Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: Criminology

CRIMINOLOGIA PREVENTIVA - 2025/2026

3º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Laura Neiva
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Laura Neiva

Class type and School hours

Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas
Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

This course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of preventive criminology, promoting a critical understanding of the relationships between prevention, security, and policing, as well as the models, policies, and practices that underpin preventive intervention in diverse social contexts.

Specific Aims/Objectives

- Understand the historical and conceptual evolution of crime prevention.
- Identify the different levels and strategies of prevention.
- Become familiar with the main policing models and their articulation with security policies.
- Analyze crime prevention policies in light of scientific evidence and social contexts.
- Critically assess preventive policies and their implications for different social groups, considering alternatives that promote equitable and inclusive justice.

Skills to be acquired

- Define and distinguish the main types and levels of crime prevention.
- Relate the concepts of prevention, policing, and security.
- Understand the theoretical and socio-ethical foundations of preventive practices.
- Reflect critically on prevention strategies and policing models.
- Apply acquired knowledge to the analysis of programs, policies, and security mechanisms.

Teaching Procedures

The course will include theoretical and practical components, combining lectures with case study analysis, group exercises, and critical discussions. Materials will be made available through an online platform to support independent study.

Programme

I. Foundations of Crime Prevention

Concept of prevention: origins, evolution, and approaches.
Types of prevention: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Situational, social, and community-based prevention.

II. Prevention, Security, and Policing

Relationships between crime prevention, public security, and policing.
Historical evolution of policing institutions.
Policing models: traditional, community, problem-oriented, predictive.
Policing, public trust, and legitimacy.

III. Public Policy and Risk Assessment

Crime prevention and security policies in Portugal and internationally.
Risk management in crime prevention.
Security policies and terrorism.

IV. Contexts of Preventive Intervention

Prevention in urban and community spaces.
Contemporary challenges: cybercrime, terrorism, global policing.

Evaluation Type

Two written tests and a final exam to assess the understanding of theoretical and historical concepts.

Teaching Resources

Specialist publications, scientific databases, thematic videos, and case studies.

Sustainability Objectives

Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:

SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Crime prevention; public security; policing; risk; security policies.

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography