Preventing Crime & Creating Safer Communities
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Crime Prevention Information & News

Creating Safer Communities in Europe: a crime prevention sourcebook

ESTONIA

The Government of the Republic of Estonia has established a Council for Crime Prevention which aims to reduce the crime rate and increase the safety of individuals through the co-ordinated efforts of all concerned with human and material resources. A National Crime Prevention Programme will focus on the following courses of action:

• applying economic and socio-political measures to affect the causes and conditions for committing crimes; strengthening the economic and social processes that assist in preventing or restraining crime;
• controlling crime through criminal justice measures e.g: drafting criminal legislation that is effective and meets contemporary needs; developing a balanced system of law and order and formulating an effective rehabilitation policy;
• applying crime prevention measures that reduce opportunities for offending (effective social control, technical and design measures, individual self defence);
• preventative work with "at-risk" groups (children with developing problems or from problem families, the unemployed, alcoholics and drug addicts);
• working with schoolchildren, from primary level onwards, to teach them about: the need to abide by the law, avoiding becoming a victim, the problems associated with drugs and alcohol;
• social, legal and psychological assistance to crime victims;
• scientific research in the field of crime prevention, implementation of the results of the research, application of the experience of other countries;
• joining the international efforts aimed at crime prevention.

The Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, and Social Welfare will be principally responsible for developing and executing the relevant programmes. In addition to governmental agencies, local government, non-governmental organisations and their unions can be involved in developing and executing the programmes.

THE SOCIAL REHABILITATION CENTRE is a non-governmental organisation established in Estonia in 1989 based on the principles that respect and rehabilitation are more worthwhile goals of the criminal justice system than revenge and humiliation.

Working in partnership with the Pastoral Care centre of the Lutheran Church, the Social Rehabilitation Centre runs training and advisory services, as well as shelters for: ex-prisoners, the homeless, juvenile offenders, and victims of violent crime.

Contact:

Avo Uprus, Director, Social Rehabilitation Centre, Manniku tee 92, Tallinn, Estonia, EE0107. Tel & fax: 00372 2 586 355.