The article is devoted to theoretical and legal issues related to the interpretation and correlation of the concepts of “crime prevention”, “prevention of offenses”, definition of the elements that make up the subject of crime prevention. Special attention is paid to the identification of the essentiality, mechanisms, principles, types and forms of crime prevention and the study of modern legislation of preventive activities in the student environment. The method of theoretical analysis allowed us to correlate the concepts of “crime prevention” and “prevention of offenses”, considered in the scientific literature as equivalent. The method of interdisciplinary analysismade it possible to analyze the concept of “crime prevention” from different scientific positions. The method of legal analysis made it possible to clarify the totality of subjects of crime prevention. Using the method of historical analysis, the changes in the attitude of the state and society to the problem of crime prevention in various historical periods are highlighted. As a result of the research, it was determined that the concept of “crime prevention” is interdisciplinary and complex and includes: 1) the type of social practice; 2) the type of activity aimed at identifying and eliminating the causes of offenses, conditions and circumstances of their commission; 3) the direction of activity of government entities and public associations; 4) the system of general protective measures. Two approaches to the analysis of the conceptual apparatus of the system of crime prevention in the student environment are defined: 1) the concepts of “crime prevention”, “prevention of offenses” and “suppressions” are identical, the essence is to take preventive measures; 2) prevention is an early initial stage of any preventive activity. The elements of the subject of prevention are highlighted: 1) a collectivity of subjects; 2) principles of preventive work; 3) forms of preventive impact; 4) coordination of activities and monitoring in the field of prevention of offenses against public order and state activities. It is established that the “crime prevention” among students is a special type of social practice and activity of the university, as well as one of the activities of the authorities that establish the rules of preventive impact in the education system.