Crime Prevention Action Fund

The Crime Prevention Action Fund (CPAF) provides time-limited funding to assist communities and organizations to develop and implement crime prevention initiatives that utilize model and promising programs to address known risk and protective factors associated with offending behaviour. To learn more about risk factors, see risk and protective factors.

Evidence-based approaches rest on two main characteristics: a) they clearly establish the links between identified risks, interventions and outcomes and b) they use the knowledge base of evaluated model and promising programs.

The National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) recognizes some crime prevention interventions as model programs, based on rigorous evaluation studies and positive results in various communities and environments. The NCPC defines promising programs as crime prevention interventions that are based on evidence, but requires further evaluation to make determinations regarding effectiveness.

Our priorities are to:

• address early risk factors among vulnerable children and youth at risk;
• respond to priority crime issues (e.g. youth violence, school-based bullying);
• prevent recidivism among high risk groups; and
• foster prevention in Aboriginal communities.

Main Objectives:

• To support evidence-based model and promising programs which address known risk and protective factors to reduce offending; and
• To support the dissemination of knowledge and the development of tools and resources related to effective crime prevention projects.

Outcomes:

Short term outcomes:

• Targeted at-risk individuals and populations are reached through support and interventions provided by projects; and
• Knowledge of effective crime prevention resources, tools and best practices is increased.

Intermediate outcomes:

• Positive changes in risk and protective factors among at-risk children and youth are realized;
• Positive changes in risk and protective factors for youth at risk of involvement in crimes such as those related to gangs and drugs are realized; and
• More effective strategies to prevent and reduce crime are utilized; knowledge about what works is applied in practice.

Ultimate outcomes: Reduced offending among identified populations.

Project evaluation

Evaluation is a key activity in the implementation of the National Crime Prevention Strategy. In addition to the regular monitoring and reporting required of all funded projects, the NCPC supports robust and rigorous evaluation of selected projects or groups of projects. The NCPC provides assistance to develop and implement evaluation plans that are appropriate to the type of project being undertaken.

The results of project evaluations contribute to building the evidence and knowledge about effective crime prevention practices. The dissemination of knowledge obtained from evaluations enables people in communities, policy-makers, and program designers to develop more effective crime prevention initiatives, locally and nationally. For more information on project evaluation, please see NCPC publications – Building the evidence.