Applied Crime Prevention: Theory, Practice, Evidence, Issues

Edited by Tim Prenzler

University of the Sunshine Coast

What actually works in preventing crime?

Crime prevention has become one of the central challenges of modern criminal justice policy. Governments, police agencies, community organisations and security professionals all seek strategies that reduce offending while maintaining fairness, accountability and public trust.

Applied Crime Prevention provides a clear, practical guide to the major approaches used internationally to reduce crime. Drawing on decades of research and real-world case studies, the book shows how prevention strategies can be applied in policing, community safety, corrections and security settings.

The book integrates theory, evidence and practice across a wide range of prevention strategies, including policing, offender rehabilitation, community programs and environmental design. It highlights the importance of systematic planning, evaluation and partnership between stakeholders in achieving sustainable reductions in crime.

Topics covered include:

• Best-practice standards for designing and evaluating crime prevention programs
• The roles of policing, punishment, deterrence and incapacitation
• Offender rehabilitation, corrections programs and reintegration strategies
• Developmental and community-based prevention initiatives
• Situational crime prevention and opportunity reduction
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
• Case studies in reducing property crime, fraud, violence and disorder
• Security management and the role of the private security industry 

Concise, accessible and grounded in evidence, the book brings together leading researchers and practitioners to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary crime prevention strategies.

Ideal for:

• Criminology and criminal justice students
• Police and law enforcement professionals
• Security and risk management practitioners
• Community safety and crime prevention agencies
• Justice policy and government professionals

Table of Contents:

1. Best Practice Standards in Crime Prevention Programs

Tim Prenzler and Nadine McKillop

2. Policing, Punishment, Deterrence and Incapacitation

Tim Prenzler & Eric Wilson

3. Corrections, Therapies and Reintegration: Principles and Practice

Bricklyn Priebe, Tim Prenzler and Nadine McKillop

4. Developmental and Community-based Programs

Tim Prenzler

5. Situational Prevention

Tim Prenzler and Eric Wilson

6. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Tim Prenzler & Eric Wilson

7. Case Studies in Reducing Property Crime and Fraud

Tim Prenzler

8. Case Studies in Reducing Violence and Disorder

Tim Prenzler and Mateja Mihinjac

9. Security Management

Eric Wilson and Tim Prenzler

10. The Security Industry and Crime Prevention

Tim Prenzler and Rick Sarre

ISBN 9781923114173

Softcover, 168 pages

Released April 2026