Which approach involves increasing the effort required to commit a crime?

The approach that involves increasing the effort required to commit a crime is situational crime prevention. This theory is based on the idea that modifying physical and social environments can deter criminal behavior. It focuses on practical measures that make it more difficult for potential offenders to successfully carry out their plans. By increasing the effort, such as through better security systems, surveillance, or physical barriers, the likelihood of crimes can be significantly reduced.

Situational crime prevention operates on the premise that if crime is more difficult to commit, then fewer people will attempt to engage in criminal acts. This contrasts with broader strategies such as general prevention, which encompasses various methods to deter criminal activity but does not specifically focus on altering the immediate environment of potential crime. Additionally, hot spot policing targets specific areas of high crime but does not directly address the effort needed to commit crimes in those areas. Incarceration, while a method of punishment and deterrence, relates more to the consequences of crime rather than proactive measures to prevent it before it occurs. Overall, situational crime prevention effectively emphasizes making criminal activity more challenging, thereby acting as a deterrent.