ABSTRACT
The perceived or actual (or both) failure of the criminal justice system to reduce levels of crime and criminal behavior has led to the continued search for alternative methods of crime prevention. The main aim of this chapter is to review the use of benefit-cost analysis in crime prevention, with special reference to the Australian situation. The broad categories of crime prevention and intervention programs include: the criminal justice system, developmental and early-childhood intervention, juvenile offender intervention, correctional intervention (treatment), and situational crime prevention. The chapter is concerned with assessing whether there are more options available to citizens and policymakers at the beginning of the crime prevention time line rather than at the end. It examines economic analysis research as applied to correctional intervention or treatment programs. The chapter focuses on drugs prevention and sex offender treatment programs.
