Crime prevention solutions coming out of Washington are politically attractive, but the author of this article explains that they are at odds with strategies advocated by practitioners, scholars, and numerous expert panels. Elected government officials have recently proposed spending more funds on prison construction at the expense of prevention programs. Taking such a reactive approach does not deter young people from becoming criminals, nor does it address the majority of criminals—those serving sentences on probation and parole. This article examines and substantiates the argument for focusing on crime prevention and community corrections rather than on law enforcement programs.
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