Firstly, the aims of criminal policy go beyond crime prevention.

Though preventing crime is of

fundamental importance, we must also concern ourselves with how to deal with the consequences of
those crimes that have not been prevented. Repairing the damage, taking care of compensation for the
victims, and supporting them is an equally important goal in criminal policy. • However, crime and the
reduction of the harm caused by crime remains the main target in criminal policy. Still, we must not
forget that crime control also causes both material and immaterial losses; for offenders, their families,
and for society as a whole. Keeping these costs under control is required both on rational grounds, as
well as on grounds of decency and humanity. • For lawyers, the criminal justice system may well be the
first technique of crime prevention. However, clear empirical evidence suggests that other measures,
including social and situational prevention, are far more effective compared to criminal justice
interventions. Successful crime prevention requires proper attention given to all means and strategies
available. Crime prevention based solely on criminal law would be both ineffective, expensive and
inhuman.