Crime and Criminality - Essay Example

Renowned "Criminology" author Larry Siegel had this to ask, "Why do people behave the way they do What causes one person to become violent and anti-social while another channels his or her energy into work, school and family". (Siegel L, 1998) Imperative then in finding and forging the right and better approach to first have the clearest perspective of the 'enemies' out there. Government reforms, actions and interventions are almost always subject to opposing views and analysis thereby opening the nation and the people to yet another war of the minds.

There are countless of theories, concepts, typologies and patterns to crime and criminality. Siegel in approaching the matter touched on both qualitative approach - the concepts of crime, law and criminology, the nature and extent of crime, theories of crime causation among others. All these he did while at the same extensively discussing and Quantitative approach too in the presentation of victim survey trends, statistics and case studies on chronic offenders, success and failures of the government's crisis intervention and a wide expanse of surveys.

(Siegel L, pp 46 - 71) Behaviors constituting a prohibited and offensive act have even evolved into certain categories and seemingly stereo-typecasted. One such contention was in the compilation of criminology readings done by author and professor, Joseph F. Sheley. There's predatory crime, vice crime, organized crime and yes, even "respectable" crime, all "social problems." (Sheley, J 1987 pp.103 - 229) Crime as so defined is "any violation of law, either divine or human. An omission of a duty commanded or the commission of an act forbidden by law.

" (Crime page, Brainy Dictionary, http://www.brainydictionary.com/words/cr/crime 149615.html) Webster explains it as an "action that is deemed injurious to the public welfare and is legally prohibited." (Webster's College Dictionary, 1997) Criminality on the other hand is the "quality or state of being criminal." Simply put, the criminal act or practice. (Webster's, 1997) Professors Freda Adler, Gerhard Mueller and Willian Laufer in their extensive study likewise aptly laid down what they agreed were techniques for measuring the characteristics of criminals and crime.

(Adler F, Mueller G, Laufer W, 1995) Qualitative approach as the mode of response works on the premise that provides Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches 3for that imperative need for a clearer perspective. Nobody goes to war unprepared. Everybody at war should be equipped not only with a strategy for victory but more so, with the specifics for a multi-layered defense system. Qualitative approach will also take care of that need that will also redound to having that all-important understanding of what the nation and its people are up to.

This methodology brings with it the needed backbone of the so-called battle plan as it lays down the abstract of the defense system compatible with the common law system adhered to by