Following an overview of the effect of the crime trend on the criminal justice system, the author defines "crime" and "crime prevention" and reviews theories of crime causes. The latter review discusses the three main groups of factors (propensity, temptations and frictions, and punishment) and how they may be interrelated. Also discussed are theories relating to the factors (social control, rational choice, and routine activity theories) and how the main theories can be integrated and used as a point of departure for formulating crime prevention strategies. A discussion of the criminal justice system's potential for developing crime prevention focuses on problem- oriented policing, the random investigations and identification of strategic crimes, and the prevention of repeated victimization. A section on social and situation crime prevention addresses how to increase self-control, increased social bonds to conventional society through school, situational crime prevention, reduced temptations, reduced frictions, frictions in meeting between strangers, and frictions in relations. The concluding section outlines the need for a coordinated national crime prevention strategy. 66 references