David P. Farrington

Brandon Welsh

A Systematic Review

Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime

What are the cost savings from preventing a typical burglary, robbery, assault, or even a criminal career? Who benefits from these savings? How often do the benefits from preventing crime or criminal behavior exceed the resources spent on preventing or controlling crime? Is it more cost-effective to invest in early childhood programs or juvenile boot camps to reduce criminal offending? These are some of the important questions that face policymakers in crime and justice today. Answering them is no easy task. Nevertheless, it is important to provide answers in order to ensure that the dollars devoted to crime reduction are spent as efficiently as possible. The principle aim of Costs and Benefits of Preventing Crime is to report on and assess the present state of knowledge on the monetary costs and benefits of crime prevention programs. Remarkably, this crucial topic has rarely been studied up to the present time. This book examines key methodological issues, reports on the most up-to-date research findings, discusses international policy perspectives, and presents an agenda for future research and policy development on the economic analysis of crime prevention. Throughout, it addresses the important question of how governments should be allocating scarce resources to make crime prevention policy and practice more effective and to produce the greatest economic benefits to society. The book brings together research and perspectives from across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Costs and Benefits of Preventing Crime

David P. (Professor of Psychological Criminology Farrington, Institute of Criminology Professor of Psychological Criminology Institute of Criminology Cambridge University)

Professor of Criminal Justice Brandon C Welsh

Brandon C. (Assistant Professor Welsh, Department of Criminal Justice Assistant Professor Department of Criminal Justice University of Massachusetts Lowell)

A great deal is known about the early risk factors for offending. High impulsiveness, low attainment, criminal parents, parental conflict, and growing up in a deprived, high-crime neighborhood are among the most important factors. There is also a growing body of high quality scientific evidence on the effectiveness of early prevention programs designed to prevent children from embarking on a life of crime. The authors review the data on early causes of offending and what works best to prevent it. Preschool intellectual enrichment, child skills training, parent management training, and home visiting programs are among the most effective early prevention programs. They also outline a policy strategy early prevention. This is based on current research that lays the groundwork for a comprehensive national prevention strategy to save children from a life of crime.

Early Risk Factors and Effective Interventions

Saving Children from a Life of Crime

Brandon Welsh

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