A sustainable crime prevention strategy is required across all sectors in Ontario to address the risk factors of crime in a holistic, consistent and integrated manner. To that end, a number of strategic opportunities have been identified that could strengthen the delivery of crime prevention services in Ontario.

Integration of crime prevention efforts

Currently, there are many levels of government, groups, organizations and police services working on crime prevention that could learn from, and assist each other. The efforts and resources being spent on crime prevention could be enhanced by working as part of a network of partners where experience, expertise, and information can be readily shared. For example, some crime prevention practitioners are unaware of federal and provincial grant programs and existing projects from which they might benefit, learn, or incorporate into their own programs. This may limit the emergence of programs with great potential.

Evidence-based research and evaluation

There has been significant effective, reliable, and result-based evaluation of crime prevention programs which facilitates the delivery of future interventions. In-depth and qualitative evaluations of crime prevention through social development programs offer opportunity to provide an analysis of long-term prevention effects. This level of analysis is useful for gaining detailed knowledge about the positive elements that can mediate or moderate exposure to risk factors.

Information sharing among crime prevention partners, services and referral programs

All levels of government, law enforcement and the community require readily available access to credible information on crime prevention. Increased information sharing between organizations and partnerships may address the risk factors associated with crime such as treatment programs and facilities for mental health and addiction issues, temporary supportive housing and social activities. An example is Ontario 211 which is a free public information service that connects people with information, and provides access to over 56,000 community resources, social, health and related government services and programs.

Crime prevention education and awareness

Public education and awareness is an important tool for preventing crime and victimization. Actions such as using social/commercial media to educate communities about how they can avoid being victimized or how to identify the early signs of risk factors for crime in an individual can go a long way. Education and awareness campaigns can also play a strong role in enhancing the community’s understanding of the benefits of social development and crime prevention.

Promising practices on rehabilitative programming for youth indicate that in order to ease a young person’s transition from custody to the community and to foster desistance from crime, the public and communities into which they are reintegrating need to be supportive. To that end, media can assist in changing public sentiments and misperceptions about the best way in which to deal with crime and victimization, thereby generating new ideas on how to make communities safer.

Publicizing crime prevention and social development through a variety of media channels can be an effective way to reach large target audiences quickly and persuasively. In this respect, the internet, print and broadcast media could be utilized to educate the public on issues of crime prevention and to deliver important messages related to community safety.