Situational Crime Prevention

The Evidence-Based Foundation of Sentinel Shield

Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) is a proven criminological framework with over 50 years of research behind it. Rather than asking

“Why do people commit crimes?”

SCP asks a more practical question:
“How do crimes happen in specific places, times, and situations?”

SCP focuses on changing environments, routines, and systems to make crime harder, riskier, and less rewarding—before harm occurs.

What Is Situational Crime Prevention?

Situational Crime Prevention shifts attention away from changing offenders and instead examines how crime opportunities are created. By identifying and modifying environmental conditions that enable crime, SCP reduces opportunities for exploitation at the source.

This approach has been successfully applied worldwide to address theft, vandalism, vehicle crime, and increasingly, human trafficking.

Core Principle

SCP reduces crime by addressing the situational conditions that allow it to occur. When opportunities are removed or altered, crime declines—without relying solely on punishment or awareness campaigns.

Why SCP for Human Trafficking Prevention?

COMPARISON:
Traditional vs. SCP

Traditional Approach:

Focuses on victim rescue (reactive)
Targets offender punishment (after the fact)
Uses fear-based "stranger danger" messaging
Emphasizes individual responsibility
Limited to awareness campaigns

SITUATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION (SCP) :

Prevents exploitation before it happens (proactive)
Changes environmental conditions enabling recruitment
Evidence-based crime prevention science
Focuses on systems and situations
Integrated, comprehensive framework

Key Insight:

Human trafficking follows predictable patterns based on environmental opportunities, routine activities, and rational decision-making by offenders. By altering these conditions, trafficking can be prevented at its source.

The Five Mechanisms of Situational Crime Prevention

Every SCP intervention falls into one or more of these five mechanisms:

Increase the Effort

Make crime harder to commit

Harden targets
Control access to facilities
Screen exits
Deflect offenders
Control tools and means

Example: Requiring verified employment documentation disrupts fraudulent recruitment.

Increase the Risks

Increase the chance of detection

Extend guardianship
Assist natural surveillance
Reduce anonymity
Utilize place managers
Strengthen formal surveillance

Example: Trained staff and visible reporting mechanisms raise detection risk.

Reduce the Rewards

Remove the benefits of crime

Conceal targets
Remove targets
Identify property
Disrupt markets
Deny benefits

Example: Shutting down illegal advertising platforms reduces profitability.

Reduce Provocations

Remove triggers that prompt offending

Reduce frustration and stress
Avoid disputes
Reduce emotional arousal
Neutralize peer pressure
Discourage imitation

Example: Trauma-informed school climates reduce grooming vulnerabilities.

Remove Excuses

Clarify acceptable behavior

Set rules
Post instructions
Alert conscience
Assist compliance
Control drugs and alcohol

Example: Clear codes of conduct eliminate ambiguity offenders exploit.

Disrupting the Stages of Exploitation

Human trafficking relies on a sequence of events: Recruitment, Transportation, and Exploitation. Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) is the strategy of disrupting this sequence.

Whether it is removing fraudulent job ads to stop Recruitment, utilizing enhanced border checks to halt Transportation, or training hotel staff to identify Exploitation, SCP removes the "opportunity" from the crime. If we remove the environmental factors that allow trafficking to thrive, we protect the vulnerable before harm occurs.