Situational Crime Prevention Summary

In Situational Crime Prevention, Clarke (1995) presents the classification of situational crime prevention techniques by reducing opportunities. The author argues that by increasing associated risks and difficulties as well as reducing rewards to reduce the opportunities for specific crime categories. Clarke (1995) dwells on the theme of immediate circumstances under which crime is committed to help tackle immediate crime problems.
The author discusses three major elements of situational crime prevention: standard methodology for tackling specific crime problems, articulated theoretical framework, and opportunity-reducing techniques. The standard methodology identifies and tries out possible solutions, analyzes and defines problems, and evaluates and disseminates results. The theoretical framework delves on several opportunity theories, such as rational choice perspectives and routine activity. Opportunity-reducing techniques, on the other hand, involve target hardening and other ways of minimizing inducements and deflecting offenders.
Situational Crime Prevention advocates for discrete environmental and managerial change to mitigate the opportunity for crime rather than eliminating delinquent behavior by improving institutions in society. Clarke (1997) seems to promote ways that make crime less attractive to offenders (p.2).
Law enforcement and the community can join hands to increase surveillance of neighborhood activities by employment of private security guards in addition to having community watch committees to deter police harassment. Clarke concludes the book by concluding that criminal conduct is influenced by changes in external pressures and