Organized crime has also contributed to the globalization of crime around the world. Organized crime and white-collar corruption have a significant impact on collective and individual trust in public institutions. One of the problems today is the reinforcement of the linkage between macro- and micro-criminality. In fact, organized crime tends to use young delinquents as a cheap labour force. This situation can lead to the consolidation of a gang sub-culture progressively rooted in the urban context.
As envisaged by the United Nations [Guidelines for Cooperation and Technical Assistance in the field of Urban Crime Prevention] the global action plan should define: the nature of the phenomena to be tackled (poverty, unemployment, housing, health and education problems, cultural or inter-ethnic conflicts, drugs, etc); the objective being pursued within agreed time-limits; the modalities of action and the national and local resources to be mobilized.
The plan should involve: family, young people and adults, and inter-generational relationships; education, civic values, culture, etc; employment, training, measures for combating unemployment; housing; health, drug and alcohol abuse; government and community welfare aid for the least fortunate; combating the culture of violence. Actors involved should include: the police, the courts, education, housing, health, social workers, etc; community bodies including elected officials, associations, volunteers, parents, etc; the economic sector, including enterprises, banks, businesses, public transport [etc]. Various levels of action are required: primary prevention, by promoting welfare and health development and combating social deprivation, by promoting communal values and respect for fundamental human rights, by promoting civic responsibility and social mediation procedures, by adapting the working methods of the police and courts; prevention of recidivism, through modified police intervention, by modifying judicial intervention; post-sentencing assistance and family support; protection of victims.
2. Communal strategies to prevent crime not only make society safer but also save money. For every US dollar spent on crime prevention, the saving can be between 2 and 7 US dollars. Rigorous investment in crime prevention has proven more advantageous than investment in criminal justice. An additional benefit of crime prevention is its effect on bringing together the community at large.