Book Review: S. Schneider Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice Boca Raton FL: CRC Press, 2010. xix, 369 pp. $69.95. ISBN 978-1-4200-6214-4

• Author: Laura Dunbar
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016810385307
• Published date: 01 June 2011
• Date: 01 June 2011
• Subject Matter: Articles

S. Schneider

Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice Boca Raton FL: CRC Press, 2010.

xix, 369 pp. $69.95. ISBN 978-1-4200-6214-4

Reviewed by: Laura Dunbar, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

DOI: 10.1177/0734016810385307

Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice provides students and practitioners with a comprehensive

overview of the field of crime prevention. In this textbook, Stephen Schneider strives to strike a bal-

ance between the theoretical and empirical understanding of the topic and its practical application.

The overall goal is to assist readers in understanding and appreciating this interdisciplinary field.

In the introductory section, Schneider provides an overview, addresses difficulties in establishing

conceptual boundaries and definitions of crime prevention, and systematically identifies the

strengths and weaknesses in various attempts to precisely define this concept.

The next section of the book explores, analyzes, and critiques various crime prevention theories,

concepts, and research findings, with each chapter dedicated to one of the dominant approaches

to crime prevention. Chapter 2 examines situational crime prevention and Crime Prevention

Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Schneider outlines both opportunity reduction techniques

involvingthe immediate physicalenvironment, such as ‘‘target hardening’’strategies, and those involv-

ing the immediate human environment, such as Neighborhood Watch programs. Chapter 3 examines

crime prevention through social development (CPSD). Relying heavily on the work of

David Farrington, a specialist in developmental criminology, Schneider examines the types offactors

(personal, family, school, community, and peer) that put children and youth at risk of future criminal

behavior.In addition, he addresses the importance of deliveringprotective factors throughCPSD inter-

ventionsthat are meant to promoteresilience within at-riskindividuals. Chapter4 examines community

crime prevention, demonstratingthat the community canbe considered a crime preventioninstitution in

and of itself. A significant aspect of this chapter is the discussion of the challengesfaced in promoting

safety andsecurity in disadvantagedneighborhoods, in particularthe inverse relationshipbetween need

and the capacityof a community to implementand sustain comprehensivecrime prevention initiatives.

In the third section, Schneider addresses other groups engaged in crime prevention efforts.

Chapter 5 examines the role of the state in initiating and supporting crime prevention initiatives

by presenting case studies from around the world that explore government action at the national,

regional, and municipal levels. Schneider discusses the importance of developing comprehensive

crime prevention strategies that are part of broader crime control plans and outlines several initia-

tives; however, a presentation of more recent examples such as Operation Ceasefire in Boston and

SafeCom in Alberta, Canada could have been beneficial. Chapter 6 explores the role of police agen-

cies in crime prevention with particular emphasis on how crime prevention principles are reflected in

community and problem-oriented policing. Despite enthusiasm surrounding these two models,

Schneider argues that there are concerns about their effectiveness and whether they will ever gain

equal status and resources compared to traditional models of policing.

In each chapter, numerous case studies are presented that illustrate a particular crime prevention the-

ory, concept, or strategy. Schneider has paid particular attention to include studies that exemplify projects

or measures that are evidence-based and which have undergone rig orous evaluations—at least as much as

this is possible in a field that generally lacks longitudinal research. However, this bias means that exam-

ples of new and innovative approaches to prevent crime tend to be missing from the discussion. As such, a

section on recent developments in the field could have been a valuable addition to the textbook.

A conclusion section at the end of each chapter includes a summary of research examining the extent

to which strategies pursued under each approach have met their objectives in real-world applications.

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