The term "crime prevention" Is a widely used concept with a loosely defined meaning. For some authors the term crime prevention refers to conventional criminal justice policies. We prefer a definition which helps to bring into focus alternative or special crime prevention programs. In this paper crime prevention is defined as: "the total of all private intitatives and state polices, other than the enforcement of criminal law, aimed at the reduction of damage caused by acts defined as criminal by the state."
This definition covers fear reduction programmes, since fear can be seen as a damaging result of (perceived) criminality. lt also covers victim assistance polices since these can be viewed as a form of damage control. lncluded are also the prevention activities of the police, like general surveillance and the treatment or training of (ex) offenders. Excluded are the investigation and prosecution of crimes, sentencing and the execution of conventional punishments.