Throughout every chapter of this book, this section will emphasize the need for Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions. This is intended to increase the levels of awareness and support for CPSc solutions. This section for this chapter will highlight the important role that proper data and measurement can play in providing better support for CPSc solutions. Two CPSc solutions are discussed, along with two important sets of measurement data that are currently missing. One is the data measurements on pro-bono profs. The other is data on the willingness to support (WITS) for crime solutions. Individually, these two missing sets of data might not seem to be critically important. That might explain why they continue to be ignored. But together, they might define the future of CPSc in the majority of communities where there is no proper funding for crime solutions. As with other chapters, the new ideas presented in this section are meant to empower the readers to critically examine any existing resources that remain untapped.

Pro Bono Profs (Professors / Professionals):

In most communities, there is a need for professors and professionals who are willing and able to volunteer their time and expertise to help support CPSc solutions. We will refer to these expert volunteers as pro-bono profs. The need for pro-bono profs have always existed due to the lack of adequate public funding support for CPSc solutions in the communities. Without the help of pro-bono profs, many vulnerable people will continue to suffer, and sometimes die, from crime problems.

Very little data has been collected about pro-bono profs in each of the communities where crime problems exist. There is currently no official information on the total number of pro-bono profs, especially those who specialize in CPSc solutions. There are indications that pro-bono profs already exist in the legal profession where lawyers are expected to volunteer to practice law each year.

What do you think about mobilizing pro-bono profs to help support crime solutions? How might the experience of pro-bono lawyers serve as a model for mobilizing and measuring data on pro-bono profs?

3.8.1 Measuring The Willingness to Support (WITS) for CPSc Solutions

We have established that every crime solution requires proper data measurements. We have also established that there is strong support for these crime prevention science (CPSc) solutions at the federal levels of government. However, crime rates or crime problems occur primarily at the local levels of governments inside our communities. There is a great need for data measurement regarding the levels of awareness and support for CPSc solutions within each local community (Arungwa, 2015). We refer to this data as the willingness to support (WITS) measurement. Previous studies have shown that the WITS in communities can be measured and mobilized (Arungwa, 2014). Meaning that a simple WITS survey can reveal the level of awareness and support for crime solutions (2014).

Despite this novel WITS capability, very little data has been collected in communities where crime solutions are badly needed. There is currently no official information on which of the communities are willing to support or suppress crime solutions. The practical implication of this data gap is that even if pro-bono profs exist in the community, their services may not be welcome.

What are your thoughts regarding the measurement and mobilization of support data in each community? Would you participate in measuring the WITS of your community and why is this important to you?

“When performance is measured, performance improves.”<
Thomas S. Monson in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 107

Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) involves the investment of community resources to support the best possible Crime Solutions (Crimesolutions.gov). There are several other names for CPSc, such as evidence-based programs (EBPs) and prevention science programs or PSPs. What these programs have in common is that each of them have been designed with the most rigorous science and research methods possible. In this book, we simply refer to these programs as Crime Solutions or CPSc solutions. In this section of each chapter, we highlight some of the major crime solutions that relate specifically to the courts. While a few courts and judges are already supporting these CPSc solutions, it is important to note that the majority of the courts are not showing strong willingness to support (WITS) for these crime solutions. An important goal of this book, therefore, is to help the reader to participate in raising the level of “awareness and support” for crime solutions. We are providing a practical opportunity for any faculty in criminal justice, to collaborate with their students, and to participate in routine measurement and mobilization of support for CPSc solutions that are already available.

For decades, some key leaders in America have expressed a high level of Willingness to Support (WITS) for CPSc solutions. This is an important positive development for everyone, especially for minoritized groups in America. Marginalized groups have been disproportionately punished and incarcerated by the tradition-based programs and practices (TBPs) of courts. The TBPs include the decisions and sentencing of courts and judges that are neither effective nor efficient in reducing or preventing crime rates. The courts often seem to compound, rather than solve, the crime problems brought before them. The CPSc solutions are carefully designed to reduce or prevent the glaring inequalities that generally plague the American courts.

3.8.2 Directory of CPSc Solutions for Courts

For more than a decade, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has collaborated with researchers to maintain an online directory of the best crime solutions for courts and judges. A simple online search of this crime solution, under the topic of “courts” shows that there are dozens of highly effective, as well as promising crime solutions, specifically for the courts. In table 3.1 below, there are three of the most effective and promising CPSc for courts. The three-fold benefit of crime solutions is that they are usually more effective, sustainable, and efficient, when compared with tradition-based programs or TBPs. Unfortunately, the TBPs are still more popular than the CPSc programs.

3.8.2.1 Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions and Measurement Gaps

Table 3.1 highlights two CPSc solutions from the federal directory (Crime Solutions, 2023). They are the postsecondary correctional education (PSCE), and the communities that care (CTC). Each of the programs contain the title, evidence rating, and summary description. They have been chosen because they each suffer from lack of proper public funding as well as data gaps in most communities and universities.

These two crime solutions can also greatly benefit from existing resources and efforts to close the resources measurement data gaps they face. The first is on the demand side which can be solved by a WITS survey to show whether the communities are willing to support them. The other data gap is on the supply side to show whether there are pro-bono profs that would volunteer to implement each program.

As we study crime problems and crime solutions together, it can be empowering to know that we are not just helpless spectators. This section is intended for us to move beyond awareness to providing practical support for crime solutions that can reduce or prevent crime problems. The suggestions in this section are just a few of many practical ways that students and faculty can engage with their own communities to improve our justice system.

3.8.2.2 Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions and Measurement Data Gaps (Table 3.1 )