Role of Social Structure for the Increased Crime Rate in the US - Report Example

Analytical Paper OVERVIEW In the recent times, there has been a considerable increase in the white collar crimes. It has been admitted that white collar crimes are usually committed by elite persons of high social status during the course of occupation. In addition, crimes executed by corporations are also categorized under the white collar crime (Strader, “Understanding White Collar Crime”). Correspondingly, one of the highly discussed white collar crimes in the recent times has been the case of Pilot Flying J. Pilot Flying J has its headquarter in Knoxville, Tennessee and operates in more than 650 travel centers in 47 states within the United States and eight provinces of Canada. The company usually deals in providing professional drivers as well as motorist retailing gas, and diesel among other primary products in the travel centers. The company was actually the result of a merger between Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J. Recently FBI filed an affidavit in federal court against the charges of fraud. The affidavit filed postulated that the company has been involved in fraudulent activities for over the period of last five years. At the same time, the affidavit claimed that billionaire Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Mr. Jimmy Haslam has also been allegedly aware of the prevailing frauds within the company. Accordingly, it has been ascertained that company’s salespeople with the cooperation of senior executives were allegedly involved in maltreatment customers’ rebates for boosting the company’s bottom line and its profitability. It has been further argued that the company has deliberately deceived its customers concerning the rebates payment where it has fraudulently earned millions of dollars from the trucking companies (Solomon, “FBI Says Recordings Expose Jimmy Haslam’s Jacking the Discount Fraud at Pilot Flying J”). Similarly, it is observed that another crucial recent event occurred in terms of Boston Bombing Case that took place on April 15, 2013. In this case, two individuals named Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who is 19 years of age and his brother named Tamerlan Tsarnaev who is 26 are determined to be the prime suspects for the bombing incident. These two individuals or suspects are brothers. In the incident, around three people lost their life and around 264 people were counted to be injured. The bomb was planted close by the finish line of the marathon which was organized in Boston. After the incident, one of the prime suspects named Tamerlan was killed in a gun fight. There were three people who were aware of the suspects executing the bomb blast act. The two individuals, involved namely Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, are 19 years of age from Kazakhstan. The other individual named Robel Phillipos who was also 19 is a US citizen. These three individuals had obstructed the investigation process by presenting false statements about the incidents and discharge of evidences (Malone, McLaughlin and Kerber, “Three Men Charged with Undermining Boston Bombing Probe”). Most of the people involved with the Boston Bombing offence are juveniles. The incident was perceived to be the cause of a change in social structure in the US. This case reveals the sensation of hatred and violence. It was perceived that the brothers involved with the bomb blast incident have faced certain challenges in adjusting their life in the US in accordance with its culture and life styles. The discussion emphasizes on two problem areas including the bane of white collar crimes and effect on the media as well as the facts or factors responsible for the rise of hate crimes in the US. The social as well as surrounding factors are observed to responsible for the increased crime rate amid individuals. CONTENT AREA 1 The two prime suspects i.e. Tsarnaevs brothers are basically from Chechnya which is located in Russia. The Tsarnaevs fled from Chechnya after war broke out in the 1990s. The Tsarnaevs moved to the US at different point of time. The Tsarnaevs brothers acquired hatred for the western countries and cultures with respect to the rage amid Russia and the US (Malone, McLaughlin and Kerber, “Three Men Charged with Undermining Boston Bombing Probe”). ROLE OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE FOR THE INCREASED CRIME RATE IN THE US The Tsarnaevs brothers belonged to different ethnic groups and they are believed to be facing challenges in relation to the culture and structure of society. In this regard, it can be comprehended that the criminal act commenced by the two brothers are due to the instability of the societal factors. From the sociological perspective, here are three theories which include anomie, social ecology or structural theory and differential association theory (Black, “Biggest Unanswered Questions over Boston Marathon Bombings”). The anomie theory implies that to survive in a society certain specific norms are required to be abided by. In the US, people are required to be hard working, well-educated as well as saving policy should be followed in order to possess a suitable life. However, there are certain individuals who may not possess adequate resources which may influence them to commit criminal offences with the intention of acquiring such comfortable life (Black, “Biggest Unanswered Questions over Boston Marathon Bombings”). The social ecology or structural theory signifies that crime rate is more in the urban areas and in the US social as well as physical structures affect the life of an individual. The socioeconomic conditions as well as pressures are observed to affect the behavior of individuals. Moreover, there are other factors including inequality and scarcity that are linked with delinquency and conflict of interest or norms. The social structure theories imply that social as well as political institutions are recognized to be responsible for the increased rate of crime. Social structure depicts the influencing factors or powers which are responsible for encouraging individuals to commit criminal offence. There are various factors which are determined to be affecting the behavior of individuals in relation to the social structure which include unemployment, poverty, poor sanitation and overcrowding among others. These factors are accountable for social instability and widespread delinquency or criminal offences. There are numerous theories which are developed in order to understand the causes of crime committed by different groups of individuals (SAGE Publications, “Juvenile Delinquency”). The theory of differential association reveals that associations of individuals with other groups of people are determined to affect the behavior or belief of individuals. It is usually considered as a process of learning from social bondage with other people and has motivated individuals towards criminal offences. Delinquency is recognized as a learned behavior which is obtained from law-abiding individuals and offenders. The case can also be explained with the assistance of conflict theory. The theory indicates that crime rates have increased due to the factors in relation to societal tension and norms. Conflicts are seemed to arise amid subordinate and dominant classes of individuals from different races, ethnic and political groups among others (SAGE Publications, “Juvenile Delinquency”). On the other hand, the structural functionalism is based on the aspects of both the positive as well as negative functions in accordance with which social structures are developed. This theory reveals that individuals are observed to be having no control over structure on the basis of which operations are executed. The various social norms are implemented in the societies of the US in accordance with which operations are required to be carried out for better stabilized economy (Keel, “Structural Functionalism”). In this respect, it can be comprehended that the social structure and influence of various social factors are perceived to be accountable for the increased crime rate in the US. Additionally, the two brothers involved with the Boston bombing case were under the influence and challenge of the US lifestyles and society norms. Thus, the social structure of the US is recognized to increase crime rate due to non-compliance of certain individuals or groups. Furthermore, in this case in relation to the Boston bomb blast, the two brothers were believed to face different cultural norms as applied in the US that are different in comparison to Chechnya. CONTENT AREA 2 DEGREE OF FREQUENT APPEARANCE OF PILOT FLYING J’S CASE IN MEDIA Over the years, media has emerged as a powerful source of information and its role in the dispensation of justice has also become noteworthy. It can be argued that media has a multidimensional role to play in the promotion of society’s values and dispensation of justice. Historically, the role of media in uncovering white collar crimes has been instrumental. Contextually, it has been ascertained that concerning the case of Pilot Flying J’s involvement in fraudulent activities, the role of media has been significant. The revelation of fraudulent activities in the Pilot Flying J’s case caused media to focus extensive attention on the operations of the company. The magnitude of the alleged act of the company combined with Jimmy Haslam’s role in the fraud and the widespread media attention provided a seemingly powerful setting to explore the impact of fraud on its customer market (Solomon, “FBI Says Recordings Expose Jimmy Haslam’s Jacking the Discount Fraud at Pilot Flying J”). FORMS OF MEDIA CARRYING THE REPORTS OF PILOT FLYING J’S CASE It has often been postulated by many researchers in the past that relationship between news-media and crime tends to be paradoxical. However, it can be argued that there persists a causal link between corporate scandals and mass media. In relation to the role of media concerning the case of Pilot Flying J, it can be viewed that media has been proactively engaged in digging and exploring the truth behind the case and people involved in such deceptive activities. The different forms of media such as financial press including both electronic and print were vitally involved in seeking out the truth behind the case of Pilot Flying J. At the same time, magazines such as Forbes, Business Week, Wall Street Journal and other major daily newspapers have proactively engaged in excavating the truth behind Pilot Flying J’s case (Solomon, “FBI Says Recordings Expose Jimmy Haslam’s Jacking the Discount Fraud at Pilot Flying J”). PRESENTATION OF PILOT FLYING J’S CASE BY MEDIA Crime narratives and representations have always been a vital component of the content of all mass media. With regard to the case of Pilot Flying J, it can be stated that media representation has narrowly focused on legally delineate category of the fraud. In order words, the news related with Pilot Flying J case is neither objective nor value neutral. The most important duties of the media are to inform those public who are not aware of the certain crimes or social issues. However, media usually chooses to report information that is disfigured by biases along with ignoring many of the hidden agendas. In relation to the case of Pilot Flying J, media has represented the case that had already identified Pilot Flying J as a culprit prior to any judgment made by courts. Furthermore, it can be identified that media has been engaged in representing the concerned issue in such a way that can be closely related with the objectives of attracting more and more audiences towards the respective media source rather than merely depicting the accurate information. PUBLIC REACTION ON ISSUE CONCERNING WITH PILOT FLYING J’S CASE As a result of the media reports concerning Pilot Flying J case, it has been ascertained that public trust seems to have collapsed from the company. Moreover, this information has made the public more suspicious. At the same time, it has contributed towards seeking increased information from their respective trading partners. The case of Pilot Flying J has also facilitated public and trading partners to identify ways that promote transparency in their business process. COVERAGE OF PILOT FLYING J’S CASE It can be stated that coverage of Pilot Flying J’s case has been a constant concern that has significantly attracted the proactive involvement of various forms of media as well as the interest of a wide range of public. The case has been routinely covered by both print along with electronic media including magazines such as Forbes, Fortune and Business Week. CONTENT AREA 3 MEDIA EFFECT ON WHITE COLLAR CRIME Dowler stated that the public knowledge about any crime is usually derived from media. It has been affirmed that media plays a crucial part in the construction of criminality. At the same time, it has been identified that public perception towards victims, criminals and law enforcement officials is determined to a great extent by their representation in the mass media. Furthermore, it has ascertained that presentation of the information based on crimes either violent or corporate fraud often tends towards reducing confidence of public on the company. Consequently, it can be ascertained that media can frame and pour certain specific information that has the ability to mould the opinions of public in the society (Dowler, “Media Consumption and Public Attitudes Toward Crime and Justice: The Relationship Between Fear of Crime, Punitive Attitudes, and Perceived Police Effectiveness”). Dubois argued that wide range of publics is exposed to extensive media coverage of events related with white collar crime. It was further admitted that every day masses are provided with an impressive array of certain crime stories in both print as well as electronic media. These massive sources of information often contribute towards creating perceptions for crimes and developing awareness amid them about crime related risks. Therefore, it can be admitted that the role of media in exposing crime can lead towards crime prevention strategies by educating them and making them aware of the risks that can result in victimizing them (Dubois, “Media Coverage of Organized Crime: Impact on Public Opinion”). Kumar argued that news-media is engaged in providing information to large audiences that tends to have no empirical references. The news-media delivers certain information suddenly and dramatically. It has been admitted that the function of news media in relation to crime is primarily to expose moral dilemmas by emphasizing and gaining attention to factors such as ethical issues related with the criminal act. Furthermore, it has been postulated that news-media renders objective and subjective information. It has been affirmed that coverage of crime by news-media is often arbitrary rather than superficial. Thus, it can be argued that presentation of information related with crime by news-media is invariably related with multi-dimensional misrepresentation (Kumar, “Crime and the News Media”). Beale argued that news-media in crime coverage has depicted a significant influence on reshaping public perceptions as well as criminal justice procedure. It is further ascertained that social construction of crime produces the related and at times identical perspective related to crime as is laid down by the news-media. In addition, it has been admitted that news-media has grown to become powerful over the years with an ability to inject specific views and ideas into its large audiences (Beale, “The News Medias Influence on Criminal Justice Policy: How Market-Driven News Promotes Punitiveness”). INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE ON HATE CRIMES It has been observed that social structure is one of the major factors responsible for the increased rate of crime in the US. The social structure has affected the behavior of individuals in an immense manner. In this perspective, Li (2009) stated that crime rate varies in accordance with the differences in the social structure as well as socioeconomic dimensions. Crime rate is identified to be more in the urban areas as compared to rural segments as people of the rural segments are observed to operate in accordance with law and social norms. Moreover, Li (2009) has indicated that the rapid change in population, economic growth, increase rate of unemployment and poverty among others the major factors responsible for the changes in the social structure (Li, “Social Structure, Social Control, And Crime In Rural Communities: A Test Of Social Disorganization Theory”). According to the report published by the Department of Justice (2013), it has been observed that the crime rate has increased in the US due to hate crimes ratio. Hate crimes are identified in accordance with the criminal act committed on the basis of race, ethnicity and religion among others. From the year 2007-11 in the US, around 259,700 criminal or offending acts in relation to hate crimes have been commenced where a majority of the offenders were perceived to be convinced on the ground of racial biasness (Department of Justice, “Nearly Two-Thirds Of Hate Crimes Went Unreported To Police In Recent Years”). Grattet, Jenness and Curry (1998) stated that in the US, the changes in the structure in relation to social norms and economic policies and development have raised the incidents of hate crimes. There are individuals who form groups on the basis of race as well as ethics which develops a sensation of biasness which lead to crime or offensive behavior and attitude (Grattet, Jenness and Curry, “The Homogenization And Differentiation Of Hate Crime Law In The United States, 1978 To 1995: Innovation And Diffusion In The Criminalization Of Bigotry”). Jacobs and Potter (1998) signified that social structure and norms are determined to be the factors which are responsible for developing immense pressure among individuals and accordingly they categorize themselves with others. In this respect, these individuals with the involvement of various peers or ethnic groups may develop offending attitude or behavior for other races or religious people of the society. The hate prejudice amid these people may influence them to commit crime (Jacobs and Potter, “Hate Crimes”). SUMMARY ANALYSIS It has been identified that news-media plays a pivotal role in reshaping the perceptions of the publics to a large extent. Concerning the case of Pilot Flying J, large audiences have developed low confidence on companies. The objective information is interpreted by news-media has significant impact on the society and the prevailing culture. It has been identified that news-media has the ability to directly influence the attention of wider public. To a certain degree, it can be argued that media accounts towards distorting the public views concerning with the case of Pilot Flying J. It is worth mentioning that journalists at times fabricate and present information with good reputation that usually gives the impression of genuine news. Moreover, it is apparent from the case of Pilot Flying J that new-media is significantly involved in determining the company act to be fraudulent without having reliable evidence. Essentially, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is engaged in investigating the case but it has not concluded that Pilot Flying J has maltreated with its customers rebates. On the contrary, news-media prior to any conclusion has publicized that the company has been engaged in such practices since last five years which has reduced the level of trust on the part of its customers and publics hampering the overall reputation of the company (Hannah, “Media Bias – How Certain Stories are Told, and Certain Stories Are Told Too Much”). Furthermore, in this context, it is observed that with regard to the findings of the various authors that hate crimes and social structure are interrelated with each other. Moreover, individuals are perceived to commit crime due to changes in social norms, structure and culture. Individuals are recognized to form groups on the basis of race, religion and culture among others. These distinctions are observed to create hate and offending attitudes for other people which lead to crime. In accordance with the bomb blast case in Boston, it is believed that the two Tsarnaevs brothers were under the influence of changes in social structure and have developed hatred against the government of the US due to its involvement in relation to war in Chechnya. Thus, from the facts and observations of the literature of various authors, it can be realized that social structure plays a significant role towards the increased rate of hate crimes in the US. Works Cited Beale, Sara Sun. “The News Medias Influence on Criminal Justice Policy: How Market-Driven News Promotes Punitiveness.” William and Mary Law Review 48.2 (2006): 397-481. Print. Black, Jeff. Biggest Unanswered Questions over Boston Marathon Bombings. News, 2013. Web. 05 June. 2013. < http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/22/17853213-7-biggest-unanswered-questions-over-boston-marathon-bombings?lite>. Dowler, Kenneth. “Media Consumption and Public Attitudes toward Crime and Justice: The Relationship between Fear of Crime, Punitive Attitudes, and Perceived Police Effectiveness.” Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture 10.2 (2003): 109-126. Print. Dubois, Judith. “Media Coverage of Organized Crime: Impact on Public Opinion?” Université du Québec à Montréal (2002): 1-29. Print. “Nearly Two-Thirds Of Hate Crimes Went Unreported To Police In Recent Years”. Office of Justice Program. Department of Justice, 2013. Web. 05 June. 2013. . Grattet, Jenness and Curry, “The Homogenization and Differentiation of Hate Crime Law in the United States, 1978 To 1995: Innovation and Diffusion in the Criminalization of Bigotry.” American Sociological Review 63 (1998): 286-307. Print. Hannah, Markea. “Media Bias – How Certain Stories Are Told, and Certain Stories Are Told Too Much.” Booker T. Washington Senior High School (2007): Print. Jacobs, James B. and Kimberly Potter. Hate Crimes. United Stated of America: The New York Times Company, 1998. Print. Kumar, Korni Swaroop. “Crime and the News Media.” Turkish Journal of Police Studies 1.3 (1999): 17-26. Print. Keel, Robert O. Structural Functionalism. Lectures. Web. 05 June. 2013. . Li, Yuh-Yuh. “Social Structure, Social Control, and Crime in Rural Communities: A Test of Social Disorganization Theory.” Dissertation (2009): 1-220. Print. Malone, Scott, Tim McLaughlin and Ross Kerber. Three Men Charged with Undermining Boston Bombing Probe. Article. Web. 05 June. 2013. < http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/01/us-usa-explosions-boston-arrests-idUSBRE9400M720130501>. Solomon, Brian. FBI Says Recordings Expose Jimmy Haslam’s Jacking the Discount Fraud at Pilot Flying J. Forbes.com LLC, 2013. . Web. O6 June. 2013. Strader, J. Kelly. “Understanding White Collar Crime.” LexisNexis (2002): 1-48. Print. “Juvenile Delinquency.” Theories of Causation. SAGE Publications, 2005. Web. 05 June. 2013. < http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/4880_Martin_Chapter_3_Juvenile_Delinquency.pdf>. Read More