Two topics for two different papers, Broken Windows & Prison - Essay Example

Essay In the article ‘There are no cracks in the broken windows’, the Bratton and Kelling strongly put forth the view that when police officials bring smaller offences under control, it can automatically result in serious crime reduction. This theory which has been officially referred to as the ‘broken window’ theory has faced severe criticism from scholars and other academics who believe that crime rate cannot be reduced through such practices. According to them crime is a result of economic inequality, racism and poverty and hence cutting down small crime rates would not see as reduction in larger crimes.

But however factual reports and research show that the broken window theory could definitely have an impact in crime reduction and it can be taken as a foundation for other crime reduction strategies. The other article by Wilson and Kelling brings to light the role of foot patrolling officers in helping public regain confidence on law and order. A disorderly place, not necessarily a place where crime occurs per se, becomes an area of fear especially for people living in and around the place. Foot patrolling officers in the earlier days helped remove this fear among the public through order-maintenance.

However, in the following years police have been burdened with the additional role of law-enforcement, as a result of which they are forced to abide by certain rules. This has not helped them in achieving their primary duty of order maintenance. According to the authors, one effective alternative to this developing situation could be citizen patrolling. Good examples of which include community watchmen and setting up of vigilante groups. Despite the efforts by the general public, the patrolling effect of a policeman can be hard to achieve.

Thus the article stresses that men in duty should be encouraged to do their extra bit in order to achieve communal harmony. The article ‘The Prison- Industrial Complex’ by Eric Schlosser throws light about the prison system in the United States. The US now has the distinction of holding more citizens in prison than any other country in the world. And a majority of the prison inmates is constituted by non-violent offenders. This has lead to the prison being viewed as an industrial complex, with more prisons being built to house more people.

These prisons home a wide variety of criminals, law offenders, even those who are mentally ill, and with respect to their race about half the inmates in the US prisons are African-Americans, and the number of women inmates have also raised drastically. According to the author, this trend of imprisoning all types of law offenders was started by politicians in order to bring about the toughest law enforcement in their respective states. In doing so, the number of prisons and its inmates have risen dramatically especially in North Country, where one in every twenty people is a prisoner.

In addition such prisons have become a source of improving the economic status of the country as they can provide year around employment opportunities. The inmates also have health benefits and pension. Businesses like the telecom industry also flourish inside prisons as they function as the only means of communication for the inmates with the outside world. The fast changing world economy witnessed the establishment of private prisons which tends to have better facilities compared to the state-run counterparts.

These however charged their customers for each inmate. The setting up of private prisons by investors rose in the 80’s and 90’s when conditions of state prisons deteriorated. This resulted in shifting of inmates and eventually in a transport industry boom despite the dangers involved in the service. However, most of these private prisons have had their own share of problems with quality of service as well as the safe lodging of prisoners, while some have maintained good working quality. In conclusion, despite the pros and cons, these prisons have helped achieve reduction in crime rate which has witnessed a decline in the past years in many countries.