Crime and Crime Control

Outline of the original toolbox

• People choose to participate in criminal behaviors
• Unemployment lead to high cases of crimes among individuals
• Criminals not only break laws but they also hurt those around them
• One way of solving crime is using dialogue and inclusiveness
• Rehabilitation is an effective approach in dealing with crime
• Crime is more than a violation of laws

Reflection

Before beginning this module I had a vague understanding of crime and crime control. First, I was tough on crime and criminals. I understood that people choose to participate in crime. In this case, one cannot argue that individuals are born criminals. Rather, they acquire the behavior as they grow. For instance, some young people choose to participate in crime to please their friends or fit in certain groups. In most cases, teenagers get involved in drugs as they assume that it is a cool lifestyle. Personally, I felt that one cannot argue that they chose the crime path due to peer pressure.

As an adult one can fully differentiate what is wrong and what is right. Also, one cannot argue that they participate in crime because their parents are also in crime. I felt that anyone that is involved in any form of crime is a bad person as they end up hurting people. For instance, individuals involved in fraud and those that participate in selling illegal drugs are the same. They hurt individuals in different ways. Those that are involved in fraud may steal money from individuals which may cause a lot of pain. On the other hand, those that are involved in selling illegal drugs cause a rise in addiction. Therefore, one cannot argue that there is a lesser crime.  However, I also felt that there are diverse approaches to solving crime. For instance, they can utilise dialogue and inclusiveness to solve crime. Additionally, rehabilitation is another approach that can be used to deal with crime. Although I was tough on crime and criminals, I believed that there are better approaches to solving crime in the society. Rather than viewing incarceration as a way of punishment, it ought to be a rehabilitation approach.

However, there are different factors such as unemployment that lead to crime. I feel that unemployment plays a major part in influencing crime.  For instance, youths may choose to participate in crime for money. Lack of employment may force them to start selling drugs or participating in burglary. Lack of employment means that individuals cannot afford basic needs. They cannot meet their financial obligations. For instance, one may miss on paying their mortgage due to unemployment, therefore, they have a high chance of losing their house. In such a situation a person may decide to participate in criminal activities to earn money so that they can meet their financial obligations. There are different social issues that are caused by unemployment. There is increased spare time as well as stress, hence, a person is likely to participate in crime. Individuals may start taking alcohol and drugs and due to lack of money they may be forced to participate in petty crimes to afford them. Unemployment affects individuals psychologically.

My perspective on crime and crime control has fairly changed. First, I feel that although a person may choose to participate in crime there are diverse factors that may influence such behavior. It is important for the law enforcement officers and the community at large to come up with ways of rehabilitating individuals. However, I still feel that criminals not only break laws but they also hurt those around them. Therefore, it is important for them to show willingness to change when given a chance. I still believe that rehabilitation should be considered as a way of controlling crime. The approach would work well when used with people involved in drugs. The government should invest more resources in rehabilitating youths involved in drugs. The approach would help in ending petty crimes.

I have encountered various ideas that might have confirmed my original position. For instance, although I have changed my perspective towards what causes crime, i believe that there are people who choose to participate in crime. They do not have any convincing reason to participate in crime. Also, I now understand that there are different types of crimes. They include theft, robbery, corruption, rape, assault and murder. Additionally, some individuals might define crime as doing wrong and the approach is linked to the idea of morality. However, not all actions or activities that are said to be immoral are considered crimes. For example, poverty and social deprivation are said to be crimes against humanity (Burke, 2017). Nevertheless, they are not considered to be crimes. Additionally, crime can be considered as an act that contravenes the criminal law.

I have encountered ideas that have led to slightly question my original position on crime and crime control. For instance, I now understand that  there are different approaches that one can explain crime. There is the positive movement that holds that crime is not a choice. Moreover, there is a model that seeks to explain crime as a choice. Based on the model I understand that one cannot change immediately they are out of jail. The idea that the offender might return to crime should not be relevant when sentencing an offender. Additionally, imprisonment should be for people who commit major crimes (Carrabine et al.,2009). It is important for the government to work with the community to come up with ways of dealing with petty crimes.

I believe that the idea that there are various factors that lead to crime is convincing.

Although individuals may choose to participate there are different aspects that influence them to involve in crime. Moreover, the idea that offenders may return to crime should not be relevant. Individuals need to be sentenced based on their crimes. Imprisonment ought to be for serious crimes. Mainly, the law enforcement officers need to focus on crimes that lead to serious harm. They should focus on rehabilitating petty criminals to avoid congestion.

References

Burke, R. H. (2017). An Introduction to Criminological Theory. Routledge.

Carrabine, E., Cox, P., South, N., Lee, M., Plummer, K., & Turton, J. (2009). Routledge.