Prevention of Crime and Violent Behavior

Most criminal justice experts and citizens would agree that criminal violence is the most pressing concern among law enforcement officials and the general public. The criminal justice system is charged with a clear mandate calling for a comprehensive program focused on violence prevention and protection of the public. The mandate is expressed through political officials and news media representatives reacting toward crime as one of the overwhelming social issues facing contemporary society.

To understand the nature of criminal violence and the prevention of victimization, we need to understand specific programs focused on violence prevention and the impetus for the formation of those initiatives. Thus, a discussion of violent crime and crime prevention will incorporate some background on boot camps, drugs courts, halfway houses, and shock incarceration ...