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A recent study by the Ministry of Justice estimates the total cost of expenses
attributable to criminal acts in Canada at 59 billion dollars annually.
Invariably, crime constitutes one of the main sources of local preoccupation.
Thus, prevention is not only a police matter: it concerns us all! Let's get
involved… it's a sound investment!
Maybe you are asking yourself:
- where to start?
- where to target your intervention?
- what to do to become involved?
The advice on crime prevention which follows will help you answer those questions.
They are grouped in four information modules:
Go to the heart of the problem
Change things
Follow examples
Invest for the long term
Go to the heart of the problem
WHAT IS CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
Crime prevention through social development (CPSD) is a strategy which favours
the struggle against the underlying causes of criminal activity and victimization.
It is a long-term approach which requires the mobilization of the dynamic forces
within a community.
Every criminal act has consequences, first for the victim then on his surroundings
and sometimes even on the entire community. The most effective way - and the
least expensive - of preventing crime, is to intervene early to assist those
who risk becoming offenders or victims.
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS WHICH CAN BRING SOMEONE TO COMMIT A CRIME?
The causes of criminal activity are complex. We know however that the combination
of several factors can bring an individual to commit criminal acts. We call
them risk factors. Here are a few:
Risk factors
- Poverty
- Inadequate parental skills
- Drug addiction and alcoholism
- School drop-out
- Abusive treatment
- Weak self esteem
- Bad acquaintances
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Change things
IT'S YOUR TURN TO PLAY
As an entrepreneur, you play a fundamental economic and social role in the
development of your community. Your commitment can contribute to ensure a better
quality of life for the members of your community, for example in the prevention
of delinquency. You may also derive benefits yourself, such as:
- a secure social environment, more favourable to the proper functioning
of your business;
- a greater visibility for your business, your brand or your banner;
- an excellent opportunity to expand your network by making new friends or
customers;
- social recognition and positive reputation;
- an appreciation by your employees. Employees favourably perceive an entrepreneur
who personally undertakes to help the most deprived, which entails an intensification
of their feeling of belonging and pride.
SOME ADVICE TO GET YOU INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Participate in financing campaigns within your community organizations.
Communicate with your CLSC, your community centre, your municipal councillor,
your political representatives or with police officers in your area to know
the organizations which need you in order to really change things.
Pay attention to what is happening in your community. Consult
the regional newspapers to know the prevention projects in your neighbourhood
and offer your collaboration.
Make your resources available to the community. Your involvement
can sometimes be worth more than your financial contribution in the eyes of
your entourage. You can, for example, offer your expertise or even be a part
of the board of directors of an organization in your neighbourhood.
Speak about crime prevention with the members of the associations
to which you belong in order to identify how you could all work together.
Inform your employees. Use news bulletins, notice boards,
group meetings to:
- inform them about the importance of adopting a community approach together
to crime prevention through social development;
- recognize the good work of your employees in this field;
- make them aware of organizations and initiatives which exist and encourage
each one to find those which suit them;
- produce and circulate advice on the prevention of criminal activities.
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Follow examples
This section describes two examples of prevention through social development
programs, as well as testimonials from participants.
Program name
«Y'a quelqu'un l'aut'bord du mur»
("There's someone on the other side of the wall")
Main objectives
-
Prevent criminal activity by promoting social and professional integration
of troubled youth, within your neighbourhood
-
Improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood by removing graffiti
Description
Merchants from Promenade Ontario in Montréal got together with the social
workers. Their project creates employment for about twenty youth from 16 to
25 years old. They remove graffiti which damages the visual environment of the
neighbourhood.
Promoter
The main promoter of the project is the "Société de développement des affaires commerciales de la Promenade Ontario", a non-profit organization which insures an active presence in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve sector of
Montréal. It numbers more than 200 merchants and professionals.
TESTIMONIALS
Marie-Rose Gagné - Dollarama
I wanted to have better quality of life in the neighbourhood. I made some
inquiries with my merchants' association. I found the program «There is
someone on the other side of the wall». It helps the youth and it makes
the neighbourhood more secure. That is necessary for the proper functioning of
businesses!
Pierre André Jacob - Florist
I met with the other merchants. I consulted social workers. Together, we
created « There's someone on the other side of the wall ». We give
employment to youth 16 to 25 years old who have difficulty integrating into
society. They need positive role models. In addition, I made new friends and
customers. I really participate in community development.
Roger Gallagher - Director General Manager, SIDAC Promenade Ontario
It is a promising program. In the long run, it will reduce criminal activity.
Our youth develop qualities which will help them to keep a job or to pursue
their studies, for example, punctuality, capacity to complete a task or to attain
objectives. They work. They clean and embellish the neighbourhood. It promotes
clientele. It creates optimism in the entire community.
Program name
«Polyglobe», also called «L'école,
restez-y!»
("Polyglobe", also called "School, stay
in!")
Description
This project aims to fight against school dropouts, which affects 35% of young
Montréalers. Companies and public organizations or para publics welcome
young people for training or industrial visits. It allows them to develop a
new vision of the world, to create links, to live stimulating experiences and
to enrich their curriculum vitae.
Promoter
The main promoter of the project is "Fonds Ville-Marie", launched in 1995 by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce of Montréal and the City of Montréal. The objective of "Le Fonds" is to allow the use of a percentage of the annual profits of "Stationnement de Montréal" to reduce poverty among youth, to contribute to the promotion and advancement of education and to implement programs aiming to prevent and counter school dropout. For every 25 cent piece deposited in a parking meter, one cent is paid to "Fonds Ville-Marie" which, since 1995 has contributed more than 1.8 million dollars to projects answering its mission.
TESTIMONIALS
Mélanie Kau - President, Mobilia
The circle of acquaintances of a youth is important. My father said that
one is never anything but the sum of the influences which one received. Secondly,
what counts is the opinion of friends and everything that happens outside the
family. So, the Polyglobe program attempts to surround our youth with positive
influences. It restores their will to learn. It shows that with a little effort,
our dreams come true. That can make a difference between a youth who is going
to make a success of his life and a criminal.
Alcino Roque - CGI
I sponsor a youth. He comes here. I show him our trade. He sees adults succeeding
in their work. I believe that this can give him the taste to go farther. I do
not expect results tomorrow morning … Prevention through social development,
it's a long-term investment. For me, it is my way of helping. I encourage those
who are our future.
Marie-Élaine Normandeau - Director, Fonds Ville-Marie
Since 2001, 1330 young Montréalers have participated in Polyglobe.
Especially students in 3rd or 4th year high school. They come from schools with
a very high dropout rate. Training sessions take place during the summer. They
last about 60 hours. This gives rise to winning situations for all parties.
The youth explore a trade or a profession. The employers have the satisfaction
of helping them.
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Invest for the long term
By uniting their efforts, business leaders, as well as citizens, contribute
to the emergence of an energy which can only reflect positively on the community
as a whole.
However, it requires time to change the mentalities and behaviour, in order
that a youth commits himself and takes his place in society, and to notice a
decline in criminal activity within communities and businesses. This is why
it is necessary to persevere and not expect immediate results. Prevention of
crime through social development, it is a sound investment... over a longer
term.
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