The Impact of Crime on Society - Essay Example

The Impact of Crime on Society There are many different ways to consider crime. It can be argued that crime is an act that violates the rights of the individual or their property, and attempts to create a sense of fear amongst people. However, while this definition is effective at describing many characteristics of crime, it is highly subjective, meaning that what one person considers to be a crime another may not. Thus, crime is generally defined in relation to the society that people live in and the rules and regulations that are an inherent part of it. The specific rules vary between different societies, however, without this form of organization, people would not be able to survive and flourish (Peters 4). Crime has had a substantial impact on society throughout human history, and the level of impact will only continue to grow in the coming years. The development of an organized society has curtailed the development of crime to a significant extent, yet within any city or country, regardless of their level of development, crime exists. In this sense, crime can be defined as an act that is in violation of the law of the region, and for which a punishment can be imposed. This removes the subjective nature of the previous definition, although it can still create situations where the law degrees that a person has committed a crime, but they do not believe so, or times where an immoral but not illegal act has been done. However, one example of crime that generally fits both the subjective and objective definition is murder, a crime which has significant ramifications throughout society. Throughout the world, crime rates have been increasing in the last couple of decades. Studies have shown that crime rates are likely to continue to increase despite attempts by governments and international agencies to try to prevent this. Many countries have approached this problem by the development of strict laws; however, these have been ineffective at reducing the level of criminal activity that is occurring. Another approach to try to reduce crime has been the use of cognitive training and family therapies focused at preventing youth from becoming involved in crime (Mendel). This approach has the potential to reduce the numbers of people in the next generation of criminals. The use of other methods than harsh laws and imprisonment may prove to be a more effective method of decreasing crime, however, whether this is the case remains to be seen. There are many different types of crimes within society, and most of these have different degrees of severity (Jenkins 254). Many times crime is measured in terms of its impact and harmfulness. For example, looking at the number of murders or prevalence of violent crime may give a better indication of crime in a city than considering all types of crime. As the crime rate increases in a particular society, it can act as a detrimental factor for people living within that environment, affect social, economic and political factors. Ultimately, the prevalence of crime can lead to a lower standard of living, even for those who are not directly involved in any form of criminal activity. As such, the impacts of crime are numerous, and are often related to the specific type of crime. This is because the type of crime and its severity influences the way in which people are affected by the crime. One type of crime that is often considered to be the most serious criminal activity is that of murder. The seriousness of murder is related to the fact that the victim will never live again, so the murderer has removed the right of that person to live. Murder can cause panic, distress and outrage in people throughout society, even among people that are not directly involved with the criminal or the victim. This effect is amplified if the murder occurs in a small neighborhood, as the people are more familiar with one another. People tend to lose confidence in the law, and believe that it has no ability to protect them. An example of this is Prince George, which is considered to be the most dangerous city in Canada. Throughout the city gang wars, serial killing, drug abuse and other serious criminal offenses are prevalent. The Crime Severity Index, which measures the prevalence of crime and how severe it is for a region, has grown rapidly. In addition, the economic and social status for the city has plummeted. Despite a decrease in crime throughout Canada, and even in Prince George, the problems remain. The city has the highest per-capita murder rate of any city in Canada. The spread of crime in the city has led to significant panic and loss. The city has become a dangerous place for young women to live, and the vulnerable or marginalized people in the society are often directly targeted and hurt because of the high crime rate (MacQueen and Treble). The example of Prince George is just one instance where crime has many direct and indirect effects to people throughout society. The direct impact of crime is aspects such as worry, unrest and outrage that occur by people in the region. Additionally, crime tends to affect marginalized members of society more often, which results in increased levels of marginalization. This can include groups such as women, the poor and people of color. Another example of this is ghetto areas, where crime is prevalent and more easily accomplished than other parts of society. In these areas, the drug trade often flourishes, which can result in an increase in more violent crimes, including murder. In Canada alone, there were 544 homicides in 2009 alone (Brennan and Dauvergn). Another indirect effect that can occur as the result of crime is the increased spending on crime prevention. In Prince George, there has been an increase in vigilant policing and other methods of reducing the crime rate. Additionally, spending on jails and the criminal justice system also takes a significant amount of money from the city’s budget. This use of resources is a waste, because if the crime rate was not so high, this money could be used on strengthening other aspects of the society. Crime often leads to a decrease in the sense of security that people feel, and they will often experience a level of fear even terror for the rest of their lives, even if they do not ever experience crime again. This is particularly true for victims of crime or their families (MacQueen and Treble). The increased prevalence of crime in Prince George and other places throughout the world can lead to the normalization of violent and criminal behavior. A group that may be indirectly affected by this is youth, because they learn from their elders, and often mimic the patterns of behavior that they observe. Thus, crime can have a cyclical impact, resulting in the prevalence of more crime over time. Research has shown that many youths fall into a pattern of crime when they are brought up in neighborhoods where guns, crime, poverty and guns are prevalent (Mendel). Thus, in Prince George, the presence of high crime rates may lead to an increased prevalence over time, due to the youth in the area being influenced to commit crimes (MacQueen and Treble). Tightening the rules and regulations surrounding criminal activities is not the sole solution to solving problems in areas such as Prince George. Crime prevention needs to focus on more than just punishment. Instead, multiple strategies need to be used which target the underlying causes of crime, treating crime as a symptom. This is particularly true for youth crimes, such as the serial killer in Prince George, who began killing at nineteen years of age (MacQueen and Treble). Strategies which focus on the cognitive development of children are very important, and can be influential in helping them to stay away from crime in later life (Mendel). Such strategies can include cognitive skills training and family counseling. These need to be carefully researched and evaluated before they are put into place. A nation needs to have an effective strategy for controlling crime in order to prosper. Although it is never possible to fully prevent crime, a low level of crime can promote a sense of security and well-being. Many countries have successfully decreased crime rates, including Canada, which shows that this is not an impossible task. Works Cited Brennan, S, and M Dauvergne.. Police-Reported Crime Statistics. Statistics Canada, July 21, 2011. Web. 8 June 2012. . This site examines the official police reported crime statistics in Canada from 1962 to 2010. It also gives information about trends in violent and nonviolent crimes, as well as specific provinces and territories. Jenkins, Jeffrey. The American Courts: A Procedural Approach. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2009. Print. This book is a broad examination of crime and the American courts. It considers the different types of crime that are recognized under the courts and how these are classified. MacQueen, Ken, and Particia Treble. Canada’s Most Dangerous City: Prince George. Macleans.ca. 15 Dec. 2011. Web. 8 June 2012. . This article examines the city of Prince George in Canada. The authors consider the history of murders that the city has experienced, marking it as Canada’s most dangerous city, as well as its slow recovery. Mendel, R. What Works in Crime Prevention. The International Child and Youth Care Network 2000. Web. 8 June 2012. . This online article considers the problem of crime in youth and what can be effectively used to prevent this. It examines factors such as family therapies and conflict-resolutions as methods to decrease youth crime. Peters. Ariane. How to Stop Crime? Megan’s Law as a Strategic Approach to Crime Prevention in the USA. Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2007. Print. In this scholarly paper, the author considers the role that Megan’s law plays as a strategic method of crime prevention within the United States. The paper examines the current justice system of America, as well as what aspects of this are being successful and which are not. Read More