Battling Crime and Criminal Behavior - Assignment Example

Battling crime Battling crime Battling Crime Criminal behavior had been the focus of many experts in an effort to reduce criminals however seems criminals come and go. Experts believe it is more effective to employ programs and policies to improve criminal behaviors. This study includes discussion of the different programs provided by the various agencies in the government in an effort to battle any form of crime. The analysis includes the Weed and Seed programs, Diversion programs, Neighborhood Watch Programs and Three Strike Laws with the corresponding theories believed to have influenced the realization of the program. As the program is discussed, the theories are also discussed hand in hand with the program it supports. (Remove: should you need my service again, contact me through my email please ichurya2003atyahoodotcom. Thank you) Battling Crimes Introduction The prevalence of crime in communities differs and so with the type of crimes involved. Battling crimes in each community is a challenging task. It challenges the patience and wit of law enforcers as well as policy makers. While arresting and imprisonment reduce crime, it is not the final answer to all types of crimes. It requires policies and programs supported with theories to effectively respond to the needs of criminals. The focus of this study is to include four policies to battle crimes with the corresponding criminological theories supporting each. Discussion Weed and Seed Programs The Weed and Seed program which started in 1991 is an operation in an effort to control the proliferation of violent crimes, drug related crimes, and drug trafficking among others in selected neighborhood believed to be high risk. The goal of the program is to establish a neighborhood free of crime and free of drug use which would be safe for law abiding citizens to work, live and raise their families. The strategy of the program in making the neighborhood safe and clean is to employ two strategies that is “weeding” out criminals from the area and “seeding” the area with services of the law enforcers and the community. Maintaining peace and order is both the concern of the police officers and the citizens living in those areas targeted. Police officers are taken out from their patrol cars and assigned in the streets of the high risk neighborhood to dispatch their duties and responsibilities to be available in cases someone from the neighborhood report any incidences of crimes (Travis, 1999). The assumption of Weed and Seed program exemplifies the concept of broken window theory where in if one window is broken and left unattended or unrepaired the whole window of the building will soon follow to be broken. Along this line, the Weed and Seed program believes that when a single window is left unattended whether this is in the form of small breakage or a huge one, it signals that nobody cares and that window lovers in the form of criminals continue to carry out breaking new windows (Wilson & Kelling, 1982) which might encourage law abiding citizen to do the same as it is accepted in the community. Such postulation gives criminals the freedom to enjoy their criminal acts until the community control is challenged and breakdowns. The Weed and Seed program assumes that bringing the service on foot repairs criminal acts and improve the community. Although, the study of O’Boyle (2007) revealed an unanticipated results that crimes in Pennsylvania remained unchanged, the window theory and the Weed and Seed program posits that the best solution still would be to quickly fix windows being broken to maintain intact communities. Diversion Programs Diversion program is a form of restorative measures to channel out juvenile offenders from the justice system. The attempt to divert youth offenders is based on a philosophy that the juvenile justice system poses more as a threat than serving good intention. Proponents of the programs believe that courts may stigmatize some juveniles engaged in petty crimes that might be handled better outside the premise of the formal system. Other objectives of diversion program include ameliorating the overcrowded correctional institutions and that courts can focus more on the serious offenders (Kubont, 2011). The diversion strategy is based on labeling theory with the concept that certain offenders behave in a deviant manner on accounts of being labeled as “deviant” and treating offenders involved in those acts as “outsiders”. With this, the juvenile justice system considers to process the cases of juveniles and adolescent delinquents in informal settings. With Diversion programs, the juveniles are counseled and engaged in community services. This tactic of the program detaches the juvenile from the possible labels other people may give them. The success of the experimentation on diversion program was revealed by Davidson and group (2005) where they concluded that Diversion program reduces relapse on youth and other groups including offenders of more serious crimes. This shows that labeling a person plays a part in the commission of crimes. Offenders who are labeled “troublesome or shoplifter” will live to such label and may repeatedly involved themselves in making troubles or shoplifting activities. Although, most studies found positive results of Diversion program on offenders, there are studies revealing contrasting results. One study found diversion program to have detrimental effects. However, successful studies pointed that the services provided should be intensive and comprehensive for the program to meet its goal. Experienced case workers are a must if behavioral changes among the youths are to be considered. Police Athletic Leagues Program The police Athletic League program (PAL) is a police organization in which members of law enforcers coach young male and female individuals in their activities particularly school related homework and in sports. With the main objective of PAL program that is to help build the character of the youths for them to stay away from illegal drug involvement and to help strengthen community relations, it serves as a social control from developing deviant behavior. This notion is exemplified in the social control theory where in certain group with reputed background can influence the behavior of individuals or other groups (Murray, 2009). Participants of the Police Athletic League program are found to be less likely involved in criminal acts since they praise more the character of a policeman. This concept is reflected in one of the tenets of social control theory where in the individual member of the community learns his values, beliefs, and develop his attitude from the people whom they have constant contact with and whom they idolized. Among the core values that guide the actions of police enforcers include respect for others, worthy of trust, and community focused since they believe that without commitment to the community being served may encourage the proliferation of crimes. With the determination of the Police Athletic League in training children to become sport minded through scheduling sport fests with other youths in the same community, it shows that the police force is exemplifying socialization which can create attachment among youths to become functional in the society. According to social control theory, the social tie that is formed as a result of dedication and strong social control demonstrated Police Athletic League provides the children the cohesion as they give importance to what they do. Sports such as basketball, football, soccer and other sports organized by the PAL is where the youth may develop their attitude to become sport enthusiasts believed to be a better alternative of recreation and activity than being a gang member. This norm strengthens the belief of PAL that children may develop positive attitude towards police enforcers across their life span as they achieve good citizenship. Although, many are skeptical with its affectivity to battle crime, some true to life stories of children who became successful with this method proves it is effective. Three Strikes Laws The Three Strikes Laws require the court to impose a mandatory and extended incarceration period to individuals convicted of heinous criminal offenses committed on three or more separate occasions. For the offender to be qualified for this punishment, the offender has to be involved in murder, rape and other sex offenses, robbery where deadly weapons is employed, burglary and assault with intent to commit murder, and other serious crime offenses defined by each state. In addition, the offender has been convicted for the second or third time in a row. This statute significantly increases the number of prison sentences which seems designed for individuals with habitual serious felonies who do not heed to the imposed sanctions (Rosales, 2009). Among the tenet of this policy is to shock the offender to eventually eliminate problematic behavior. Unfortunately, the Three Strikes Law limits the convicted person the ability to avail of other punishments aside from prison lock up. The person is going to serve his punishment inside the prison cell only and other options are not permitted to be given to the offender. Although, the targets of the Three Strikes Laws are the convicted criminals, it also applies for general public who offends social norms and laws. With the nature of Three Strikes Laws, it demonstrates the deterrence theory holding a notion those individuals who seem not to fear several apprehensions and punishments could be incarcerated to incapacitate them. Thus, to prevent future similar criminal acts to be carried out by the habitual offenders, the double incarceration is given. This to maintain the “negative” image that behaviors which are disruptive should be dealt with properly with commensurate punishments. The study by Piquero (2010) supports such idea in which he found out that the Three Strikes Law is effective in battling crimes as it enhance compliance among offenders. The study further explained that punishment stipulated in the Three Strikes Law is likely to deter future criminal activity of any form. Proponents of the Three Strike Laws also established a positive finding in their study. They found out that habitual offenders showed a significant change in their relapse or repetition of criminal offenses. This was revealed after the implementation of the law in the three big cities of California showed positive change. It was found out that crimes have reduced to 14%. This also proves that the notion of deterrence theory in which the policy is based to extinguish motives and rationales of the offender is corrected thus effective in dealing with threatening behaviors. Conclusion Limiting crime is not confined in arresting and imprisonment alone. It needs the creation of policies and programs. These programs are believed to effectively limit the occurrence of crimes since not all crimes have the same nature. There are crimes which are effectively handled with light punishments and could be curtailed with mobilization of citizens however there those which needs to be incarcerated with heavier punishments. If crimes are not responded with different policies and programs, some forms of it would probably soar. Keeping crimes to its least number is requires good policies and programs. References Davidson, K., et. al. ( 2005). Rediversion in two post booking jail diversion programs in Florida. Psychiatric services. 56(7). Kubont, K. ( 2011) Preventing recidivism in Marquette County, Michigan: What works. Proquest. Murray, K. (2009). An evaluation of the backgrounds, beliefs and attitudes of Think Detroit PAL volunteer youth sport coaches. Proquest. Piquero, G. (2011). Elaborating the individual difference component in deterrence theory. Annual review of Law and social science. Vol. 7. O’Boyle, S. (2007). An analysis of the history of community policing and the Weed and Seed Program in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Proquest. Rosales, J. (2009). Californias three strikes law: A policy analysis. Proquest. Travis, J. ( 1999). National evaluation of Weed and Seed. National Institute of Justice. Retrieved From www.ncjrs.gov. on December, 11,2011. Willson, J., & Kelling, G. ( 1982). Broken windows. PDF. Retrieved from http://scholar.google.com.ph. On December 10,2011. Read More