Common Causes of Crime in the World - Research Paper Example

Common causes of crime in the world Introduction Crime refers to any kind of offence either against the or against the public. Recently, almost every country in the world has experienced an increase in crime rates. Hamm argues that, “efforts have been employed to describe terrorism through the context of changing global politics, ethnic and nationalistic conflicts, and religious movements (23)”. As such, neighborhoods and societies that were once safe in the night are becoming enormously insecure during the day. Various acts of violence have become a common evil in the society. Many people think that crime is only common is America; however, overall crimes are common in every country on this planet. Every country has a certain common crime amongst its citizens. Most of these crimes result to deaths of either the offenders or the offended, and sometimes, both parties. Research indicates that most victims of crime are the young people. This paper will seek to establish and validate that economy; drug use, TV violence, and a lack of law enforcement are four common causes of crime in the world. Economy and crime rate In the 1990s, there was a low crime rate in the US compared to other proceeding years. This is attributed to the economic boom during the 1990s decade. This is majorly considered being because of low rate of unemployment and increased per capita income. However, during as economic recession, crime rate has been on the increase all over the world (Martin, 2012). There are many reasons behind the decrease in crime rate during economic prosperity ranging from strong support on the police department and law enforcement agencies to sufficient income among citizens to satisfy their needs. This means that citizens are less likely to involve themselves in crime in pursuit of means for survival, and increased law intervention is likely to caught people with intentions to commit crime due to stable support from financial resources. When there is no enough money to support the crime police unit and the law enforcement agencies, only a few policies and strategies are implemented giving criminals an opportunity to boost their crime activities. When inflation rate is high, people tend to involve themselves in black street market in order to provided cheaper goods. Inflation means high cost of living that many people may not afford put up with forcing them to adopt other means of survival. For example, high house rates may force some people the vacate house and look for cheaper ones that they are able to pay rent without much struggle (Hamm, 2007). The vacated houses may stay for sometime without getting new occupants. Therefore, criminals may get a hiding place in these vacant houses. This means that they are likely to go out, commit crime, and reside in these houses before they plan for the next location. Police reports indicate that most of the unused houses are hiding dens for criminals. Increased rate of unemployment and low wages results to increased social evil in the society (United Nations). This is because although people are unemployed, they too need a source of income to survive. Unemployed people turn to robbery, prostitution, and conman ship in search of money that can cater for their needs. There is a link between unemployment and theft, because people without regular income tend to steal either money or property to sustain their living styles. These crimes are more common among the less educated, as well as low-income people. Unemployed people mostly revenge their anger on other people by either threatening their lives or engaging on other forms of assault (Arthur, 1985). Unemployment and lack of education is another cause of murder and rape. This is because many people may not have the knowledge of different forms of crimes. Many uneducated young men do not have the knowledge of social networking; therefore, they tend to force themselves into rape for sexual satisfaction. If such people were educated, they are likely to use social and interpersonal skills on asking the opposite sex for a date or an affair. On the other hand, good economy may also contribute to crime increase (Martin, 2012). This is because when people have enough money, they re likely to go out to bars and restaurants where they get drunk. Statistic show that when the economy is at a boom, people spent hugely on luxury. Research further states that drunken people are likely to fight, cause accidents, and engage on other crimes than sober people. Crime and drug abuse Crime and drug abuse have been linked for a long time. Crime activities include driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, robberies, domestic violence, assaults, rape, and prostitution. Drug abusers are actively involved in crime commitment. For this reason, Krista, et al (2012) state that, “Combining alcohol and drug problem may mask the individual associations between type of substance use problem and arrest history”. However, non-drug users also participate on crime; therefore, drugs only trigger the occurrence of crimes in individuals who abuse drugs. Drug use and crime are directly linked because intoxication interferes with ones judgment and moral evaluations. Alcohol is a key element in violence and other forma of crime. A research conducted in the United Kingdom shows that 20% of people arrested by the police turn positive for alcohol content in their body extracts. Alcohol is a common factor in 75% of stabbings, 50% of domestic assaults, 60% of homicides, and 70% of beatings (Lloyd, 2002). Most of the law offenders turn out to be drug and alcohol users, a research further shows that 25% of prisoners in America are positive when tested on alcoholism and alcohol dependency. Use of illegal drugs is a crime by itself allover the world. The result of illegal drug consumption is violent and crime activities. Intoxicated people do most violent robberies, rapes, and assaults (Krista, Pierre, & Donald, 2012). Drug users normally form a cartel for the supply and consumption of drugs meaning that their social lives revolve around crime and no access to normal social network for guidance and public opinion. Drug use is significantly associated with prostitution. Research indicates that most of the prostitutes found in many streets are drug users and abusers. Most drug users have low self-esteem and moral decay; therefore, it is normal for them to practice prostitution for both money and sexual satisfaction. Many of the prostitutes involve themselves in prostitutions for money so that they can sustain their drug habits. Researchers indicate that most of the drug abusers tend to get beating or threats with weapons due to their irresponsible behavious. Many abortions occur due to drug abuse. Many women tend to practice unprotected sex because of the influence of drugs, when they realize that they are pregnant, they turn to abortion since they are not ready to raise a child (Hamm, 2007). Many drug abusers are raped due to their loose moral and nudity because they lack control on how much flesh they expose. Drug abusers are raping children and disabled people since they have little energy for resistance. TV violence and crime In Europe, children who view violent TV shows tend to show much aggression, same sex, and a positive perception of violence. They tend to show assault character and aggressiveness at their teenage life. Cartoon programs are favorite programs for most children. However, some of the characters are not punished for the crime they commit. This teaches children that it is right to do a mistake and avoid a punishment. Most of the children adopt this perception and end up committing crimes since they feel that there is no punishment. Most of the TV shows use characters with witticism and cunning behaviors to solve problems. Most of these characters are violent and aggressive on getting what they want. Most children and teenage interpret that violence is a good source of power and they try to practice the same. This means that they become violent and aggressive to other people in order to satisfy their needs. This is because they interpret that violence is a way of solving problems and victims. Most of the TV shows create fame and victory on criminals. Most of the people who watch such shows feel that they can also be heroes if they create such crimes. This leads to an attempt for such crimes leading to increased crime rate in the society (Lesley & Mary, 2012). Research shows that many women tend to hit their spouses with objects because of emulation of what they see on the TV screens. This is a common type of crime in many relationships and marriages. Many of children and young adults tend to think of lawbreakers and criminals as their role models. Use of regular crimes as comedy in TV shows especially cartoon networks reduce the essence and value of life. There is a lot of laughter in some shows after a victory in a fight or other violent acts. This makes some TV viewers perceive death as funny and a source of entertainment. Research shows that most of people who watch violent films tend to be violent and careless when dealing with other people or objects. Violent people do not see the importance of life, as well as the importance of good morals. Mostly children are not able to tell when there is an exaggeration on character trait. Therefore, they tend to think whatever they see on a TV screen is a reality. They are unable to tell the difference between reality and fiction. Lack of law enforcement Lack of law enforcement is another cause of crime in the society. When people are aware that there is no severe punishment, they are likely to commit crimes. However, when law enforcers are strict on punishments, many people tend to abandon crimes and criminals change for positive behaviours. Research shows that most of the police and law institutions are turning for bribes and neglecting their duty to instill law in the society (Grattet & Jenness, 2008). Most of these people engage in corruption due to low wages and lack of motivation. Corruption increases crime rate because criminals have surety that they will get away with crime if they give bribe. Research shows that most of the arrestees are habitual lawbreakers but usually gets away with crime because of bribe. Many thieves have given bribe to the police officers in charge of investigations and ended up free because police fake witness. There are few police officers and other law enforcers in the society to curb crime and violence. The high population requires a higher number of law enforcers than provided. When there are few police officers, criminals have a high chance of escaping without being caught. This is because when security is limited, people have the freedom to commit crimes without punishment. Judges and lawyers receive a bribe from lawbreakers to acquit them of the awaiting charges. This promotes crime rate because bribe by itself is a crime. Secondly, an acquitted person is prone to committing a related crime for another time because one has security that will be set free. This encourages increase in crime rate (Hamm, 2007). In addition, police officers and other law enforcers found taking bribe face no punishment from the law institution. This means that they can continue taking bribe as long as they live. Police also participate on crime by torturing suspects. The law stipulates that suspects are innocent until found guilty by a law institution. However, most police officers threaten, beat, and use abusive words on suspects. This increases crime rate in the society because those who are bestowed with the obligation of protected the law, tend to be lawbreakers. Conclusion The above causes of crime are a major threat to coexistence and peace in the world. Many people are loosing their lives everyday due to increased crime rate. This leaves many children orphaned, a large number of widowers and widows. This means that people will depend on well-wishers and the government for their living. Dependency is a show of poverty and low standards of living. When people lose their lives, the economy suffers greatly because the contribution they used to offer in the national economy exits. This means that if a dies in a crime situation, many people will get sick and lack treatment, causing them to skip duties and work. This leads to low nation income. Alcoholism causes death either directly or indirectly. Many alcoholic people get blind or alcohol related illnesses. This may cause death if not attended for a long period. Children are also born with deformities and other disabilities due to overconsumption of alcohol. Drunken people tend to fight and cause havoc due to intoxication. In such a situation, they are injured, killed, or abused by their victims or vise versa (Salak, 1995). Just as the United Nations state, “Based on the fundamental conviction that terrorism in all its forms is unacceptable and can never be justified”. It is important for the society to strengthen on the value of life and morals. Parents should instill good foundation in their children. Punishment should be valued as a way of improving morals but not a sign of hatred (Lesley & Mary, 2012). Children should receive guidance from parents and guardians on the effects of TV shows. They should be alerted that what they see on screens is fiction and not reality on most times. TV channel owners should also be encouraged to specify age limits on some programs. They should also give a warning that the content in the shows is not real but fiction. This will assist children in differentiating exaggerations and reality. The government should invest a lot of financial support to law enforcement. This means that, the government should employ enough law enforces, establish corporal punishment for both bribers and bribe victims (Grattet & Jenness, 2008). Corrupt police officers should face a punishment to discourage others from such evils. References Bloxham, D. (2009). The final solution: A genocide. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Grattet, R., & Jenness, V. (2008). Transforming Symbolic Law into Organizational Action: Hate Crime Policy and Law Enforcement Practice. Social Forces, 87(1), 501-527. Hamm, M. S. (2007). Terrorism as crime: From Oklahoma City to Al-Qaeda and beyond. New York: New York University Press. Krista, S., Pierre K., A., & Donald M., S. (2012). Factors associated with substance use problem among Maryland Medicaid enrollees affected by serious mental illness. Addictive Behaviors, 34757-763. Lesley, C., & Mary, L. (2012). The reality of reality television: Does reality TV influence local crime rates?. Economics Letters, 108330-333. Lloyd, J. D. (2002). Gangs. San Diego, Calif: Greenhaven Press. Martin A., A. (2012). Unemployment and crime: A neighborhood level panel data approach. Social Science Research, 411615-1628. Salak, J. (1995). Violent crime: Is it out of control?. New York: Twenty-first Century Books. United Nations (n.d). Global Issues: Terrorism. Retrieved Dec. 18, 2012, from http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/terrorism/ Read More