Study shows crime is affecting all aspects of life in all countries around the world. Every week we hear stories of street outrage involving young people. The brutal kicking to death of a student because he or she "Looked Different". A youth gunned down because he or she showed insufficient "Respect". A group of people or rebels fighting a nation because of their selfish gain. All these "Signalled" crimes is greatly troubling us, including the young ones are more often the victims than the adults.
We should have right approach to crime with a good practicable solutions to reduce crime, the best way to do so is through control and punishment, rather by rehabilitating offenders or tackling causes such as poverty. Research shows crime is the product of three factors:
1. Biological different (personality traits such as aggressiveness/low intelligence)
2. Inadequate socialisation and the underclass.
3. Rational choice to offend.
Biological Differences AOZ critics argue that evidence for the intelligence being biologically determined is limited. Even if it is, it may not explain offending; Theories by Lilly Etal... Says that differences in intelligence is only 3% of the difference in offending. Ronald V. Clark rational choice theory assumes individuals are rational beings with free will. Deciding to commit crime is a choice based on rational choice of calculation of the consequences. If the rewards of crime appear to outweigh the costs then people will be more likely to offend. RRs argue that crime rate is high because the perceived costs are low; e.g. Little risk of being caught and lenient punishments.
How can criminals be both rational actors freely choosing crime, while simultaneously their behaviour is determined by their biology and socialisation? Marcus Felson studies says for crime to occur, there must be: I.) A motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a 'Capable Guardian' (e.g. Policeman, Neighbour. II.) Offenders act rational, so the presence of a guardian is likely to deter them. Wilson and Kelling theory says that we must keep neighbourhoods orderly to prevent crime taking hold. Any sign of deterioration, e.g. graffiti, must be dealt with immediately, because it allows police to discriminate against ethnic minority youth, the homeless e.tc. they also result in displacement of crime to their areas.
1. It ignores structural causes of crime e.g. poverty.
2. It is concerned almost solely with street crime, ignoring corporate crime, which is more costly and harmful to the public.
3. It could be used to explain some professional utilitarian crime, which may often involve rational cost – benefit calculations. By contrast, it is harder to apply it to violent crime that results from an irrational outburst.
4. Offers clear advice of the direction of criminal justice policy.
The Marxist approach to criminology argue that crime hurts the most vulnerable in society rather than the rich and powerful, and so more resources need to be spent on helping and protecting those poorer victims of crime. While Marxists believe only a future revolution can bring a crime – free society, they believe we need realistic solutions for reducing it now.
Lee and Young theory names three causes of crime:
1. Relative deprivation (cultural inclusion and economic exclusions)
2. Subculture (for LR, a subculture is a groups solution to the problem of relative deprivation. Some do not lead to crime e.g. Religion which encourages conformity, but criminal subcultures do not lead to crime)
3. Marginalization (unemployed youth Have no organization such as workers, and the trade unions, so they express their frustration through criminal means e.g. Violence and rioting).
In today’s society, trends typical of modern society, such as individualism, the decline of community etc. Become more intense. Kinsey, Lea, and Young argue that police rely on the public for information, but they are losing public support, so the flow of information dries up and they must rely instead on military policing. To win public support, the police must become more accountable to local communities by involving them in deciding policing policies and priorities. Crime control must also involves a multi – agency approach e.g. Social services, housing departments, schools.
The main solution to crime is to remove its underlying cause: Social inequality call for major structural changes to tackle discrimination, inequality of opportunity and unfairness of rewards, and provide decent jobs and Housing for all.
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