With three murders over the course of a September week in Ottawa, crime prevention is never far from the minds of many of its citizens. The University of Ottawa’s new Institute for the Prevention of Crime aims to make sure that scientific knowledge on what prevents crime is readily available to policy-makers and practitioners across the country.
At a ceremony attended by the Hon. Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the newly opened institute received a $1.6 million contribution from the National Crime Prevention Centre.
The creative energy behind the institute are two uOttawa professors, who are internationally renowned experts on effective crime prevention.
Professor Irvin Waller was founding director general of the International Centre for Prevention of Crime and author of
Less Law, More Order. Professor Ross Hastings was chair of the Canadian National Crime Prevention Council and is currently the director of the University’s Department of Criminology. As co-directors of the institute, they will ensure a highly relevant institute with a broad national scope.
Canada spends more than $13 billion on police, prisoners and judges. Research bodies and commissions, including the World Health Organization, agree that governments must examine the risk factors that cause crime. Through research and knowledge-sharing, the institute will offer policy recommendations, share evidence on what works and explore public attitudes to prevention.
Related Link: Institute for the Prevention of Crime
