Key Features of Crime Policy - Report Example

Key Features of Crime Policy Name: Tutor: Subject: Date: According to researchers such as Lombroso, Raffaele Garofalo and Ennrico Ferri, crime is caused by many factors. These factors include physical, anthropological and social. However, there are various theories that examine the main causes of crimes. This paper analyses theory that explains crime, causes of crimes and the definition of the crime. Furthermore, the paper explains what constitutes a crime. Some of the theories is the positivist theory Positivist Theory Positivism is one of the theories that were used to inquire the main causes of crime in the society. The theory was used to find answers of crimes through a scientific method. According to this theory, the human beings lack free will and this makes their lives to be determined by the surrounding environment. This clearly indicates that the person can become a criminal because of the situations. For example, one can become a criminal because of poverty. Lack of the essentials needs that are required on daily basis can drive one to be a criminal. This theory clearly shows that there is strong bonding between poverty and crime. This theory also suggests that some people are born criminal, criminals of passions or insane criminals (Karmen, 2012). Problems of this theory This theory uses the outdated methodology and therefore, it is almost impossible to create a meaningful conclusion. In addition, the theory did not consider female criminals. It only focuses on male criminals. It lacks validity because the theory suggested that all the criminals’ deeds committed by women are regarded as men were responsible for the women involvement. Classical schools of thoughts Classical school thought explains that the crime is caused by a person after making an analysis of consequences of the crime. Many people, according to classical school of thought is that people wants to maximize pleasure and at the same time minimize pain. This means that the person decides to involve in a criminal act as a way of getting resources to maximize pleasure. Criminals involve in acts of crimes so that they can be able to get money, sex, and other pleasures. According to these criminals, the immediate gains of crimes exceed the punishment of such crimes. According to criminals, it is better to involve in crimes and enjoy to the fullest ad be punish later (Evans and Himelfarb, 1987). Disadvantages of classical schools There are various problems that are associated with this theory. One of the disadvantages of this theory is that it assumes that all people reason the same. It is wrong to assume that people are equal in terms of life chances. This theory does not sufficiently explain the main reasons of causing crimes. In addition, the theory fails to give sufficient reasons as to why people involve in crimes. There is no way a person can choose to involve in a crime for no good reason. It is also wrong to assume that a person a find himself committing a crime whit no intention. What causes victimization over time? Criminal victimization is bad as it causes frightening and unsettling experience on many Australians. Victimization has many negative effects and very demoralizing. Its effects are very dangerous and almost irreversible. According to researchers, victims that are suffering from victimization can be very confusing, angry, fearful and frustrated. In most cases, the victims want to know why it happens and how it happens. They fail to know who to trust, or rely on for support, and help. Victimization affects victims physically, emotionally and even financially. How does crime affect people? The crime happened and its consequence differs depending on the type of the crime. In fact, crimes affect people differently. Victimization affects people differently also though they depend on the level of trauma that a person has ever experienced in his or her lifetime. In fact, it is true that crime can be very devastating. Official vs unofficial data The official data concerning crime was first collected in France in 1926. It was later released in other countries such as wales, England and the United State of America. All these official data on crimes relied on known and tried offenses. There are offenses that were not tried. Other official sources of data on crime can be collected in prisons on other correction and rehabilitation facilities. However, there are unofficial data sources such as social science and private agency records. These are very essential because they both utilize the survey method. Different definitions of crime Crime has been defined differently by various scholars and some famous definition was given is as follows. Definition 1 – an act is considered a crime if it violates the existing legal cord of the jurisdiction. According to Michal and Adler, a behavior of any kind and is prohibited by the criminal code is term as a crime. Definition 2 – according to Tappan, it is only a court to prove one to be a criminal. Any kind of intentional act that violates statutory and the case law and is penalized by the state is considered as a crime. Crime cannot exist until a suspect is caught, arrested, tried and proven guilty by the court of law. Definition 3 - for an act to be a crime, it must be prohibited by the stated laws; written laws. The political body of any country has a body of laws that govern the behaviors and it also determine if a certain behavior is a crime. It is; therefore, right to say that criminal behavior is behavior that has violated the criminal laws that were set by the state. Definition 4 – every crime has certain characteristics. For example, if an act is a prohibited by the state and one does it then it’s a crime Definition 5 – some rules are made by social groups. The social groups can have rules for certain or for a particular group and define them as outsiders. Such rules only applies to the deviants Definition 6 – crime is something that is within us, it is something anyone can do at any time, in fact, crime is simply who can pin the level on whom depending on the social relation determine by the political economy. Definition 7 – according to Sumner, crime is not a behavior nor a legal category but a matter of certain political condition. Some political class has certain conditions that favor them. Such conditions are made to be laws of the country. This law clearly shows that the laws are crucial instruments of the political class in a state. Definition 8 – some laws are historical. They were formed by colonial so as to safeguard their interest. They term them as human conducts and were created by the agents of the politically organized societies. They designed behaviors that were likely to conflict the interest of ruling political class as crimes. Definition 9 – law is just an ideological concept that favors the persons in power. In fact, criminal law is coercive and partial. It is used to guard the interest of those in power or to safeguard powers of the leaders. Definition 10 –What is defined as crime will differ depending on many factors such as time, place and the political decision making. This means that a crime in a certain state might not be applicable in a different state. Definition 11 – if act harms others in one way or another, it will be term as a crime. For example, if someone advertises harmful goods to the public, then he or she will be committing a crime. If someone disposes of waste in places that are not recommended to be disposed of in such as a place that will amount to a crime (Muncie, 1996). All the above definitions are neither wrong nor right. This is because of the states. This is because the state makes laws basing on time, place and the political conditions. In addition, the definition of crime is generated from the competing account of social order. It is, therefore important to note that a certain behavior becomes a crime when its conflicts the interest of ruling social class. References Karmen, A., 2012. Crime victims: An introduction to victimology. Cengage Learning. Muncie, J., 1996. The construction and deconstruction of crime. The problem of crime, 1, p.5. Ashworth, A. and Redmayne, M., 2010. The criminal process. Oxford University Press, USA. Evans, J. and Himelfarb, A., 1987. Counting crime. Criminology: A Canadian Perspective. Read More