The democratization of South Africa (SA) officially took shape in 1994. This was after the first democratic elections on 27 April 1994. The elections were preceded by the acceptance of the Interim Constitution (Act 200 of 1993). The new dispensation was characterized by the adoption of Constitutional principles as national values of democracy. As a result of the adoption of a constitutional dispensation (namely both the Interim Constitution (Act 200 of 1993) and the Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) the Constitution became the supreme law of SA above all other laws that were in place. This era also enabled the elevation of the powers and status of the courts, and the system of checks and balances was enshrined. This research was initiated by a lack of a standardized formula for calling the police to account for their actions and decisions. The current study sought to explore whether there are any national, regional, and global standards for calling the police to account. Furthermore, it sought to establish if there are any comparative studies that sought to assess police accountability efficacy within regional and global perspectives. In order to make these determinations within a qualitative approach, the study sought to determine the practice and a culture of accountable policing within the Gauteng police practices. This determination was done by determining the perspectives of the operational police officers (crime prevention) who are rendering the first priority core business of the police in SA, namely the prevention of crime. To achieve this goal, two questions needed to be answered, namely: What is the police definition of policing accountability?; How can policing accountability be enhanced and promoted within the daily practices of crime prevention police officers? To have these questions answered, the following objectives were formulated for the study: - To explore and describe the perception of crime prevention police officers in Gauteng Province with regard to “policing accountability”. - To identify and describe guidelines to support these police officers to enhance and promote policing accountability in their day-to-day police practices in the Province. To achieve these objectives, a mixed research design, consisting of a qualitative-, explorative-, descriptive-, and contextual research design, was utilized. The target population consisted of all crime prevention police officers who were at that time attached to the seven policing areas/precincts of the Gauteng police service. Twenty eight- (28) focus group interviews were scheduled for the study throughout Gauteng Province. The sampling technique that was used in the study was the non-probability purposive sampling technique. The interviewing process was conducted until saturation was reached. To ensure validity and reliability of the results of this study, Guba’s model (in Lincoln& Guba, 1985:295-300) of ensuring trustworthiness, was applied. Data was collected by means of in-depth, semi-structured phenomenological focus group interviews, as well as supportive field information (in the form of field notes and observation). A tape-recorder was used to capture data, which was then transcribed “verbatim” to facilitate the process of data categorization. Data was analyzed according to the descriptive approach of Tesch (1990:142-145). This method helped the researcher to reduce the data into themes, sub-themes, categories, and sub-categories. The findings of this study were then controlled using available literature. From the analysis of the findings, six themes were identified as obstacles hindering the practice and a culture of policing accountability. In order to deal with the obstacles within the police practices, six strategies were developed to enhance and promote the practice and a culture of policing accountability within the Gauteng police practices. From the findings of the study and themes that developed therein, a six-tier framework/model was developed for the study. Recommendations that emanated from the study are presented in the last chapter. / Dissertation (MA (Social Work and Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / MA / unrestricted

In exploring current responses to crime, particularly youth involvement in gangs, this thesis examines two approaches: Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD) and risk-based prevention. The former is associated with the provision of socially-designed measures to address and eliminate the risk factor associated with persistent offending. The latter, however, refers to the implementation of risk management and statistical assessment to manage the risk factor associated with persistent offending. In light of these two approaches, this thesis examines a debate which purported that crime prevention practices has wholly shifted away from an emphasis on CPSD towards risk-based prevention. This thesis also examines the opposing debate which explains that CPSD and risk-based prevention have emerged into a balanced approach. Taking into account 19 youth gang prevention projects in Canada, the above debates are investigated. Drawing from the analysed project, this thesis concludes that, the crime prevention practices of the analyzed projects significantly rely on risk-based prevention. As a result, the approaches of CPSD still exist in rhetoric and in practice however, its influence on crime prevention initiatives is very limited. Hence, current approaches neither reflect a total shift away from CPSD nor a balanced approach.

Since the early 1990s, the Vancouver Police Department has embarked upon coproductive service arrangements with various geographic communities throughout the city of Vancouver. Through the vehicle of storefront crime prevention offices (CPOs), local communities and the police are working in partnership to problem-solve around local crime and safety issues. Three models of crime prevention offices have emerged: ethnic-specific, police-run, and community-run. This thesis focuses on a case study of the community-run model—community crime prevention offices (CCPOs). Through participant observation, key informant interviews, analysis of policy documents and a review of the respective literatures on community policing and community crime prevention theory and practice, the present case study was examined. Key informants revealed basic partner expectations. The community expect the police to be accessible to the offices through their physical presence and by ongoing two-way communications regarding community crime-related concerns. The police, in return, expect the CCPOs to provide a conduit through which community needs and priorities can be communicated to them. Each partner brings to the office function different responsibilities. The community is responsible for maintaining adequate levels of community support for office programs and services. The police provide a set level of human and material resources to all crime prevention offices. Much has been written on the rationale behind the "community-police partnership" era. However, less has been written about the effective implementation of such partnerships. While the main thrust behind the formation of CPOs has been occurring since 1994, there are still no clear guidelines set regarding partner roles and responsibilities. The future viability of CCPOs is predicated on the mutual accountability of both the community and the police. Future steps could be taken to ensure the responsibility of both partners in this process: 1) a partnership agreement should be implemented between the community and the police to clarify expectations and role contributions; 2) accountability measures should be in place to reflect partner expectations and roles; 3) the police, as public servants, should address the resource inequities which exist among CCPOs; 4) the community should ensure CCPO programming is responsive to broad-based community need; and 5) ongoing efforts should be made to enhance partner communication. CCPOs have proven to be a vehicle of great promise. CCPOs are an interesting coproductive blend of community self-help and police re-organization along community policing lines. By first addressing their commitment to each other as partners, and attending to some of the weaknesses in this present partnership configuration, a more effective partnership will result. Such a partnership will better serve their mutual goals to enhance the safety and livability of Vancouver neighbourhoods. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This study examined how restorative justice programs impact the probability of recidivism among juvenile offenders. It compared juveniles who completed restorative justice programs versus juveniles who were released with warning from the courts. Both groups were compared to determine if restorative justice juveniles outcomes differed based on recidivism. Logistic regression showed that restorative justice programs had statistically significant increased odds of recidivating when compared to juveniles released with a warning. However, when the groups of restorative justice were disaggregated, only the adjudicated juveniles were statistically significant. Survival time analysis showed that restorative justice juveniles have longer survival times of recidivism when compared to juveniles released with a warning. Suggestions for further research and analysis are discussed with respect to the current results.

Community-oriented policing implementation has been examined under the context of large agencies whereas the literature on smaller agencies has ultimately been lagging behind The purpose of this study is therefore to examine the degree of community policing implementation within these smaller agencies, controlling for characteristics derived from the theory of social disorganization, to gather further insight into what variables may be impacting crimes rates Pearson correlation and OLS regression analysis is employed to obtain the necessary results The findings indicate that although community-policing implementation does not significantly impact or explain the variation of crime rates in small cities, the statistically significant results of particular social disorganization characteristics should be an indicator of the need to incorporate theory with practice / Includes bibliography / Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Gated communities exclude the public by presenting barriers to entry. Barriers take many forms, ranging from simple gates and fences to sophisticated electronic devices and security guards. Today, more than 20,000 communities in the United States are gated, housing a population in excess of 8 million. Those figures continue to rise, and there is no indication that current trends will slow in the immediate future. While several factors are fueling the growth of gated communities, crime tops the list. This paper evaluates the effect of gating on crime inside gated communities. To provide a context for the paper, a detailed description of gated communities is offered by way of introduction. Scholarly findings and several brief case examples are then presented in order to evaluate the impact of gating on crime. The notion that gating delivers crime prevention benefits stems from defensible space theory. This paper introduces defensible space theory, discusses the links to gated communities, and uses the findings to evaluate the contentions of defensible space theory. Several additional crime theories are also introduced, and their implications for gated communities discussed. Gated communities excite a number of concerns. Those that are relevant to planning objectives and ideals are presented in the final chapter of this paper. Areas for further research involving gated communities are also identified. Attention to these issues will further our understanding of gated communities and answer many questions that remain unresolved. Opinions, insights, and recommendations for addressing gated communities and crime are offered in conclusion. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

This diploma thesis deals with the crime prevention in the Czech Republic, particularly within the region of the Statutory town of Kladno. The introductory part includes the explanation of relevant terms related to criminality, and the criminality connections outline, criminology and crime prevention. This is followed by the analysis of legal norms, strategic documents, aims and crime prevention priorities at national and regional levels. Individual crime prevention management levels are described and staffing for crime prevention with the focus on Kladno Municipality is analysed. At municipal level the organisational changes caused by the need of preventive measures integration within the authority of Kladno are taken into consideration. The thesis also outlines the potential of synergic crime prevention impacts alongside the solution of social exclusion in the area of Kladno; current situation is reviewed. The empirical part of the thesis is based on the project plans for crime prevention in the period of 2009-2013. Social, economic and ethical aspects are analysed. The project plans analysis is also applied to statistical data on crimes committed within the area of Kladno, target groups and public opinion. This is integrated into public opinion survey, which has been conducted since 2009, and...

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Community Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2005. / This study is about the Community policing forum of Kwamashu and its strategy of putting the youth at the forefront in the fight against crime. The study was conducted on crime prevention with more emphasis placed on community participation as is the strategy of the Department of Safety and Security. A sampling technique was used where thirty respondents who reside at Kwamashu were interviewed about community policing and youth involvement in it. Related literature that focuses on community policing and its effect on the youth was reviewed. Various recommendations have been made based on the findings of the study. The findings of the study highlighted the need for the community policing forum to market itself to the community. Community members, especially the youth, need to be motivated so that they can be active participants in the fight against crime. Research findings also indicated that the strategies used were effective but failure to communicate with the community undermined their effectiveness.

Due to the fact that narcotics is a highly current topic in the mass media, which draws attention to the prominent change that has taken place in the drug market in recent years, there is therefore not much significant research in the research area linked to Sweden yet. Therefore, this study will focus on investigating how the crime prevention and crime fighting efforts against narcotics are applied by the police in Police Region North in Sweden, as well as which crime prevention efforts the police believe should be used against narcotics in the future. The importance of this investigation can therefore be a contributing factor in creating an understanding of the role of narcotics in society and how the change in the narcotics market means a development in the way the police work. The study is an inductive qualitative method where we used interviews with the police and the Police Authority's strategy documents, which were analyzed separately according to a thematic content analysis with inspiration from Bacchi's analysis method WPR. The result showed how the prominent changes in the drug market constituted forced developments for the Police Agency's strategies and the police's daily work regarding the presented drug problems. Furthermore, we can also see how significant differences are presented between the Police Authority's strategy document and the police's own statements regarding how the crime prevention and crime-fighting work should be carried out, and is actually carried out. Finally, we can conclude that the crime prevention work against narcotics that was previously de-prioritised has resulted in the police today still prioritizing crime-fighting work instead of crime prevention. Which, according to the police's own statements, has led to an increase in drug crime and insecurity in society. / <p>2024-01-12</p>

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