the use of available knowledge are the most important features
A crime policy that is too general and based on a ’probable idea’ is not effective
The outcomes of available international meta-evaluations can, after transformation to a specific country, be successfully implemented
However, large-scale national application of the implementation of existing knowledge and effective measures seems to be difficult to get off the ground
Implementing measures which limit the opportunity structure to commit crimes appears to be more effective than using an exclusive offender-oriented approach