Selling Yourself for Position of Superintendent of Chicago - Research Paper Example

Abstract This paper explores the articles that report on results of crime rates in Chicago and propose initial instruments for reducing the number of felonies. This paper provides the list of main causes that push people to commit murders, thefts, arsons, embezzlements or batteries. Unfavorable statistics of the city requires implementing numerous methods to raise people’s awareness and prevent them from committing any crime. Mentioned solutions will ensure stability and safety of population and influence on social level of the entire city. Keywords: crime rate, causes of crimes, ways to reduce crimes Introduction Life dictates its rules, providing us with unbounded needs in conditions of limited resources. For making our desires come along with existed stipulations, we are able to adjust and clearly estimate our requirements, goals and necessities. However, there are some trivial human needs, without which any adaptation and survival would not be possible. Looking at Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of basic necessities, we can see that need for safety plays one of the initial roles in people’s life, yielding only physiological needs. For each human-being to ensure normal vital activity it is essential to feel safe and be defended from encroachment on own property, rights or life. Without a provision with safety all the rest needs that stand on upper hierarchical steps of the pyramid cannot be achieved, no matter how hard a person may strive for and wish it. Indeed it is rather complicated to imagine someone, who, being unsecured and in a constant fear, may be content with own life and in addition be successful and prosperous. When the lowest necessities are not provided, you will never attain the highest layers of the Maslow’s pyramid due to own dissatisfaction and absence of vital life elements. Only if a person is not concerned of his physiological condition and matter of safety, he has opportunity to develop himself and grow. Consequently, the main task of government and community is to build secured society, propagandizing and creating safety for each individual. In case when all cities pay special attention to the problem of safety and find the ways to eliminate violence, crimes and instability, only then it is relevant to count on the prosperity and grow of the entire country. Statistics According to current world situation, it is rather hard to be sure about the future and own safety. There is no absolutely secured city, where crime and violence do not take place. However, there are some areas in America that are notable for extremely high crime rates. Hence, the criminal background of Chicago city still manifests itself in modern life. In 2010 Chicago took the twenty fourth position of the list for violent crime rate (Loury, 2010). Annual statistics shows aggravating results, despite government intentions to fight against lawbreakers. According to the statement of Fox Chicago News, there were 214 homicides recorded between January and June 2010, eleven more than last year. The biggest share of murders is committed by gangs and with a help of firearms. In this respect, it is fair to say that government instruments to reduce crime rate seem not to be effective and should be reviewed with attempt to involve local communities in general fight for safety. Causes of crime Occasionally finding out about different law-breakings compels to wonder about the reasons, which push people to commit murders, arsons, thefts or aggravated batteries. Certainly, it is hard to find any excuse for such horrible deeds, but sometimes the causes can be rather obvious. The main of them are the following: 1. Historical past of the city Sometimes men, especially youth, reading about the gangsters bands that ruled in the Chicago’s notorious history wish to try themselves in the same roles, not thinking about consequences. The idea of own significance, the fact of being dangerous and the feeling of adrenaline can be rather tempting for adventurous and risky people. 2. Unemployment Inability to find work often makes people to lapse into the stage of depression. After numerous failures to fit to any job position, person may be left without any solution except breaking the law. 3. Low living standards This reason can be considered as sequel from the first one. However, frequently even person with a job is able to feel financial difficulties. When a man suffers from poverty and his salary is too small for being able to maintain own family, he starts to search for ways how to enhance his income. Regrettably, limited possibilities and resources along with existing problems in economic situation of the country may push people to have a good look at finding alternatives such as various felonies. 4. Constant failures and loss of belief Psychologically weak people are not able to accept own failures with dignity. In this respect, most of them are prone to have a nervous breakdown and later on commit rash and thoughtless deeds. 5. Inadequate breeding Lack of main principles and lessons of life along with absence of right education can astray young people and create criminals. 6. Bad genes and instable state of mind Psychic setup is rather fragile and sometimes unpredictable element that may compel people to do unreasonable actions. 7. Alcohol and narcotic reaction According to the statistics, significant number of murders is committed by people under alcoholic or narcotic inebriation. Immediately these addictions are able to make people brave and fearless that may cause irreparable injury. Ways to reduce crime rate Taking into account all mentioned causes of felonies, it is relevant to outline main solutions of crime decrease. They are the following: Providing appropriate punishment for provoking general fear to break the law; Creating full data base with delinquents’ profiles and information about crimes; Ensuring collaboration between police and communities with a help of arranging meetings and press conferences to raise people’s awareness about crime rate and methods to prevent oneself from felonies; Launching effective program of Neighborhood Watch for scaring offenders off; Improving light system on the streets to make them crowded and easily viewed in night time; Informing people about committed crimes and methods of safety through official web sites and news posting; Providing youth with appropriate educational programs, trainings, sport events to divert them from criminality; Ensuing sessions of therapy for everyone who is in need of psychological assistance. Conclusions Taking into account high levels of crime rate in Chicago, it is very important to implement effective and drastic methods to reduce the number of felonies in the city. Providing the right safety for the population each community benefits the society’s prosperity. Without stability and safety individuals can not satisfy other vital needs as self-development and personal growth. Consequently, all mentioned instruments will give possibility to secure people’s lives and later on raise social level of the entire city. References Austin, J., Clear, T., Duster, T., Greenberg, D. F., Irwin, J., McCoy, C., . . . Page, J. (2007). Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America’s Prison Population? Washington, DC: The JFA Institute. Fox Chicago News (2010). Crime rates in Chicago down, but murders up. Retrieved from http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/chicago-crime-rates-20100720 Holloway, K., Bennett, T., & Farrington, D. P. (2008).Crime Prevention Research Review No. 3: Does Neighborhood Watch Reduce Crime? Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Kates, D. B., &Mauser, G. (2006). Would banning firearms reduce murder and suicide?Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, 30(2), 650-694. Loury, A. (2010, June 1). Chicago is three times as deadly as NYC and twice as violent as LA. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-muckrakers/2010/06/chicago-is-three-times-as-deadly-as-nyc-and-twice-as-violent-as-la/ O’Connell, J. P. (1998). Community crime analysis.What Can the Federal Government Do to Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities? 5-7, 87-96. Woodson, R. L. (1998). Revitalizing communities and reducing crime. What Can the Federal Government Do to Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities? 5-7, 27-39. Read More