Meta-synthesis of Factors Influencing Policy-making and Legislation in the Field of Situational Crime Prevention within Iran’s Legal System

 ∴ Introduction ∴ ‌
The prevention of crime represents a vital and indispensable component of criminal policy, aiming to address criminal issues through proactive and non-criminal strategies. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the significance of crime prevention is recognized at the constitutional level, particularly in Clause 5 of Article 156, which assigns the Judiciary the duty of preventing crime. Nonetheless, the practical realization of this duty has encountered substantial theoretical and operational obstacles, particularly given the traditional reactive nature of judicial institutions. In response to these challenges, the Iranian legislature adopted the "Law on Crime Prevention" in 2015, following an extended legislative process. Despite the law’s ratification, its practical implementation has remained limited, and notable advancements have yet to be realized. Within this context, the present study embarks on a meta-synthesis of existing Iranian research on situational crime prevention, aiming to extract and consolidate key factors influencing policy-making and legislation in this field. The study adopts a critical perspective, recognizing that situational crime prevention strategies must be carefully adapted to Iran’s unique cultural, social, and legal environment in order to achieve effective outcomes.
 
‌ ∴ Research Question ∴ ‌
Given the gap between the formal legal recognition of crime prevention and the insufficient practical realization of situational prevention measures, the central research question guiding this study is as follows:
     What are the critical factors that influence the policy-making and legislative processes regarding situational crime prevention within Iran’s legal system, as identified through a meta-synthesis of existing Iranian research?
     Sub-questions stemming from this core inquiry include:
     What obstacles have hindered the effective translation of situational crime prevention theories into Iranian legislative and executive measures?
     Which cultural, social, and structural variables must be considered when formulating and implementing crime prevention policies in Iran?
     How can Iranian criminal policy be optimized to better integrate situational crime prevention strategies based on empirical research findings?
 
‌ ∴ Research Hypothesis ∴ ‌
As is characteristic of many meta-synthesis studies, this research proceeds without a traditional, explicitly stated hypothesis. Instead, it operates under an exploratory framework aimed at aggregating, interpreting, and synthesizing the findings of multiple prior studies.
 
‌ ∴ Methodology & Framework, if Applicable ∴ ‌
This study employs a qualitative meta-synthesis methodology to systematically review and integrate existing Iranian research related to situational crime prevention. Meta-synthesis, distinct from traditional meta-analysis, is particularly suitable for synthesizing findings from conceptual, theoretical, and qualitative studies rather than purely statistical data.
     The research process involved several key stages: (1) identifying and selecting relevant primary studies through systematic database searches and manual review of academic journals and conference proceedings; (2) establishing inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance, quality, and methodological rigor of the selected studies; (3) extracting thematic elements, conceptual categories, and analytical models from the primary studies; and (4) synthesizing these elements into a coherent framework that highlights the principal factors influencing policy-making and legislation.
 
‌ ∴ Results & Discussion ∴ ‌
The meta-synthesis of Iranian research on situational crime prevention reveals several critical insights into the factors influencing policy-making and legislation in this domain. One of the most significant findings is the confirmation that situational crime prevention measures must be carefully localized, taking into account Iran's distinct social, cultural, and economic characteristics. Generic adoption of foreign models without adaptation leads to ineffective policy outcomes and public resistance. Therefore, the emphasis must be placed on strategies that resonate with Iranian societal structures and values.
     Among the preventive strategies identified, environmental design emerged as a particularly effective method. The findings indicate that urban architecture, environmental engineering, and space management can serve as powerful tools in crime deterrence when integrated thoughtfully into public policy. Specific measures such as improving visibility through appropriate lighting, ensuring clear demarcations between public and private spaces, creating natural surveillance opportunities, and regulating access points to sensitive areas are cited as best practices for crime reduction. These findings are closely aligned with the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), suggesting that collaboration between criminologists, architects, and urban planners is essential.
     Social surveillance also surfaced as a critical element. The concept of "place identity"—where an individual's behavior is influenced by the environments they associate with—reinforces the necessity of promoting a sense of community ownership over public and semi-public spaces. Natural surveillance, social monitoring, and informal community guardianship, when combined with formal policing efforts, significantly enhance crime prevention outcomes. However, it was repeatedly stressed that such surveillance measures must respect individual privacy rights and adhere to constitutional protections.
     Another notable discussion point concerns the importance of legitimate and proportional interventions. The research underlines that preventive measures must be preceded by clear warnings, maintaining the principles of transparency, proportionality, and fairness. Informing potential offenders about preventive mechanisms influences their rational decision-making process. Studies indicate that the perceived certainty of detection acts as a far stronger deterrent than the severity of punishment, making preventive communication and visible deterrent measures critical.
     Furthermore, the findings highlight several recommendations for improving situational crime prevention measures in Iran. These include the need to establish clear legal frameworks governing surveillance activities, both in physical spaces and cyberspace, to prohibit the use of dangerous or disproportionate preventive tools, and to ensure that the financial burden of prevention is not shifted onto ordinary citizens. Recognizing the role of victims in shaping preventive policies, integrating rational cost-benefit calculations into policy design, and promoting the professional development of enforcement personnel through knowledge exchange and training are also emphasized.
     Finally, the results show that situational crime prevention measures must be tailored based on the type of crime, the offender's profile, and the environmental context. Preventive strategies suitable for economic and property crimes differ significantly from those needed for violent or ideologically motivated crimes. Likewise, offenders with professional criminal backgrounds may require more sophisticated deterrents compared to opportunistic offenders who may be dissuaded by relatively simple measures such as enhanced lighting or visible surveillance.
 
‌ ∴ Conclusion ∴ ‌
Situational crime prevention is a pivotal mechanism for enhancing public security and reducing criminal opportunities, provided it is carefully adapted to the socio-cultural and legal specificities of each context. In Iran, while the constitutional and legislative frameworks acknowledge the importance of crime prevention, the effective realization of situational crime prevention strategies remains limited and requires a more robust and context-sensitive approach.
     The study concludes that the most effective situational prevention strategies for Iran revolve around two interconnected pillars: environmental design and social surveillance. By emphasizing natural surveillance, clear urban design, controlled access points, and strategic use of surveillance technology within the limits of constitutional rights, public spaces can be transformed into less conducive environments for criminal activity. Collaborative engagement between criminologists, urban planners, legislators, and community members is essential to develop and implement these strategies effectively.
     Moreover, respecting individual rights, particularly privacy, while strengthening preventive efforts, is crucial for public trust and legal legitimacy. Preventive measures must operate within a clear, proportionate, and transparent legal framework, where potential offenders are properly informed of preventive mechanisms to reinforce deterrent effects. Relying solely on harsher punishments without addressing environmental opportunities for crime has proven insufficient; therefore, situational prevention must be prioritized within broader criminal policy.
     In adapting situational crime prevention strategies, Iranian policymakers must account for the diversity of crimes and criminal behaviors. While situational measures show great success against profit-driven crimes and crimes tied to specific physical spaces, their effectiveness against ideologically or emotionally driven crimes remains limited. A flexible, crime-specific approach that considers the characteristics of offenders and victims is thus necessary.
     Additionally, law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, must adopt a preventive rather than reactive posture. Prioritizing risk analysis of physical and cyber environments, systematically gathering and analyzing crime data, and fostering active public participation are key strategies for maximizing the preventive impact. A scientific, data-driven approach to identifying and managing high-risk areas and populations enhances the effectiveness of crime prevention efforts while ensuring efficient allocation of limited security resources.