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L essons from across the ‘pond’: Taking crime prevention seriously

L essons from across the ‘pond’: Taking crime prevention seriously. Presentation by John Winterdyk Director, Centre for Criminology and Justice Research Mount Royal University Calgary, Alberta, CANADA Adjunct professor: St. Thomas Un, Un. of Regina and Polytechnic of Namibia Sept. 22, 2011.

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L essons from across the ‘pond’: Taking crime prevention seriously

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  1. Lessons from across the ‘pond’: Taking crime prevention seriously Presentation by John Winterdyk Director, Centre for Criminology and Justice Research Mount Royal University Calgary, Alberta, CANADA Adjunct professor: St. Thomas Un, Un. of Regina and Polytechnic of Namibia Sept. 22, 2011 ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  2. This presentation will address the following six questions: • What is the Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice Research (CCJR)? • What theoretical model/assumption? • Why is the CCJR involved in supporting social interventions designed to prevent offending? • How is the CCJR attempting to bridge the implementation gap? • How can the CCJR share and expand it scope and relationship internationally? • What lessons learned/to share? ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  3. Theoretical working model • Crime = skill + motivation + opportunity • Skill – no uniformity….reactive • Motivation/desire – no uniformity…reactive • Opportunity – risk and protective…proactive • Crime is Opportunity • brain X environment (C.R. Jeffery, L. Ellis, A.Walsh..) • Crime prevention through social development vs. target hardening ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  4. The CCJR – why? • Established Jan. 2010 • unique • funding • Staff • Students, network of advisory/consultants • Project scope • Political quandary – Omnibus Bill (Sept. 20/11) ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  5. The scope of crime prevention“...not easy. Most of our attempts...have been relatively unsuccessful” J. Hackler, 2011:3. • Types: • Primary – individual and family levels factors (parenting skills) • Secondary – strategies/techniques to address RISK factors (police hot spots; social programs – D. Olds prenatal) • Tertiary – after crime occurs (post 9/11 and border security, airport screening) • Addressing offences vs. offending • Addressing protective and risk factors • The multiplicity and diversity of the risk factors • SROI ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  6. Five categories of risk factors • Individual • Prior history • Drugs and/or alcohol • Limited education • Mental health • (Violent) victimization • Low/poor self-control…impulsive • Peer group • Interaction with other delinquents • Street socialization • Friends who use drugs and/or are involved in gang activities ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  7. School • Poor performance, low aspirations, poor teacher role models… • Family • Unstable home environment, drugs/crime in the family, extreme economic deprivation… • Community • Notable social disorganization…drugs, DV, gangs, etc. ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  8. Protective factors • Positive attitudes, values or beliefs /positive self-esteem • Conflict resolution skills • Good mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health • Success at school / steady employment / stable housing • Good parenting skills • Strong social supports • Community engagement • Problem-solving skills • Positive adult role models, coaches, mentors • Healthy prenatal and early childhood development • Good peer group/friends /social network • Availability of services (social, recreational, cultural, etc.) ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  9. SROI – social return on investment • a principles-based method for measuring extra-financial value • UK roots around 2006 (NL also active) • BENEFITS: Communication; more effective decisions; focus on the important; investment mentality; clarity of governance • LIMITATIONS: not everything can be monetized; over-reliance; intensive first time; some outcomes (self-esteem) cannot be monetized ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  10. Provincial government commitment • Safe(r) Communities • “brings together provincial & municipal governments + law enforcement agencies + community groups + the business sector + social agencies to ensure Alberta remains a place where we are all free to live, work and thrive.” • 9 prov. ministries! • $60+ million over 5 years (SCIF) • Seed money to the CCJR • Community hearings • Report and 32 recommendations • Gang reduction, safe communities, youth at risk • Shift to prevention and engage communities ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  11. Examples of CCJR projects…since June 2010 • 15+ projects • Topics range from: • Human trafficking – better service and support • Identity theft – • Bullying - • Domestic violence – • Youth gangs – • Dating violence – • Current projects: • Teen courts – viable alternative? • Homelessness – impact of by-laws • Human trafficking – • PACT – police and mental health • Building Bridges • Domestic violence ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  12. Where to now and what have we learned? • !total cost of crime per year $47 billion CDN • 1993 Bob Horner report on Crime Prevention • 1% of CJS budget per year towards CP over five years • 5% of budget after 5 years…reality! • 1996 report by NCPC (National CP Council) • The evidence is conclusive that the most effective way to prevent crime is to: • ensure healthier children, • stronger families, • better schools, and; • more cohesive communities. • Crime prevention through social development (CPSD) is a sound investment. ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  13. ‘lessons’: bridge academia and practice • Evidence-led practice • Integration • Partnerships • Responsive to local communities • Measurable results ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  14. Current priorities • School age children/youth (multiple risk factors): • S4 Project – Start Smart Stay Safe – police, schools boards, & community partners. A strength based model …build ‘resilience’ • universal • Aboriginal and Northern communities • 3% of pop. 20+% offender population • Drugs, gangs, homelessness, etc. • foreigners • ‘Newcomers’ – anomie, opportunity, education…numerous risk factors • Priority crime issues: youth gangs, drug-related crimes, homelessness, transnational crime ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

  15. Taking crime seriously – lesson learned • Bridging linkages between government, NGOs, CJS agencies – link evidence based research to programs/capacity building • Avoiding ‘displacement’ effect • collective • International collaboration… “we’re all dealing with the same thing” • Invest in social development/opportunity • Incorporating SROIs into evaluations • Avoiding “death by project”… strategies to help sustainability of the successful programs • Thank you! • www.ccjr.ca please visit us ESC - Sept. 22-24/11

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