Is this the answer to crime prevention?

From fairer drug policing and prisoner reintegration to early mental health support, new research shows smarter, community-focused approaches could help prevent crime before it starts. 

Crime, justice and policing are top of mind for many Australians, and research suggests better results may come not just from tougher responses, but from acting earlier and more effectively. 

In the latest Flinders Wicked Problems Report released in June 2026, which asked people across the country to identify the most pressing issues in their communities, 37 per cent of respondents named crime and safety as a major concern. 

Many pointed to youth crime, repeat offending and a sense that the system is not doing enough to keep communities safe. 

Alongside calls for stronger consequences, there were also calls for intervention, and for that to happen earlier.  

“Strengthen community support programs, youth engagement initiatives, better mental-health and addiction services,” one person stated. 

That tension between punishment and prevention sits at the heart of the national conversation on crime. But some of the answers to this complex challenge can come from research that’s already pointing to practical, evidence-based solutions. 

At Flinders, researchers are tackling the issue from multiple angles: reducing reoffending, improving the fairness of policing, and identifying and expanding the kinds of support that can stop people entering the justice system in the first place. 

Read more