Crime as a Social Problem in Australian Context - Essay Example

Crime as a Social Problem in Australian Context Name Institution Date Crime as a Social Problem in Australian Context Introduction A social problem involves a condition that individuals within the social system view as detrimental. Within the Australian context the media and newspaper are filled with undesirable. Crime in this case is regarded as a consequence of coinciding social concerns. In Australia issues of poverty, unemployment and teenage delinquency contribute to the rising crime rates. In Australia poverty is considered as one of the most important causes of crime in the society. Poverty is therefore considered as a root cause of many crimes. Crime as a social problem affects all segments of the society in both the social and economic perspective. In Australia in the recent past many types of crimes has been reported through the media that has led to great concern in terms of crime upsurge as a social problem in the Australian society (Chambliss & Seidman 1971). The causes of crime vary from one region to the other in the Australian society. The existence of inequalities in terms of both social and economic perspective is considered as the major cause of crime in the Australian society. The existence of inequalities in most cases lead to one segment of the population considering itself as unfortunate and in retaliation result to the commission of crime as a way of fighting back the source of inequality within the society. The essay therefore aims at discussing crime as an example of a social problem within the Australian contest as reported by the media news in relation to conflict theory perspective (Gorrey, 2014). Crime as a Social Problem In Australia media reports indicate the existence of crime as a social problem within the society. Media reports indicate the rise in crime and organized forms of crime within the neighborhoods. Thus crime is reported as a major social problem that is causing a lot of concern among the Australian population. In the process of reported news through the media there is an upsurge in terms of crime waves within the social structure of the society that is causing a lot of concern among the Australian population. Criminal gang is reported to cause a lot of untold suffering or mayhem across the population. One of the Australian Dailies that specialized in reporting of crime waves across the population indicate an increase in the wave of crime that is mainly attributed to the perceived inequality among the population (Knaus, 2014). The media reports in this case indicate that crime affects all the segments of the society and the entire population. Thus crime as a social problem is a major issue that needs to be addressed by all the segments of the society. It is further reported that teenage crime waves is on the increase as a result of the upsurge in teenage delinquency in the Australian society (Inman, 2014). According to The Australian Daily teenagers in Australia are engaging in the formation of gangs that has specialized in several tactics of terrorizing the residents while at the same time creating violence and untold suffering. One of the interviewed teenager expressed that he had recently joined a criminal gang that engaged in several criminal activities as a result of poverty and living in a neighborhood that was considered as poor with poor living conditions (The Australian 2014). Most of the crimes committed within the Australian context usually go unreported but those crimes that are reported through the media paint an undesirable picture in regards to the crime rate and waves within the Australian society (Guilliatt, 2014). The manner in which these crimes are reported through the media and news indicate that a lot has to be done in terms of enacting policies and laws that ensure the social problem of crime is fully addressed in the society. Media reports as highlighted by The Australian therefore indicate that individuals who are known to be hard core criminals still walk free in the streets. The criminal justice systems of Australia also play a great role in the manifestation of crime as a social problem in the society. While many victims are still suffering the consequences crime the perpetrators of crime still walk scot free while continuing to engage in a series of several other crimes within the society (Elks, 2014). The media also plays a major role in regards to crime being regarded as a social problem. This is seen in terms of how the media frame and report news in regards to criminal activities in the society. The Australian Daily in the construction of the meaning of crime offers a favorable environment for an upsurge in crime and for crime to be considered as a social problem of great concern within the society. There are many types of criminal activities that are reported in their occurrence within the Australian context (Agius, 2014). The media in most cases through its reporting process may concentrate so much in one crime and therefore giving much emphasis to the criminal activity leading to the consideration of such crime as social problem of great concern. According to the Canberra Times the teenage gangs were portrayed as dangerous criminal gangs that were causing a lot of untold suffering and havoc to the society and therefore the need for addressing the upsurge of teenage criminal gang in the society. Thus through the media reports the teenage criminal gang was considered as a social problem and a dangerous social ill that need to be addressed in the society (Ducey, 2014). Conflict Theory Conflict theorists argue that conflicts exist within the social structures of the society as a result of the existence of two classes within the society. Conflict theory propagates the ideas of Karl Marx in the sense that society is divided into the rich and poor classes. The ruling class forms the group of individuals within the society that own the means of production and assets while the poor comprises individuals who sell their labor but receive low wages and lacks the source of motivation in engaging in the provision of labor to the ruling class or the owners of the means of production in the society. The poor in a bid to rebel the power and authority of the rich resort to the use of violent revolutions that in turn explain the conflict within the society or the source of crime. Conflict theory in this sense is founded on the basis of the fundamental causes of crime (Dahrendorf, 1959). Criminologists argue that the conflict theory holds that crime is a consequence of the prevailing conflicts in the society. Conflicts arise due to the existence of various social classes within the social structure. Due to the existence of the various classes within the social structure laws arise as a form of necessity due to prevailing conflicts rather than as a result of consensus within the society. In this case conflict theory is founded on the basis that the causes of crime emanate from the social and economic forces existing within the social structure. Due to the existence of classes within the society; the rich and the poor. One class feels disadvantaged in both social and economic perspective in relation to the other class (Bonger, 1969). The dissatisfaction of the unfortunate class therefore leads to the class engaging in the commission of crimes in order to retaliate against the other class within the society. In every society there is the existence of the rich and poor classes and as a result of poverty or social inequalities crimes are bound to be committed by individuals who are considered to be unfortunate or poor within the social structure. It is therefore argued that crimes are a resultant of the perceived social inequalities between different classes within the social structure (Quinney, 1970). Crime therefore as a social problem needs to be addressed in order to solve the social issues within the Australian context. The media therefore plays a major role in addressing the social issue within the society. Crime as portrayed by the media through the news can either increase the crime rate or reduce crime rates significantly. The media can therefore be used in the process of highlighting the social ills and the consequences of crime within the society and the possible ways of reducing the crime rates in the society. Through the media the society needs to understand the orientation of crime the causes and consequences of crime within the society. Hence with a better understanding of the meaning of crime in the society the social problem will fully be addressed comprehensively. The media therefore through highlighting crimes and social ills can be used as a major tool of addressing crime as a social problem within the society context (Sims, 1997). Conclusion Within the Australian context crime is considered as a social problem since it is classified as a type of undesirable behavior in the society. Crime affects various aspects of the society both at the social and economic level. In this sense crime emanates as a result of the existence of classes within the social structure. In relation to the conflict theory criminologists argue that crime has its basic foundation on the conflict theory. As a result of the existence of classes within the social structure the outcome is inevitable inequality and dissatisfaction as a result of the lower class or the poor becoming poorer. Poverty therefore plays a contributing factor in the upsurge of criminal activities. The media coverage or reporting of news through the media plays an important role in highlighting crime as a social concern within the Australian context. Through media reports crime as a social problem can be addressed fully in the society. References Sims, B. (1997).Crime, Punishment, and the American Dream: Toward a Marxist Integration. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol.34 No.1. 5-24. Bonger, W. (1969). Criminality and Economic Conditions, abridged ed. (Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Dahrendorf, R. (1959). Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society (Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press. Chambliss, W. and Seidman, R. (1971). Law, Order, and Power (Reading, MA: Addison- Wesley. Agius, K. (2014). Qld reforms 'could increase youth crime'. The Australian. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/qld-reforms-could- increase-youth-crime/story-fn3dxiwe-1226843701814 Elks, S. (2014). Daniel Morcombe’s accused killer ‘led undercover police to crime scene’. The Australian. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from < http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/daniel-morcombes-accused-killer-led- undercover-police-to-crime-scene/story-e6frg6nf-1226826036935> Guilliatt, R.. (2014). A spate of random, cruel murders, committed by teens - coincidence or a sign? The Australian. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from The Australian (2014). Victoria police arrest 27 in Middle Eastern crime raids across Melbourne. The Australian. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/victoria-police-arrest-27-in-middle-eastern- crime-raids-across-melbourne/story-e6frg6nf-1226857769527 Inman M. (2014). Violent home invader gets suspended sentence. 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