Characterized both by its interdisciplinary and its applied nature, crime prevention is influenced by diverse fields such as psychology, sociology, criminology, health care, urban planning and design, education, economics, community development, and social work, among others. The study of crime prevention is also focused on developing and evaluating interventions for applications in real-world settings. In addition to exploring basic concepts and theories, Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice reflects the predominantly applied nature of the field, offering readers the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, implement, evaluate, and sustain effective crime prevention interventions.

The book examines dominant approaches (situational, social development, community crime prevention, and community policing), as well as process-oriented issues essential to its application (planning, implementing, and evaluating a crime prevention project), balancing a scholarly analysis of the subject while imparting useful skills.

Emphasizing an experiential learning approach, this text:

• Presents an introduction to and overview of the theory and practice of crime prevention
• Explains how etiological theories of crime and criminal behavior inform each of the dominant crime prevention approaches
• Encourages the development of knowledge, expertise, and practical skills among students and crime prevention practitioners that can be applied in the real world
• Provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to the planning, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of successful crime prevention interventions
• Enhances the development of critical analytical thinking, communication, and writing skills of the reader

The text includes learning objectives, discussion questions, case studies, interactive exercises, and field research assignments which ground the theoretical concepts in a practical framework, providing an optimal learning experience for students and practitioners alike.