People often confuse prevention, risk reduction, and intervention as they relate to violent crimes. True prevention happens only if a would-be perpetrator makes the choice not to perpetrate. Risk reduction is what people often mistake for prevention, it means taking precaution to reduce one's risk of victimization. Intervention involves interrupting a situation so a violent act is not perpetrated, or oppression is not perpetuated.

Part of prevention involves creating a culture where a person would not think to perpetrate by changing cultural norms about violence against women. We live in a culture that is saturated with sexualized and normalized violence against women and where women are seen as less valuable than men.

Within this framework, some people attempt to justify violence. Changing culture norms involves challenging these harmful beliefs held by individuals or perpetuated in institutions so this crime is eliminated.

For more information about cultural change and the spectrum of prevention, visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and refer to the Sexual Violence and the Spectrum of Prevention: Towards a Community Solution document.