191-421 Contemporary Crime Prevention

37.5 points of second/third year criminology subjects for third year. Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in criminology for fourth year.

This subject provides summaries and critical perspectives on crime prevention philosophies and techniques, and analyses current developments in Victoria, other parts of Australia and overseas. Specific topics covered include concepts of crime prevention; situational crime prevention; crime prevention through environmental design; Australian and international experience; social crime prevention; crime prevention and public housing; preventing violence; and crime prevention and the business sector. The subject has a strong practical component, with students divided into fieldwork teams to identify, analyse and propose solutions for crime problems in metropolitan Melbourne. Issues tackled by teams in recent years include vandalism and graffiti at a suburban shopping centre; reducing thefts from vehicles in a major city car park; addressing maintenance and order problems in relation to suburban public toilets; improving student safety on campus; and reducing bullying in schools.

An essay of 2000 words for 3rd year, 2500 words for 4th year, and contribution to a fieldwork team report equivalent to 2000 words for 3rd year, 2500 words for 4th year. Fieldwork team reports will also be marked and 20% of each student's final mark will derive from the grade awarded for their team's report.

• P O'Malley & A Sutton, Crime Prevention in Australia: Issues in Policy and Research. The Federation Press, 1997.