Law Enforcement and Prevention of Problem Behaviors: An Important Connection to Improve the Health and Safety of Our Communities

Why is the connection between law enforcement and prevention of problem behaviors such as substance use important?  Perhaps it is Safety within our communities.

While law enforcement is responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining public order and public safety; prevention addresses the health and safety of individuals[2].  However together they aim to enhance self-realization and participation in society.

Law Enforcement is informed by police science to prevent, detect, and investigate crime for the apprehension and detention of individuals suspected of law violation. Police Science, that informs law enforcement, is multidisciplinary drawing from the fields of criminology, forensic science, psychiatry, psychology, jurisprudence, community policing, criminal justice, correctional administration and penology.

Prevention is informed by prevention science to address determinants of behaviors that protect or put at risk the social, emotional, and physical health of individuals, families, communities; specify processes as to how these determinants operate; and determine the strategies that effectively intervene when trajectories are negative and reinforce those trajectories that are positive. Prevention science is also multidisciplinary drawing on epidemiology, sociology, psychology, behavioral science, medicine, statistics, and the neurobiological sciences.

The challenge for both groups relates to the practices that are used to achieve the objectives of each profession.  Prevention uses socialization processes to engage individuals in order to enhance resilience by providing the skills necessary to make informed decisions about engaging in healthy behaviors while avoiding behaviors that may be harmful and to lead healthy lives.  Law enforcement uses mostly social control measures to enforce laws.