Proactive Crime Prevention in Light of the Social Regeneration Approach: From Theoretical Framework to the Review of Laws and Regulations in Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Law, La.C, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

2 Department of Law, BaA.C, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Anzali, Iran

Abstract

Crime is the product of a complex interplay among space, social structures, economic inequalities, weakened neighborhood ties, declining quality of life, and institutional deficiencies. In social regeneration, these criminogenic conditions can be contained through physical and non-physical approaches, which are manifested in situational and social crime prevention. The present article examines “social regeneration” with the aim of conceptualizing it as an independent, coherent, and defensible approach within the field of crime prevention. The findings demonstrate that social regeneration acquires the necessary analytical and practical capacity for crime prevention through its connection with theories such as broken windows. This approach comprises such components as the realization of social and spatial justice, victim-centeredness, proactive and active interventions, and participatory governance. It is realized through two physical and non-physical approaches, which can be identified in certain laws and regulations. It is concluded that social regeneration may be understood as a multidimensional and proactive, or pre-emptive, approach to crime prevention that opens a new horizon for criminal policy through the simultaneous reconstruction of space, social relations, legitimate opportunities, and the quality of urban life.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 July 2026
  • Receive Date: 16 February 2026
  • Revise Date: 21 June 2026
  • Accept Date: 22 June 2026
  • Publish Date: 04 July 2026