The 'art and science' of preparing crime risk assessment reports

Abstract

Much has been made of the impact of neo-liberalism on crime control and prevention in recent decades. The privatisation of corrections, security and other criminal justice functions has been the focus of considerable commentary. One feature of this debate that has received little attention has been the work of private consultants. Interviews with a small number of private consultants engaged (among other things) in the preparation of crime risk assessment reports in New South Wales (Australia) shed some light on this dimension of crime prevention through environmental design practice in NSW. In particular, analysis of interview transcripts revealed the striking similarity of approaches to compiling a crime risk assessment, the challenges of maintaining independence and quantifying crime risks, the lack of consistency of councils (local government) to review crime risks of proposed developments and the need for research and professional development.