In recent years here in Australia the state government has funded a research centre at the University of Technology Sydney called ‘Designing Out Crime’ that focuses on solving social problems similar to what you describe. Its run by people with industrial design / research based backgrounds with many of the projects already manufactured and implemented.
Here’s the website for more info (http://www.designingoutcrime.com/).
A good example of a completed industrial design project done by Designing Out Crime are the bins installed across Sydney railway stations.
Designing Out Crime — Design Innovation Research Centre & Designing Out Crime — Design Innovation Research Centre