What question did this study set out to answer?

The central aim is to examine the failures of crime prevention strategies implemented in South Africa post-1994.

synapse

⌘+K

synapse

⌘+K

March 10, 2026Open Access

HOW WE GOT IT WRONG: What to do about the failure of crime prevention

Key Points

The central aim is to examine the failures of crime prevention strategies implemented in South Africa post-1994.
Analysis of the criminal justice system's strategic vision
Examination of political and organizational dynamics
Review of intellectual climate in criminology
Crime prevention model has not effectively reduced crime rates
Focus on prevention distracted from identifying violent criminals
High crime levels persist in South Africa, indicating systemic issues

Abstract

After 1994, South Africa committed itself to a vision of criminal justice that placed the prevention of crime at the centre of the strategic vision of the criminal justice system. The roots of this decision lie in the politics, organisational dynamics and intellectual climate of criminology in the mid-1990s. The model has, however, proved disappointing. Worse, by distracting government from the challenge of building a criminal justice system that identifies and incarcerates more violent criminals, it may actually have helped to foster the high levels of crime from which South Africa suffers.

Bookmark

View Full Paper