NICRO bases our work on the socio-ecological model, which sees people as being embedded in relationships, families, communities and society. Our interventions and servces are based on this integrated approach -  we work with individual, familes, and communities. 

NICRO’s aim is to prevent crime and violence and build safe communities. To achieve this aim, requires that we understand the factors that influence crime and violence.

The socio-ecological model illustrates the complex interplay of factors. The 4 different levels represent the range of factors that put people at risk of committing or experiencing crime and violence. The overlapping of levels shows the mutual influence and impact that levels have on each other.

There is no direct - or simple - cause–effect relationship for crime and violence. Instead, the model suggests that in order to prevent crime and violence, it is necessary to act across multiple levels of the model at the same time.

In order to merge successfully in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, NICRO has migrated its services and operations online.

Founded in September 1910, NICRO is one of the largest, most enduring South African non-profit organisations.

NICRO specialises in social crime prevention and offender reintegration for adults and children, and has a rich history in human rights, juvenile justice and innovative criminal justice reform.

NICRO has offices in seven of the nine provinces, and renders services to approximately 12 000 to 15 000 direct beneficiaries, and touches the lives of between 40 000 and 50 000 South Africans each year.