Crime Prevention Programs in Canada: Examining Key Implementation Elements

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

While crime prevention initiatives in Canada are increasingly being evaluated in order to measure their impact on a target group (e.g., reducing problematic behaviours, strengthening protective factors), examination of the elements of implementation that contribute to program effectiveness has not progressed at the same rate. Public Safety Canada (PSC) seeks not only to gather national evidence on what works, but also, more recently, evidence on how crime prevention programs are implemented and in which context(s) they are most effective. The aim of the latter is to guide program and policy decisions and contribute to the Canadian knowledge base on effective ways to prevent and reduce crime.

To this end, an analysis of implementation data from 71 crime prevention projects funded by PSC’s National Crime Prevention Strategy between 2008/09-2013/14 was conducted. The data used was extracted from project documents and entered into a comprehensive database that was designed to record factors related to implementation: external factors (e.g., geographic location, socio-economic situation, partners’ engagement, availability of resources), internal factors (e.g., management style, staff, organizational values) and factors linked to the program itself (e.g., complexity of delivery, educational requirements, technical assistance and training). The major findings related to key implementation elements are discussed.

Authors

• Laura Dunbar, Public Safety Canada

• Julie Savignac, Public Safety Canada