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9.7: How Crime Prevention Differs from Crime Intervention

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    Crime Intervention vs. Crime Prevention

    Crime Prevention

    Crime Intervention

    Stops crime before it starts

    Interrupts ongoing criminal behavior

    Targets general population or at-risk youth

    Targets active offenders

    Universal or selective programs

    Indicated programs for identified individuals

    Long-term, developmental focus

    Immediate, crisis-oriented focus

    Example: After-school programs

    Example: Street outreach to gang members

    Crime Intervention vs. Criminal Justice Response

    Criminal Justice Response

    Crime Intervention

    Reacts after crime occurs

    Proactively engages before next crime

    Focus on punishment and incapacitation

    Focuses on behavior change and support

    System-centered

    Individual-centered

    Adversarial relationship

    Supportive relationship

    Example: Arrest and prosecution

    Example: Case management and services

    Crime Intervention vs. Treatment

    Traditional Treatment

    Crime Intervention

    Clinic-based

    Community-based, field-based

    Requires motivation/readiness

    Engages ambivalent individuals

    Scheduled appointments

    Flexible, meets people where they are

    Single issue (mental health, substance use)

    Holistic, addresses all needs

    Example: Outpatient therapy

    Example: Street outreach with wraparound services

    This page titled 9.7: How Crime Prevention Differs from Crime Intervention was last modified on Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:45:05 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Antoniette Aizon.