Abstract:  For a long time, research in the theory and strategy of crime prevention have been rather marginal in the filed of criminology in China. In recent years, as criminology continues to develop, the effectiveness of “crime prevention” has become a research subject of heated discussion. In the history of criminology, the effectiveness of the theory and its ability to generate useful theoretical tools are always of crucial importance to the development of crime management model. Research in the theory and strategy of crime prevention shows that even in the international circles of criminal studies, “theoretic studies of crime prevention and crime control are less clarifying or consistent as research in the causes of crime”. In the 21st century, China’s criminology is forced to address many urgent issues regarding the theory and strategy of crime prevention. Looking into the effectiveness of crime prevention theory is to seek to answer the question “what is effective” in criminology. The theory and knowledge thus derived will benefit the criminal studies and eventually enhance crime prevention.

Key words:  criminology, crime prevention, crime control, campaignstyle management, routine management