1. 25 Techniques of Situational Crime Prevention
Ronald V. Clarke
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Problem-Oriented Policing Conference
Charlotte, October 28-30, 2004

2. This presentation Explain Situational Prevention (SCP)
Compare POP and SCP
Development of 25 techniques
Show 25 techniques on Popcenter website

3. Intervening in the causal chain to prevent crime occurring
Crime Prevention
Intervening in the causal chain to prevent crime occurring

4. Two ways to prevent crime
Change people’s criminal motivations
Reduce opportunities for crime

5. Situational crime prevention (SCP)
Art and science of reducing opportunities for crime
Based on new crime theories:
Rational choice
Routine activity
Crime pattern

6. Focus of New Crime Theories
Crime not criminality
Events not dispositions
Near not distant causes
How? not Why?
Situational and opportunity factors

7. POP and SCP SIMILARITIES
Both preventive approaches
Originated about same time (U.K./U.S.A.)
Both focus on highly specific problems
Both use action research model

8. Action research POP SCP Scanning Analysis Response Assessment
Data collection
Analysis of problem
Choice of solution
Implementation
Evaluation

9. POP vs. SCP DIFFERENCES SCP POP Origins: Crime theory
Origins: Police management theory
Focus: Crime and disorder problems
Focus: Police problems
Implemented by agency with a crime problem
Implemented by police
Well evaluated
Widely implemented

10. POP and SCP CONVERGENCE
Scholars intermingling
Literatures converging
Popcenter website contains much SCP material
POP Guides make use of 25 techniques

11. 25 techniques 5 main mechanisms: 5 techniques for each (Handout)
Increase the Effort
Increase the Risks
Reduce the Rewards
Reduce Provocations
Remove Excuses
5 techniques for each (Handout)

12. 25 techniques (Continued)
Why do we need this classification:
Systematize knowledge
Stimulus for research
Practical guide – have you considered these?

13. Why 25 techniques? Grew from 8, 12, 16 to 25: Developments in theory:
Originally rational choice /routine activity
Neutralization theory (Matza)
Social Psychology (Wortley)
New preventive ideas
New technology

14. Limitations Not all techniques equally suitable for all crimes:
Remove excuses best for “everyday” crimes
Reduce provocations best for closed environments

15. Limitations (2)
Techniques overlap - Increasing effort can increase risk
Some preventive measures can serve more than one purpose
Best used to help thinking at Response

17. Clean Cars on NYC Subway (Reduce rewards)
Goal
Actual
1984
400
1985
1720
1915
1986
3434
3454
1987
4707
4839
1988
5946
6077
1999
6221
6245

18. CCTV Installed in 1985 at University parking lots (Increase risks)
CRIMES
1984 82
1985
138
1986 65