Crime Essay Example For Students

Crime Essay Outline1 Introduction2 Â  What are the Causes of crime?3 Effects of crime4 Crime Prevention5 Conclusion Introduction Crime is a word that is no longer strange to the modern man as it seems to have become a norm in almost every society despite the menace it poses. Increase in crime rate all over the world has become a source of major concern as people no longer feel safe and protected. Any act that puts a fellow human being in danger or poses as a threat to life and property is considered a crime. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary refers to it as activities that involve breaking the law. It also defines it as an illegal act or activity that is punishable by law. As long as it is a violation of the laid down laws, rules, and regulations of a society or the country at large, it is a crime, and such an act is punishable by the law. Crime per thousand from between 1983 and 1992 rose 9.4 percent but from 1991 to1992 it went down 4 percent. In recent years crime has been decreasing. Property crime, murder, robbery, and burglary have all decreased at least threepercent in recent years but that is not much. There is one exception; rapewhich has gone up 3 percent. Violent crime has risen 40.9 since 1983 while inrecent years it has only gone down a tenth of a percent. This may be one of thereasons people feel less safe. People arent afraid of larceny or propertycrimes. They are afraid of violent crimes, which is why is recent years theyfeel insecure. Many people believe the problem is in the trial system itself. Notenough people are convicted. In our trial system where you are innocent untilproven guilty and to be proved guilty it must be done beyond reasonable doubt orpreponderance of evidence in civil cases. After it has finally been very wellproven a judge or jury must unanimously decide the criminal is innocent orguilty or it is declared a hung jury. It also is too easy to get a shortersentence on a plea bargain. For instance a person accused of armed robbery, anoffence that on average a person would get thirty years for; the criminal willoften plead guilty to a lesser offence such as carrying a concealed weapon. Carrying a concealed weapon would often give a six year sentence but thecriminal often gets off in half that time. So you see how the sentencing justwent from thirty years to three years. Another possible cause is our prison system. Prisons breed crimethemselves. If a burglar is sent to prison he must contend with the violenceinside it by being rough himself. This means a burglar who enters a prison mayemerge a murderer. Prisons are often used to rehabilitate and made morepleasant as so to not create the cultures that develop more criminals in them. This often makes prison seem not so bad to criminals. That solution is worsethen the problem. Is the United States crime problem as bad as people think it is? Thecrime rate in the United States isnt even in the top fifteen. The problem inthe United States is the rise in violent crime. The United States ranks thirdin the world in robbery and violent theft. There is a rise in juvenile crimetoo. A possible reason for this is the breakdown of the family. In familieswhere both parents work the kids are left alone or in a day care.The parentsare around less for support. This makes it that much easier for the kids tobecome delinquents. Sex Education: Does it Really Work? EssayThere are many possible ways to fix the United States crime problem andthe rise in violent crime. One solution is to use the death sentence. One lessmurder alive is one less murderer on the streets. Another answer is to prohibithandguns. The second amendment may give the right to bear arms but it isntclear whether this right should be granted to individual citizens or an officialstate militia. The Supreme Court has never ruled on this issue. Withouthandguns nobody would be afraid to be held up. It would be much safer to go outat night. When crime makes people live their lives differently and possibly infear something must be done. Social Issues