Evidenced-Based Practice in Canadian Policing and Crime Prevention
The objective of this work in writing is to examine evidence-based policing and crime prevention practice in Canada and to report on the same. According to the Public Safety Canada document entitled "evidence-based Crime Prevention: Scientific Basis, Trends, Results and Implications" policy on crime prevention and practice "should be based on solid scientific knowledge and evidence. Even though support for and recognition of evidence-based crime prevention (EBCP) is growing, much work still remains to put this knowledge into practice. " (Welsh, 2007, p.1) The report states that the evidence-based approach is such that "…typically refers to programs and practices that are proven to be effective through sound research methodology and have produced consistently positive patterns of results." (Welsh, 2007, p.1) EBCP is reported to ensure that "the best available evidence is considered in the decision to develop and implement a program or policy designed to prevent or reduce crime. (Welsh, 2007, p.1) It is reported that evidence-based crime prevention programs have been found to be very effective and to be of varying forms, which will be reviewed in this study.
I. School-Based Programs
There are three categories of programs in schools, which have their focus on at-risk youth, and the social development of the youth. The following three are cited as effective programs:
(1) School and Discipline Management;
(2) interventions to establish norms or expectations for behavior; and (3) self-control or social competency instruction. (Welsh, 2007, p.1)
II. Family-Based Programs
There are reported to be five types of family-based programs for at-risk families, which focus on the reduction of the affect of risk factor in the family including the following:
(1) home visitation for families at-risk;
(2) accessible day care or preschool programs for at-risk families;
(3) parent training (with younger children);
(4) parent training (with older children) at home or in the community; and (5) multisystemic therapy. (Welsh, 2007, p.1)
III. Community-Based Programs
There are reported to be three types of community-based programs that incorporate the situational prevention and that work through social development with promising results:
(1)...
(Welsh, 2007, p.1)
IV. Place Focused Programs
Place focused programs are of three types and are primarily based on situational prevention and targeted at public and private spaces and public transport. These programs are held to be effective and to include the following:
(1) nuisance abatement;
(2) environmental improvements such as closed-circuit television surveillance cameras; and (3) improved street lighting. (Welsh, 2007, p.1)
V. Community Policing and Evidence-Based Practice
The work of Pfeifer (2004) reports the development of effective community policing programs through a jurisprudence model and states that there presently is a "a growing disconnect between the practice of community policing and the scientific examination and evaluation of the concept." (Pfeifer, 2004) Community policing is an important practice because it is based on legitimacy, which is drawn from findings of surveys implemented in order to gain information about the community and its views on police work. Legitimacy is based on research findings from scientific experimental studies that assess the factors that influence police legitimacy and gives consideration to the effects among different groups in the population. Therefore, community policing is just one example of evidence-based policing and crime control models, including those stated in the previous section in this work in writing which have been implemented in Canada. (Committee to Review Research on Police Policy and Practices, 2004)
VI. Evidence-Based Crime Prevention
The work of Sherman, Farrington, Welch and MacKenzie (2002) entitled "Evidence-Based Crime Prevention" states that crime prevention "has a tendency to be driven more by rhetoric than reality. Effective public policy and practice needs to be based on scientific evidence." This approach has gained the attention in the medical field and other field that work in bettering society however, it is stated to be "not, however, the standard usually adopted in crime prevention and criminal justice." (Sherman, Farrington, Welch and MacKenzie, 2002) Instead it is stated that "anecdotal evidence, program favorites of the month, and political ideology seemingly drive much of…
