Jim Hilborn, Anu Leps
Status Report Estonia - The Development of Crime Prevention Education in Estonia We have argued that crime prevention in Estonia is still quite tentative and uncertain. There are neither a few clear policy directives nor is there any real commitment of resources to the development of crime prevention. In this paper we are advocating the development of crime prevention education to properly prepare crime prevention practitioners. History There have been some efforts at university level including the following: • In 2005: training module "Crime prevention - theoretical foundations and practical tools" at Tallinn University for Social Work MA studies (2 CP); • In 2006 and 2007: training module "Risk assessment and crime prevention" at Tartu University for Social Work BA and MA studies (2 CP). • In 2006: lectures at Tallinn University about CPTED for MA students of Urban Studies. These lectures looked at: • Defining crime prevention, crime reduction, community safety, different strategic documents (UN, UE, etc); • History of the CP since 10,000 BCE; • Methods – the problem analysis triangle, the conjunction of criminal opportunity, 5Is, SMART etc.; • Evidence of successful crime prevention programs. In terms of resources in Estonian, there are now the following: In 2006, the manual "Become a Problem Solving Crime Analyst in 55 small steps" (Clarke & Eck, 2003) was translated (Probleemikeskseks kriminaalanalüütikuks: 55 lihtsa sammuga) by the Academy for Civil Defence in collaboration with the Estonian police. In 2007 “The Concerned Citizens Guide to Crime Prevention and Community Safety: A First look at the Complex Issue of Crime Prevention Planning” (Hilborn & Hilborn) was prepared and translated with support from the Ministry of Justice. It is now in press. Together these two books provide a good theoretical basis for crime prevention education in Estonian. The Ministry of Justice and the NGO Baltic Crime Prevention Practitioners Association also have good collections of crime prevention material in English. However, at present we do not have a proper Criminology Department, nor do we have a Crime Prevention program at any University in Estonia. Establishing such a program is one of our key objectives. The closest that we have come at present is the course at Tallinn Pedagogical College. Since 2002, Helgi Hilborn has been offering a course in crime prevention for students of Social Work. Helgi Hilborn also translated “The Concerned Citizens Guide”.