Ways to Reduce Crime Rates - Essay Example

Ways to Reduce Crime Rates s Ways to Reduce Crime Rates Human society is a heterogeneous structure with uneven backgrounds,social statuses and income/education levels of its members. That is why there are always some marginal individuals, who commit crimes. Recently, number of crimes in many countries has been growing, and the problem of crime rate (especially violent crime) has become a great concern for governments and state institutions. Now, there is the necessity to find ways for reduction of crime rates. And here a question arises: what are the main procedures which can be done in order to decrease the crime rates in the society, and what are the negative effects of these crimes on the people? The crime rate has been increasing in the societies for many years, and it has come to pose considerable threat for people in the recent years. The governments have faced a numerous difficulties in controlling crimes and criminals who commit them. Because of this, the need to find a solution for these crimes has become more important than ever. Led by this need, the entire world has been considering methods and possible solutions in order to decrease crime rates, to restrain criminals and murderers, and implement preventive measures for potential violations of laws. Many efficient procedures were developed and implemented in reducing crime rates. Most of these procedures were ethical, and the other solutions foresaw physical punishment. Crime rate can be, first of all, reduced with help of gun control, mandatory sentencing, and increase in numbers of police workers, – these are all constituents of the efficient crime control policy. The first step on the way to minimization of crime rates in society – and a very effective one - is elaborate and well-developed gun control legislation. This is especially important as uncontrolled gun possession might lead to grave consequences: guns might be used to kill other individuals for various reasons and purposes. People could commit murders in the fit of anger or for their personal benefit. In addition, the guns are used by the individuals in order to make the personal benefits such as having money or stealing a car. Very often, people with bad social background use guns to threat other individuals and extort money from them. If a victim has no gun or other weapon in his or her possession, it will be impossible to protect him/herself and defend his/her rights. Authorities should implement compulsory and thorough inspections for people who want to buy weapon. According to Kelling and Corbett (2003), effective law enforcement will enable preventing crimes rather than solving them post factum. This means that effective gun control can contribute to establishing peace in societies and preventing violent crimes. The government must hold accountability for guns it gives into possession to people and greatly reduce the category of citizens entitled to have a gun in order to ensure peaceful life for the people. The second and the important way to reduce crime rates is the mandatory sentencing for criminals and their copartners. Lombroso, Ferrero, Rafter, & Gibson (2004) mentioned that showing people bad outcomes of committing crimes is a very important factor and deterrent for reducing crime rates in the societies. The mandatory sentencing can impose fear of crime for people, and this can make them avoid getting involved in criminal activity. When a person knows that the murder or another crime can lead him/her to jail or to death, he/she will not make any mistakes and he will comply with laws of the society. This approach can contribute to creation of a better society, for improvement of people’s behavior and for providing an opportunity to live a peaceful and good active life for people. Furthermore, the application of the serious punishments for criminals or murderers is a very important method that can reduce number of murders and other crimes. Numerous crimes have been committed in the recent decades. Homicides, thefts, robberies, and other crimes are considered to be among the biggest threats to wellbeing of the societies. The people have been killing each other for personal matters and benefits. Because of this, a criminal or a killer must be punished strictly in order to make him/her learn a lesson for the entire life to avoid making a mistake once more. When the criminals are punished in the jail, they will not repeat their bad attitude again in their entire life. Because of this, the mandatory sentencing is so important to reduce the crime rate. The last procedure that can be done in order to reduce the crime rates in the societies is increasing the police officers’ numbers across the cities. Bratton & Andrews (2010) argued that the police officers are the most effective factor that can ensure safety for the citizens. The police officers can control guns and the gunmen in the streets of the cities. In the last few years, many murders were committed right in the streets due to the lack of control over the gunners. The police officers are so important because they are the immediate deterring force that can control people and their behaviors in the streets. Because of this, the existence of the police officers in the roads is considered extremely important for providing safety for individuals. Also, there is a second important effect of the policemen’s presence in the streets, which is creating a certain threat for potential criminals. The policemen can pose a direct threat for criminals in the roads, and this leads to decrease of violence in the societies. For example, a potential criminal might be about to commit a crime, but when he sees the policemen in front of him, he will step back and change his opinion. This direct threat for potential criminals can contribute to decreasing the violent actions in the societies. As a result, increasing numbers of the patrolling police officers in the roads can contribute to safety of law-abiding citizens. To sum up, the guns and the gunner criminals have become so popular and separated phenomenon in all over the world. Considering this negative tendency, governments have taken this issue seriously and tend to find a solution for it in order to ensure safety and wellbeing for the individuals. In some countries such as America, murders have become much more frequent, and the crime rate has increased due to the lack of control. Therefore, the governments applied some serious procedures that can contribute in decreasing the rates of crimes and murders in the streets, and these procedures are gun control, mandatory sentencing, and increase of police workers’ number. The governments will be able to provide the safe life for the people inside the societies and to control the guns and the gunners. As a result, all of the countries around the world should benefit from these steps in order to create safe life conditions for their citizens. References Bratton, W. & Andrews, W. (2010). Eight Steps to Reduce Crime. Quarterly Americas, Spring 2010. Retieved December 27, 2014 from: http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/1500 Kelling, G.L. & Corbett, R. (2003). This Works: Preventing and Reducing Crime. Civic Bulletin no.32. Retrieved December 26, 2014 from: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cb_32.htm Lombroso, C., Ferrero, G., Rafter, N.H. and Gibson, M. (2004). Criminal Woman, the Prostitute, and the Normal Woman. 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