The introduction
Some basic points on Blundell’s article
While evaluating Blundell’s article Successful Ways of Preventing Crime, some basic points on the content of the author’s work must be considered. First of all, it is necessary to point out that crime is considered to be one of the burning problems of the modern society. Thus, nobody will deny the fact that crime is growing. Those, who break law all the time, are perfectly sure that they have good chances to escape punishment. Generally, the issue of discussion seems to be of governmental concern, as the public’s fear cannot be neglected.
The thesis statement
Successful ways of preventing crime should be based on a variety of methods. For instance, taking into the fact that crime is considered to be a social issue, one can conclude that new effective programs are to be developed, in order to solve the problem.
The body
Critical evaluation of Blundell’s work
The major cause, which a crime is associated with, is recognized to be problem behaviors. “Recent research suggests that behavioral skills are more flexible than cognitive skills, and therefore more amenable to being affected by policy” (Carneiro & Ginja, 2008). Taking into consideration the fact, one can suppose that some special departments can be created, in order to affect people’s behavior. When reading Blundell’s article, one can notice that the author provides readers with one of the most appropriate ways to reduce crime rate. Thus, the author draws readers’ attention to Ed Davis from Massachusetts Police Department, who “decentralised his police force, opening small and highly visible police shops on city main streets, rather than having one massive and imposing police building” (Booth, 2005). Davis’s way was rather effective, as it gave officers an opportunity to trace back the conditions that allowed violations to thrive. Despite the fact that prevention seems to be less effective than reaction, one is to keep in mind that prevention methods are mostly developed for the common good. For instance, they provide officers with an opportunity to analyze the main causes of crimes. The process of analyzing, in its turn, allows to estimate what appropriate measures are to be taken, in order to reduce crime rate.
The policy of prevention and its importance
It is necessary to point out that the policy of prevention is also based on a psychological approach. Taking into consideration the flexibility of people’s behavioral skills, one can conclude that if those, who break law, face certain prevention methods, they will probably reconsider their actions. In other words, it seems to be obvious that prevention is better than reaction. Prevention methods applied to some individuals, impact on their cognitive thinking. Thus, lawbreakers have a chance to realize that the consequences of prevention methods are less regrettable than the consequences of reaction methods. According to Blundell “scanning, analysis, responding and assessing the response” (Booth, 2005) are the most effective methods the policy of prevention allowed to create.
The meaning of personal tactics
Another way, which is to be highlighted, in order to understand what steps should be followed to reduce crime rates, is the so-called personal tactics officers use. Generally, the idea to rely on various strategies, while looking for the most successful ways to prevent crime, sounds good. A wide range of tactics gives officers an opportunity to reduce crime and disorder. When analyzing what tactics seem to be more effective, one can conclude that special models of problem-oriented policing should be produced. “While many problem-oriented policing programs employ traditional law enforcement practices, many also draw on a wider group of strategies and approaches” (Weisburd & Eck, 2004). In other words, various experiments with tactics are necessary to single out the best ones. On the other hand, a variety of practices, which do not work, must be immediately eliminated, as they prevent successful strategies development. If personal tactics officers use work, than new approaches to certain problems must be developed.
According to Blundell’s article, the simplest tactics can be also rather effective. Thus, the author describes the tactics of Greenberg from Charleston, who relied on such principles as “consistent police presence, respect for the community, and a preventive approach to criminal activity” (Booth, 2005). Taking into consideration the case Blundell provides us with, one can probably notice that sometimes non-violence practices are more effective.
Chief Bowman’s statement and its importance
Generally, it should be noted that while choosing what tactics seem to be more appropriate, one is to analyze the case certain strategies are to be applied to. It depends upon the situation what tactics must be used. For instance, if an officer’s life is in danger, than reaction, but not prevention is to be used. Learning tactics is not an easy task. One is to keep in mind that officers are to be well familiar with sociological, psychological and anthropological background tactics and strategies are based on. For this reason, the problem of education cannot be ignored. Blundell draws readers’ attention to Chief Bowman’s statement. Thus, according to Bowman all officers who are engaged in criminal activities are to be well educated.
The role of higher education in relation to police officer attitudes was studied by Cody W. Telep from George Mason University. The main purpose of the investigation was to compare the level of responsibility of officers with a bachelor’s degree with those ones with a high school diploma. The results of the investigation showed strong evidence that “postsecondary education has a beneficial impact on abuse of authority attitudes compared to just a high school diploma. This is significant because the majority of police departments still require just a high school education” (Telep, n. d.). In other words, it seems to be evident that Bowman was right.
The conclusion
Finally, it is necessary to keep in mind that effective methods of preventing crime depend upon numerous issues. It is not enough to rely only on psychological approaches. The methods are to be created on the basis of individuals’ cognitive, behavioral and social development. In other words, while creating the methods, there is a need to take into account certain important variables. One of the most important aspects, which should be properly studied, is the major cause of a crime. If the causes of crimes are well analyzed, the probability of success is higher.
While considering Blundell’s article, it becomes evident that preventive methods are more effective in comparison with reaction ones, as they give an opportunity to reveal the major cause of a crime. Various tactics and strategies, which officers use, also determine successful ways of preventing crime. Sociological, psychological and anthropological background of certain tactics is considered to be extremely important.
References:
Booth, P. (2005). Towards a Liberal Utopia? The Institute of Economic Affairs.
Carneiro, P. & Ginja, R. (2008). Preventing Behavior Problems in Childhood and Adolescence: Evidence from Head Start. University College London. Web.
Telep, C. (n. d.). The Impact of Higher Education on Police Officer Attitudes Towards Abuse of Authority. George Mason University. Web.
Weisburd, D. & Eck, J. (2004). What Can Police Do to Reduce Crime, Disorder, and Fear? Gmu.edu. Web.