Currently, the problem of crime control is very acute; it is concerned about the national institutions of government and society, international organizations, and numerous public ones. The solution to the problem is possible with the help of various prevention systems, one of which is developmental crime prevention. It performs regulatory, educational, protective functions and aims at preventing the development of motivated offenders in the early stages of development and decision-making in favor of criminal life. This system also focuses on deterring the escalation of the arisen crime situations into conflicts, leading to violation of criminal laws.
Developmental crime prevention is a subsystem of special criminological crime prevention, the target of which is the pre-criminal forms of deviant and delinquent behavior of minors. The basis for developmental prevention is the need for prompt intervention in the process of asocialization of minors. It is due to the stage of preventive work that is maximally removed from the commission of a crime and minimally from the sources that give rise to this form of unlawful behavior. Other basics can also be noted:
- Improving the living conditions and education of minors in cases where the situation threatens their normal development;
- Suppression and elimination of the actions of subjects of antisocial behavior on minors;
- Impact on minors who admit deviating behavior to prevent antisocial attitudes and habits from gaining a foothold.
The risk factor in the prevention of crime predicts an increased likelihood of committing an offense in the future. Risk factor analysis plays a significant role in developmental prevention, as it allows determining which of the young people is most likely to become an offender (Lab, 2010). Research on risk factors is critical to improving prevention programs, which often have limited staff and funding. Identifying risk factors that can cause delinquency for certain groups of young people at certain stages of their development can help programs channel their efforts more effectively and cost-effectively. In addition, this approach also allows practitioners to tailor prevention programs to the unique needs of individual young people and communities.
Different concerns related to developmental crime prevention may relate to how such programs are carried out. Various methods and techniques of influencing the consciousness, feelings, and will of a minor capable of committing crimes can be used in two ways. Possible direct exposure or through other persons involved in preventive activities. The primary organizational and tactical forms of application of methods and techniques of individual influence on minors are conversations. Involving them in socially useful labor, social, sports, cultural and other nature is also an excellent way to familiarize themselves with the culture of healthy behavior in society. A matter of concern may also refer to question of how a person is to be prevented. One of the options is individual prevention, which is possible when negative phenomena are at the initial stage and when such phenomena have not yet been produced, but there is a possibility of their occurrence.
Crime on a significant scale requires decisive measures to prevent it, which involves the development of various programs and strategies. Developmental crime prevention has the potential to reduce juvenile delinquency and prevent corrupting influences on society. The effectiveness of developmental crime prevention lies in a thorough study of minors capable of committing crimes, determining the main measures and actions, which can be implemented to achieve the set goals.
Reference
Lab, S. P. (2010). Crime prevention: Approaches, practices and evaluations. Elsevier Science.