Question: The difference between reactive, proactive and preventive response

Reactive response refers to when law enforcing agencies respond to specific requests from individuals within the community. It is sometimes referred to as the traditional response(Lyman, 2013). It is characterized by law enforcers waiting to react to a call for help. The officers cannot act unless a crime is ongoing. It consists of three sections;routine patrols, responding to calls and following up on investigations. In a routine patrol, officersmove around the community to identify any criminal acts continuing and put measures in place.

Proactive response, on the other hand, refers to when law enforcing agencies work on own initiative to identify and come up with specific strategies to curb crime and criminal activities(Lyman, 2013). An example can be multi-agency initiative where the law enforcers together with groups within the community agree to work together. The groups receive information on issues and concerns that they need to handle before a crime occurs. The initiative addresses the societal needs and concerns that would lead to criminal activities.

Preventive response is when the law enforcers act in order to prevent a specific crime from stirring(Lyman, 2013). Through investigation techniques such as surveillance, they identify a possible threat and put strategic measures to prevent the same from happening. An example of preventive response is when the police react to deter a group of demonstrators from conducting civil disobedience.On the knowledge of a possible strike and riots, the law enforcers act with firmness and speed to disperse the demonstrators from further action.

Reference

Lyman, M. D. (2013). Criminal Investigation: The Art and the Science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Limited.