The early attempts to explain criminal and deviant behavior began with the supposition that there was something inherently erroneous with the perpetrators. The difference between criminal and non-criminal behavior was seen as fixed and obvious and the inability of certain individuals to adhere to social norms was elucidated in terms of sin or moral degeneracy. The biological theory of crime was introduced by Cesare Lombroso whose study of the physical characteristics of criminals persuaded him that criminal behavior was biologically inherent (Lauer, 1982, p.18). The work of Lombroso fascinated many people and scholars all of whom failed to perceive the serious mistake made by Lombroso in the methodology.
Lombroso had failed to assess the physical characteristics of conformists additionally and thus had failed to demonstrate that the distinctive characteristics found in the criminals were also common among the conformists’ population. This mistake was later corrected by a British physician who illustrated that the physical features of criminals were not different from those of the conformists. Various developments were made to Lombroso’s theory. In 1949, William Sheldon tried to categorize individuals according to three types of body structure: endomorphs (soft and round), mesomorphs (muscular and agile), and ectomorphs (skinny and delicate). Sheldon then carried out a study using a small sample of juvenile delinquents and found out that majority of the juvenile delinquents were mesomorphs. This argument was later supported by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck in 1956 who argued that the body structure affects the predisposition of people to criminal activities but also the experiences and personal characteristics play an important role (Siegel, 2007, p.96).
Later developments of the biological theory argued that criminals had an extra the chromosome that gave them a combination of XYY. Successive studies indicated that even though males with the XYY combination are not more violent than other criminals they are found more often in criminal than in conformists groups. The XYY individuals are also most likely to be extraordinarily tall thereby exposing them to social stigma and limiting their job prospects. Their predisposition to commit crimes is therefore high (Taylor et al., 1973). The biological theory differs from the other theories of crime in many ways. First, it emphasizes individuals rather than on society and other environmental factors that influence people to commit crimes. Secondly, it fails to locate the main causes of crime and instead locates the criminals themselves in society. The theory is useful in explaining some forms of criminal activities particularly those perpetrated by mentally incapacitated individuals. It can however be more useful if it could explain the occurrence of crime in general and if it could locate the major causes of crime in society.
Theory of anomie
The conflict theory is based upon the concept of anomie that was introduced by Emile Durkheim and further propounded by Merton. Anomie is the state of confusion that arises in society if there is a conflict between the socially approved goals and the means of achieving the goals (Siegel, 2004, p.134). Every society has its own distinct socially approved goals which may differ from those of another society. Likewise, each society has put in place the socially acceptable means of achieving these goals. The American society, for instance, puts great emphasis on material wealth commonly described as the American dream. The socially acceptable means of achieving this dream are through education and later employment. However, millions of Americans such as those of the minority groups lack access to these acceptable means of achieving the goals (Allan and Steffensmeier, 1989, p.109).
A state of anomie arises when such a conflict arises. Those lacking the acceptable means will look for other means of achieving their goals, albeit unacceptable. This is the reason why the majority of crimes in the United States are committed by members of the poor and minority communities. To them, crime becomes a means through which their desired goals of attaining material wealth can be achieved. The conflict theory differs from the biological theory in the sense that it does not locate the criminals in the society but instead, it identifies the major cause of criminal and deviant behavior in the society. Additionally, the conflict theory puts the blame on society rather than on individuals by arguing that it is the society and the forces in it that force individuals to commit crimes. The theory helps explain certain crimes such as property crimes but it fails to explain the occurrence of other crimes such as homicide and sexual abuse. The theory also assumes that every member of the society agrees to the goals that are defined by the wider society, which in many cases is not true. Solving these limitations would greatly enhance the conflict theory.
Differential association theory
The main notion of the cultural-transmission theory is that criminal behavior is learned. This theory was introduced by Sutherland who observed that even though high-crime communities evolve, the level of crime remains the same. Sutherland argued that the persistence of crimes in such areas is a result of the socialization process through which new residents learn the criminal activities from others in the community. This process of learning is called differential association. Robertson argues that “Just as people will tend to be conformist if their socialization emphasizes a respect for the prevailing norms, so they will tend to become deviant if their socialization encourages contempt for these norms,” (1981, p.186).
However, since everyone is exposed to both conformists and deviants, some factors determine the predisposition of people to be criminals or conformists. These factors include the intensity of contacts, age of contacts, and the ratio of contacts with criminals and conformists. The intensity of contacts refers to the strength of contact with conformists or criminals. Individuals who have strong relationships with criminals will most likely turn out to be criminals and vice versa. The age at which contact with criminals occurs also matters; children and adolescents who interact with criminals are more likely to become criminals than adults. Thirdly, people who interact with more criminals than conformists are likely to become criminals themselves (Reid, 1994, p.67).
The cultural-transmission theory differs from the biological theory in the sense that it tries to identify the cause of crime in the society rather than the criminals themselves. In this sense, it is similar to conflict theory. The theory differs from both the biological and conflict theory because it explains the process through which people born as conformists become criminals. This process is important in understanding criminal behavior but it has not been addressed by the other two theories. The limitation of the cultural-transmission theory lies in the fact that many criminal activities are perpetrated without necessarily coming into contact with criminals, for instance, a rapist does not need to learn the act from others. Secondly, some criminals activities are learned from contact with conformists, for instance, embezzlement (can be learned through an accounting course). Most importantly, some individuals such as lawyers spend a great deal of their time with criminals yet they do not become criminals. The improvement of the cultural-transmission theory can thus be improved by addressing these shortcomings.
References
Allan, E.A., and Steffensmeier, D. (1989). Youth, underemployment, and property crime. American Sociological Review 54, 107-123.
Lauer, R. (1982). Social problems and the quality of life (7th ed.). Missouri: McGraw Hill.
Reid, S.T. (1994). Crime and Criminology. Dubuque: Brown communications, Inc.
Robertson, I. (1981). Sociology (2nd ed.). New York: Worth Publishers, Inc.
Siegel, L. (2007). Criminology: The Core (3rd ed.). Florence: Cengage Learning, Inc.
Taylor et al. (1973). The new criminology. London: Routledge $ Kegan Paul.
Analysis of historic activities in a case produces substantial evidence for persecution. Courts have depended on the evidence presented to indict based on material from crime scenes and pass sentences on cases. This has however been outwitted by the lawbreakers or destruction and loss of evidence which has led to improper persecution of trials.
Introduction
In the investigation of a criminal case, the crime reports can be taken on for scrutiny. These statements are derived from the scene or the area of alleged illegal activity. The perpetrator who is alleged to have committed the act is entitled to a fair trial. To grant this right, a comprehensive probe has to be carried out to determine the accusation based on evidence. The summary of the analyzed data from the investigation is presented in a court of law for legal action.
The court operates solely on evidence and the examiner has to prove the case beyond the reason of doubt. To scrutinize an illegal case, aspects of behavior structure are resolved before, at the period of, and beyond the unlawful act. These findings are merged with additional related facts and objective proof. This combination is used to contrast with the traits of familiar behavior styles and psychological defects to build up a sensible effective illustration of the wrongdoer. (Winerman, 2004)
The work of a prosecutor depends on the work done by the investigator. The nature of crime is that it is done in an undercover technique. This makes the unfolding of the illegal act with the offender challenging to the inspector. Investigators have adopted modern methods of unearthing evidence such as forensic and closed-circuit television recordings. (Meyer, 2000)
Research Objectives
The research seeks to find out which is the most appropriate method of exploring crime and the architects behind it. Investigators have used eye witness and their accounts in preparing cases for persecution. The lawbreakers have got smarter and developed ways of eluding the eye of the public by the use of stands such as disguises or masks. (Winerman, 2004)
The study will determine why cases of crime have had difficulties in the preparations. The wrongdoers have mastered their art of crime and they leave scenes with little evidence. This has resulted in crippling of law enforcement as justice is not normally served. Crime scenes have been destroyed or altered giving the investigators a difficult time. Some destructions could be intentional and some accidental. (Meyer, 2000)
The research paper scrutinizes if there are any advancements in crime probing technology. In order to prove cases as proposed, the prosecutor is required by law to convince the court using appropriate evidence. Law enforcers need to develop technologies that will aid them in getting these proofs. The equipment should be updated frequently as the criminals continue to improve on their activities which will escape undetected. (Winerman, 2004)
Literature Review
Law enforcers have had difficulties in their investigations of criminal cases. Officers have adopted the use of human behavior in trying to determine the cause of the crime committed. In these latter days, reporting crime is found to be law implementation and also partly behavior identify. It is a relatively contemporary method of solving crime and mostly is seen in motion pictures. The Federal Bureau of Investigation uses the terms “criminal investigative analysis” to describe the examination of a criminal.
This method assists the officers in the inspection of proof, casualty, and onlookers’ accounts. The expressions can be mentally inconsistent such as character mannerism, psychic and deed trends. Residential areas and other social attributes can also be used. These factors are used by the officer in determining the approach he/she will use in the grilling of the victim. (Winerman, 2004)
In line with the use of examination of the suspect, there is a forensic application on the facts presented in the case. Broad scrutiny of the case files with an effort to settle on a possible solution to the quest. This is a method of inspection greatly focused on appraisal, offense account rebuilding, felony study, and practical learning of the crime.
Outlining solely cannot spot the precisely supposed victim; it actually gives a sketch of the possible victim setting. (Meyer, 2000) The analysis is used to narrow down to the possible location of the supposed victim’s position. To investigate a criminal activity requires lots of resources which makes focusing on leads advantageous. Investigators have had success stories after following such leads as observed in the case of a bomber in New York who eluded police traps. The officers consulted a psychologist who analyzed the data which led to the arrest of the suspect after follow through. (Winerman, 2007)
Research Methodology
The study uses secondary data from recordings of past criminal cases and files from the criminal investigation department. Articles published on criminology are also utilized in the examination. The data is retrieved from online sources and compared to develop a comprehensive paper on trial appraisal.
Research Findings
When undertaking a felony area examination, there are six basic steps that ought to be followed. (Winerman, 2004) It begins with the contributory data and evidence. This will consist of whatever substance originating from the crime area that could be of use. The profiler only collects the primary data and does not invite proposals about other probable perpetrators at this stage. This allows for a determined focus on the case using the available information to expand later into the inquiry. Bombarding the investigator with secondary data at this stage can endanger the profile formulation.
The process of making a judgment based on the available evidence follows after the collection. The primary data is set into consequential queries and guides together with a number of elements. The plan of investigation is then formed and carried out in pursuit of the likely victim. (Winerman, 2004)The queries are designed to probe those who will be asked so as to lead the investigator closer to the victim. Caution should be taken to shun questions that will divert the officer from the intended path. This will give the deductions a direction to follow through. (Meyer, 2000)
The stage setting of the crime should be ascertained based on the analysis in the first two steps. The profiler tries to rebuild the operations of the perpetrator and his subject. The officer asks him/herself the probabilities based on the evidence at hand. Was the crime intentional or an act of omission?
These could be some of the queries that the facts should give the course. After the scene has been restaged, the perpetrator has to be projected. A reproduction image to the executor is formed by the profiler as a starting point. This will be inclining towards his demographic traits. It is a very tedious stage of the profiler’s quest of finding the criminal as it is usually difficult to narrow down on a personality owing to the available proof. (Turvey, 2009) The profiler should revisit the findings at the second stage for comparison and relate them to the proposal.
Modern technologies are available for use in readjusting the profile. (Rittman, 2006) After the probable images are formed, they are handed to the investigator in a description form. It is upon the investigator to try and match the description in the possible areas near the crime scene. Alteration of the sketch can be done if new evidence is realized and a response procedure is begun from the second step to modify it. Fixation on an idea of the suspect can lead to wrong arrests that jeopardize the intention of solving the crime.
Seizing the felon is the objective of the whole process. A professional follow-through on the process will corner the suspect to own up for the atrocities. If the steps are diligently carried out, most suspects feel helpless and give information even of past crimes. The apprehending of the suspect should appear at the end of the investigation as people have a right to freedom until proven guilty. (Turvey, 2009)
Conclusion
Solving offenses and criminal activities have been a tedious task for law enforcers. The forensic analysis approach to solving crime has helped unearth many felons. Serial killers, rapists, and other criminals who repeat their activities create havoc in society. All in all, criminal activities render a society unworthy of itself and its neighbors. The steps outlined above can be used in the profiling and later prosecution of criminals. The Federal Agencies have used the procedure to identify and interrogate suspects with much success.
The use of profiling in policing criminal activities has helped end numerous high-level crimes. The use of human psychology to trace the steps of a criminal has been well researched by law enforcement organizations. The Federal Bureau of Investigations has instituted research to facilitate investigators with modern methods of profiling.
List of Reference
Meyer, C.B. (2000). Introduction to Criminal Profiling: The purpose of a behavioral profile. Web.
Rittman, M. (2006). Data Profiling and Automated Cleansing Using Oracle Warehouse Builder 10g Release 2. Data profiling and Correcting within Oracle Warehouse Builder. Web.
Turvey, B. (2009). Criminal Profiling. The FBI’s Crime Scene Analysis. Web.
Winerman, L. (2004).Criminal profiling: the reality behind the myth. Web.
When making a legal determination of a case, a judge has to consider several factors about the defendant before making a ruling. These factors include issues like the defendant’s past criminal behavior, the possibility of change, legal requirement, and the defendant’s life (Steele 121). In some situations, the defendant’s life may predispose him or her to criminal activities. The following discussion analyzes Mary Lee case to determine if she deserves probation or imprisonment and ways a probation officer can help such an individual to change. In addition, the discussion will analyze the moral obligation of the courts or society in ensuring that Mary Lee changes her criminal conducts and she is successful in life.
Probation or Imprisonment
It is easy for the prosecution, in this case, to request the judge to sentence the defendant due to her criminal behavior. She has failed to change despite the fact that she has been on probation to ensure that she is supported to improve her conducts. The prosecution can argue that there is no possibility for her to change since she has proven that she is a threat to peace in the society (Mendicino 82). However, it is crucial to analyze why she has continued to behave in a criminal manner. The need to offer quality life for her children, pay rent, and live a decent life has forced her to engage in crime (Samaha 109). She got married at a tender age and she did not complete high school, which makes it difficult for her to get a rewarding job. In addition, the fact that she is divorced hence the only breadwinner for her family has forced her to engage in criminal activities. It is my opinion that the defendant should be put on probation since she has shown positive changes, which include the fact that she is making restitution, developing a regular church relationship, and she is providing a satisfactory home environment for her two children. In addition, if the court sentences her, the children will be taken to foster care, which may cause emotional distress for her and the kids. The court should consider her willingness to change when making its final decision.
Duties of a Probation Officer
As a probation officer, I will provide counseling to Merry Lee by telling her about my past life. I was also bankrupt after a divorce, but I changed my life through guidance and further studies. I will also inform her about the risk she faces if she continues to engage in criminal activities (Masters 109). I can also help her enroll in school to complete her high school studies. This will ensure that she has a rewarding job and she can even register for college or scholarship. In addition, I will ensure that I meet her weekly to check her progress and deal with her concerns.
Society or Courts Moral Obligation
It is not enough for the society or courts to ask a defendant not to engage in petty larceny. The society should ensure that petty crime offenders are provided with other income earning opportunities to prevent them from committing such crimes (Bibas 39). Due to the defendant social status, it is difficult for her not to commit petty crimes since she has to offer quality life for her family. The society should ensure such individuals are supported by changing the social status through education and providing rewarding jobs. The court should also ensure that the probation officer assigned to the case has the skills to change the defendant’s behavior to avoid future petty crimes (McLaughlin 76).
Conclusion
The Mary Lee case shows how being a victim of circumstances can predispose an individual to criminal conducts. A probation officer should endeavor to change the criminal behavior of an offender by providing guidance and counseling. The society has a moral obligation of supporting petty crime offenders who have been victims of circumstances to change their conduct.
References
Bibas, Stephanos. The Machinery of Criminal Justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Among the unmovable items that should be necessarily processed for latent impressions, it is essential to point out those that might contain the finger and the footprints of both the criminal and the victim. Hence, such surfaces as the floor and the walls should be investigated. To detect latent impressions, a classic power method can be applied. Some experts also mention “alternate light sources” as a convenient tool to detect latent impressions (Buckles, 2012).
Non-processed Items
It is assumed that the fresh-looking cigarette should not be processed for latent expression. First and foremost, it is stated that the scene has already been secured. It means that sufficient time has passed since the criminal left the site. Therefore, the fresh-looking cigarette might have been left by someone from the investigating or photography team. The paper “Quick Pick” lottery ticket and the blue steel revolver should not be processed for latent expression as well because they already contain visual expressions.
Place of Processing
Some of the items should be processed right at the crime site. Thus, for instance, the steel, the container, and the cigar box refer to the so-called “non-porous” surfaces. In other words, it is critical not to damage the latent expression that these surfaces might contain (Schiro, 2016). All the other items can be transported to the laboratory in special containers.
Processing Protocols
My investigation would be based on several protocols. First of all, I would stick to the Hayden Baldwin crime scene protocol that implies five critical steps in investigating a crime scene: to interview, to examine, to photograph, to sketch, to process. I might also employ Rynearson’s protocol that, likewise, implies a scene reconstruction (Crime Scene Investigation Protocol, 2013).
Involved Parties and Witnesses
Theoretically, all the four parties – the first officer, the employee, the mother, and her son – might be involved in the crime. As a result, it is essential to draw conclusions regarding their participation or witnessing the crime based on the relevant interviews. It is essential to note that the involvement of some parties might be discovered at the final stages of the investigation.
Evidence Packaging
According to experts’ opinion, the major part of the evidence can be collected in paper containers. Liquid items must be packed in leak-proof containers while large items are packed in plastic bags (Schiro, 2016). While selecting the packaging for a particular type of evidence, the core focus should be placed on preserving the prints. For this reason, it is proposed that all the pieces of evidence are packed in a separate container. To avoid potential confusion, it is necessary to label each container with a relevant note that would contain the name of the item and the data of its collection.
It is also essential to note that the evidence storing should be treated equally carefully as the evidence packaging. Hence, for instance, experts point out that most evidence should be kept in dry air (Schiro, 2016).
Expert Witness Qualifications
An expert witness is supposed to possess some specific knowledge of the witnessing in the relevant field. To be admitted to a court case, an expert witness is supposed to pass a series of tests to prove the essential skills and qualifications: the General Acceptance Test, the Reliability Test, and the Daubert Standard (Buckles, 2012).
Reference List
Buckles, T. (2012). Crime Scene Investigation, Criminalistics, and The Law. New York, New York: Cengage Learning.
Most of the modern world businesses are conducted with the assistance of computers that have internet connections. Therefore, these computers carry very important personal and company information that can be utilized by hackers to commit crime (System Solutions Group, 2003).
Digital crime is therefore committed when an individual obtains access to confidential information such as credit card numbers or using unauthorized means to access a computer in order to acquire some private information. Since the computer systems are connected globally, this form of crime is also global and not limited by territorial borders (Caeti et al, 2005). It is therefore a very complex form of crime to curb. Digital crime can be committed through various ways.
When an individual decides to make and distribute computer worms and viruses, it may hamper the normal functioning of a computer system rendering it vulnerable to security breaches (Caeti et al, 2005).
Other ways through which this type of crime is committed include production and distribution of child pornography; repeated stealing of money that is done in small bits and commonly known as Salami slicing; identity theft enabling deceptive computer transactions; property theft with the aid of computer systems; piracy; unauthorized use and alteration of programs; deliberate interference with computerized protection systems; and fraudulent manipulation of computer records (Caeti et al, 2005).
Electronic funds transfer is also another form of digital crime that is on the rise especially in the developed world whereby almost every business transaction is digitalized. This is achieved through counterfeiting digital information stored on a credit card. Not all of these digital crimes occur in isolation. Most of them are compound in such a way one that crime necessitates another one (System Solutions Group, 2003).
Currently, effective measures have been put in place to combat digital crimes. The introduction of a worldwide Data Security Standard (DSS), which protects cardholder data from access and manipulation, has greatly reduced instances of fraudulent cash withdrawals from the ATMs.
This system integrates network architecture, software design, security management, policies, and procedures. It enables improved security in the banking sector globally (Caeti et al, 2005). A global multilayered advance to security has also helped in countering digital crime. This approach protects digital systems from malware threats of any type. These systems are able to withstand security breaches.
There are myriads of security software in the market that have been designed to help in combating digital crimes (System Solutions Group, 2003). A good example of such software is the antivirus software that protects computer systems from viruses, malwares, and worms. This makes it difficult for hackers to establish a link into a remote computer. Windows defender is also important security software that prevents unauthorized access to a computer. The use of a pin or a password also assists in regulating digital crimes.
Laws have been enacted that incriminate any form of digital crimes. Child protection laws ensure that there is no production of child pornographic materials.
Antipiracy laws also help in combating unauthorized production of digital information. International security bodies such as Interpol and the FBI have been put in place to help combat this crime, since it is not limited to a country. Forensic systems have been built in such a way that any form of data manipulations can be noticed and consequently enhancing the accuracy of crime scene investigation data.
All these security measures can only function effectively if the user of the digital device such as a computer employs other standard measures needed to regulate digital crimes. The system software must be up to date since the current software is complex and hard to hack.
The digital system should equally be protected with a complex password that contains variety of characters (System Solutions Group, 2003). Finally, prevention of digital crime can be enhanced by reporting to the authorities any suspicious activity. Therefore for digital crime to be tackled effectively all digital systems users should be involved.
References
Caeti, T. J., Liederbach, J. R., Loper, K. J., Fritsch, E. J. & Taylor, R. W. (2005). Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice Hall.
System Solutions Group. (2003). Digital Crime. Web.
Nowadays, more and more social scientists grow to realize that the phenomenon of crime can hardly be discussed as a “thing in itself”, simply because one’s criminal behavior appears to be closely linked to the particularities of how criminally-minded individual perceives a surrounding reality. In its turn, this points out people’s tendency to indulge in anti-social behavior as such that cannot be solely correlated to environmental factors that affected the process of these people’s upbringing.
This is the reason why many of today’s sociologists and criminologists have concluded that, for law enforcement agencies to effectively combat crime, people’s criminal behavior needs to be recognized as having clearly defined sub-cultural subtleties – that is, citizens’ racial, cultural and religious affiliation play crucial role in forming their social attitudes. Therefore, we can only agree with the foremost idea, promoted by essays found in Jeff Ferrell and Clinton Sanders’ book “Cultural Criminology”: “Criminal behavior is, more often than not, subcultural behavior… In this sense, much of what we take as crime is essentially collective behavior; whether carried out by one person or many, particularly criminal acts are often organized within and instigated by subcultural groups” (Ferrell, Sanders 4, 1995).
In its turn, this reveal claims that link the rise of crime in Western countries to these countries’ media’ tendency to glorify violence, as being conceptually conflicting, because most Media operate within the framework of a mainstream culture, which is being actively opposed by people affiliated with criminal sub-cultures. Therefore, while not denying the fact that the influence of today’s media can certainly be related to the “decline of morals”, observed in Western countries, we nevertheless strongly disagree with suggestions that it is namely citizens’ exposal to Media violence, whexposureually causes them to choose in favour of committing violent favor, as the ultimate mean of dealing with their existential challenges.
The fact that modern Medias often make a point in Mediating violence is nothing but an indication that “something is rotten in the fair kingdom of Denmark”. However, it is absolutely inappropriate to rh Media’s tendency as the actual diagnosis for the process of Western societies’ social integrity being continuously undermined, as time goes by. In this paper, we will aim at substantiating the logical soundness of our thesis.
Before we even begin discussing the effects of Media violence upon Australian society, we will need to specify that the realities of post-industrial living make it quite impossible to refer to Australian national Media as being national, in the full sense of this word. In his article “Dictatorship of the Foreign-Controlled Media”, Jonathan Graham is making a valid point when he suggests: “We now live in the virtual dictatorship of a foreign-controlled media. Australia resembles a country occupied by foreign corporations, in which our journalists, bureaucrats, and politicians are collaborators…
By heavily censoring one side of the Asianisation, multiculturalism and disarmament debates, the unprofessional and corrupt media have turned journalism into blatant propaganda” (Graham 1998). Even without indulging in extensive research onto the actual ownership of Australian Media, it is absolutely clear that they should be referred to as being simply the “national branches” of America’s transnational Media corporations.
As saying goes – people’s dreams are made in Hollywood. Therefore, our discussion as to the true reasons why these “dreams” become ever more violent has global, rather than strictly national implications. After all, Australia remains an integral part of Western civilization. And, as a Western country, Australian society’s integrity is being undermined in the same way as it happens in other Western countries, which crazed promoters of multiculturalism had managed to firmly set on the path of turning into Third World slums.
We need to understand that today’s Western civilization is nothing but a spiritual heir of the late Roman Empire, which is why, for us to get an insight into the true reasons why more and more citizens in Western countries tend to indulge in violent behavior, we will simply need to analyze what was prompting Roman citizens, in time of Roman Empire’s decline, to act in a very similar manner.
In the last century, before ancient Rome was being completely sacked by barbarians, there was only one way for Roman Emperors to win public support – by staging ever-more bloodier gladiator shows. And the reason for this was simple – by that time, Romans have ceased to be Romans, in the biologically cultural sense of this word, as the result of being subjected to racial and spiritual marginalization for centuries, which in its turn, was gradually depriving them of their sense of perceptional idealism.
The phrase “bread and entertainment” became the motto of the time (just as is the case in Western countries today). The overwhelming majority of Romans were preoccupied with seeking entertainment, as the very point of their existence. Moreover, they could only be “entertained” by being exposed to the sight of gladiators killing each other in Coliseum’s arena (sometimes, as many as 10.000 people would be killed in one day), because only this could satisfy degenerate Romans’ animalistic appetite for bloody spectacles.
Such our brief historical excurse allows us to get a better understanding of what causes people to enjoy seeing others suffer, regardless of whether we talk about ancient Romans or today’s Australians. In their book “The Critical Criminology Companion”, Thalia Anthony and Chris Cunneen leave no doubt as to the utterly objective essence of people’s fascination with R-rated Media products: “Despite the taken-for-granted condemnation of crime as a social phenomenon, individuals in large numbers choose to spend their leisure time-consuming Media stories about the crime – stories which often present victimization in graphic and confronting detail” (Anthony, Cunneen 19, 2008).
The ultimate reason that prompts media to promote violence is that there is a commercial demand for it. And the reason why there is such a demand in the first place is that, just as it was the case in a time of Rome’s decline, more and more citizens in Western countries are now being deprived of their sense of idealism, by being affected by racial, spiritual and intellectual marginalization (the side-effect of a policy of “multiculturalism” being given official status in Western countries), which in its turn, causes them to think of violence in terms of entertainment.
In his article “An Exploration of Media Violence in a Junior-High School Art Classroom”, Kuan Sheng comes up to essentially the same conclusion, even though the author articulates it in form of a politically correct rhetorical question: “Do people enjoy violent media programs because they offer aesthetic gratification? Does extensive exposure to media violence have detrimental effects? If this is the case, why do so many people thirst for more?” (Sheng 57, 2007).
The very context of this question implies a positive answer. There can be no doubt that people’s sub-cultural inclinations do affect their aesthetic preferences. Even Liberal sociologists, who discuss graffiti on the walls of public buildings in terms of “art”, do admit the fact that this “art” is the product of “collective sub-cultural mentality”, which in its turn, implies that the variety of different factors play their role in forming such mentality, as opposed to purely environmental ones: “Graffiti writers paint a complex system of subterranean signs directly onto the walls of cities that otherwise would render them invisible.
In tagging and piecing for one another, writers also construct alternative systems of status and identity” (Ferrell 83, 1995). The reason author does not specify the “complexity” of graffiti semiotics is because there is nothing complex about it – the presence of graffiti in Western cities simply reflect that fact that, while “progressive” social scientists discuss the graffiti writing as “expression of people’s existential uniqueness”, these cities are being territorially divided on “zones of influence” among competing ethnic gangs.
In its turn, this provides us with insight on the actual roots of just about any criminal sub-culture, as such that cannot be discussed outside of this sub-culture affiliates’ biological makeup. And the reason why mainstream sociologists and criminologists strive to do their best, to avoid discussing the existence of a clear link between people’s tendency to indulge in anti-social behavior and their ethnic affiliation, is simple – they do not want to lose their jobs, as such discussion, on their part, would represent committing a “crime” against the spirit of “political correctness”.
Nevertheless, even the most “open-minded” sociologists, such as Alison Young, are finally beginning to realize that the utilization of a legal system, based on British common law, in a multicultural society is doomed to operational failure.
In her article “Textual Outlaws and Criminal Conversations”, Alison Young explains the ineffectiveness of what she refers to as “Western criminal-legal tradition” by exposing this system being essentially the legal sublimation of euro-centric existential values, which in its turn, contradicts the very conceptual premise of multiculturalism: “Such a crisis (within Western criminal-legal tradition) has arisen out of the inability to solve the conundrum of criminality, to contain its effects and to account for its meanings.
While the notion of crisis is now commonplace, it is often presented within a frame of crisis-management, in which the crisis is to be sutured or cover over” (Young 3, 1996). Unfortunately, while working on her article, the author has failed to realize that her approach to dealing with the issues of criminality represents the classical example of “crisis management” in the field of criminology, simply because sociologist can’t gain insight onto the metaphysical roots of crime, without such sociologist’s willingness to recognize criminal behavior as being rather biologically then environmentally motivated.
As we have suggested earlier in this paper, it is namely the particularities of people’s ethnocultural identity, which define these people’s sense of criminal aesthetics. This is exactly the reason why violent TV programs and movies are especially popular among audiences that consist of “ethnically unique” citizens. For example, the reason why the movie “Fast and Furious”, which glorifies gang-related violence and reckless driving, had instantly become a blockbuster, after being released to American movie theatres, is because of “cinematographic enthusiasm”, on the part of Hispanic moviegoers.
In her article “Movie Marketing Targets Latinos”, Pamela McClintock says: “The surprisingly strong opening of Universal’s “Fast and Furious” – $71 million over the April 3-5 weekend – was Hollywood’s latest reminder of the power of Hispanic moviegoers… Universal made its biggest Hispanic marketing spend to date for the pic. There are an estimated 45 million people with Hispanic backgrounds in the U.S.
For more than a decade, the Motion Picture Assn. of America has pegged Hispanics as the fastest-growing segment of the moviegoing audience” (McClintock 2009). There can be little doubt as to the fact that the fans of “Fast and Furious” do strive to mimic the actions of the movie’s main characters in reality. The only question here is whether they do it as the result of having watched this particular movie or because watching “Fast and Furious”, on their part, had simply helped movie’s fans to take pride in their inborn anti-social instincts.
The second case scenario appears to be much more plausible because there is plenty of evidence available as to the fact that there are no objective reasons to consider Media violence as the actual catalyst of social violence. The validity of this thesis can be easily illustrated by the analysis of violent computer games’ effects on children’s upbringing. In her article “No Strong Link Seen between Violent Video Games and Aggression”, Andrea Lynn points out at conceptual inconsistency of claims that blame violent video games for the apparent increase of levels of intolerance among the youth: “Contrary to popular opinion and most previous research, the new study found that players’ “robust exposure” to a highly violent online game did not cause any substantial real-world aggression” (Lynn 2005).
People do not go out on the street to push drugs, rob stores, or gang-rape women, because, at some point in their lives, they have watched these activities taking place in movies. They do it because of their genetic inclination to indulge in anti-social behavior.
In his famous book “The Man of Genius”, the founder of Positive Criminology Cesare Lombroso comes up with extensive evidence as to inborn subtleties of people’s existential inadequateness, while suggesting that instead of combating crime, society should seek to eliminate preconditions for criminally minded individuals to be born in the first place: “From the head of one American family, Max Jukes, a great drunkard, descended, in seventy-five years, 200 thieves and murderers, 280 invalids attacked by blindness, idiocy or consumption, 90 prostitutes and 300 children who died prematurely. The various members of this family cost the state more than a million dollars” (Lombroso 56, [1891] 2007).
It has been proven since a long time ago that the percentage of children born with genetically predetermined mental or physical abnormalities is significantly higher within inter-racial families and within families with the history of hereditary disorders among its members, as opposed to racially homogeneous families, the members of which lead healthy lifestyles. In other words, it is the fact that Australian society takes pride in being “multicultural” and “tolerant” towards different forms of people’s physical and mental degradation, which prompt more and more normal citizens in this country to fear for their lives, especially when they find themselves stranded on “gang turfs”, which are usually being marked with an abundance of graffiti “art” on buildings’ walls.
In his article “Foreigners among Citizens”, Grant Farred says: “Lebanese Australians took over the streets of several “white” suburbs in the southwest of Sydney: from Cronulla to Maroubra to Brighton-le-Sands. The Lebanese transformed the White suburbs into no-go zones for the residents: the residents had nowhere to go, except stay in their homes” (Fareed 141, 2007). Can we seriously believe that it is “evil” Media that encourage the overwhelming majority of newly arrived ethnic immigrants to Australia to become aggressively violent after they have been granted their landed status? Those who know what the concept of eugenics stands for; can have absolutely no doubts as to the sheer absurdity of such suggestion.
Therefore, Bible thumpers who continue to whine about the “decline of morals” in Australia and other Anglo-Saxon countries, as the result of media promoting the “message of violence”, would be much better off doing what they do best – thumping the “good book”, instead of providing citizens with their “valuable” opinions on issues they could not possibly comprehend. Media content simply reflects citizens’ needs, and the fact that this content grows to be ever-more violent can only have one meaning – citizens long to be exposed to violence, they want to see people blown to pieces, sawn in half, and ridden with bullets, just as spiritually corrupted Romans wanted to be exposed to the sight of gladiators killing each other in Coliseum.
And the reason they have such a need has been explained earlier in this paper. Therefore, only utterly naive people can believe that Australian society’s well-being can benefit from “anti-violent censorship” being imposed upon media. If this happens, it will produce a counter-productive effect – “ethnically unique” citizens will be more encouraged to seek to satisfy their animalistic instincts out on the streets.
The truth is – a Lebanese, Pakistani, or Chinese youth can be forced to play “Bible Crossword” board game, with the access to violent video games being denied to him – yet, he will still be more likely to indulge in violence by the time he grows up, as compared to a White youth, who had been playing “Mortal Combat” all his life, simply because, unlike White Australians, the representatives of racial minorities in this country are being united by their acute sense of racial and cultural solidarity, which causes them to aggressively oppose the euro-centric concepts of law and order, in the first place.
Yes, by writing graffiti on the walls of public buildings and by creating their own “society within a society”, these people can “explore their uniqueness”, as suggested by Young and Ferrell. Yet, they do it at the expense of exporting their countries’ social entropy into Australia. Apparently, despite their extensive academic credentials, both: Young and Ferrell, had failed to realize that by affiliating themselves with criminal sub-culture, people do not seek to realize their individuality but to prevent their ethnobiological identity from being subjected to the euro-centric concept of city living, as something inconsistent with these people’s mentality.
We understand perfectly well that It is so much easier to place blame, over unsightly realities of living in “multicultural” Australia on media, rather than on those who truly deserve it – our own “respectable” politicians and educators, who have embraced ignorance as an integral part of their existential mode, while going as far as to suggest that graffiti and rap music represent some form of “art”.
As the famous saying goes – if God wants to punish people, he deprives them of their sense of logic. Therefore, we can only hope that people in charge of designing socio-political policies in this country, will eventually come to their senses. Given the semantic context of Kevin Rudd’s 2007 speech, during which he came up with the following statement: “This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity” (Aldridge 2007), we can suggest that the process of Australia’s social policies being adjusted to the notion of sanity has already begun.
Bibliography
Aldridge, J. 2007. Prime Minister Says Immigrants, Not Australians, Must Adapt. The Times Examiner. Web.
Anthony, T. and Cunneen, C. 2008. The Critical Criminology Companion. Sydney: Hawkins Press.
Farred, G. 2007. Foreigners among Citizens. Cultural Critique, vol. 67, no. 5, pp. 141-59.
Ferrell, J. 1995. Urban Graffiti. Crime, Control, and Resistance. Youth and Society, vol. 27. no 1, pp. 73 – 92.
Ferrell, J. and Sanders, C. 1995. Cultural Criminology. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Graham, J. 1998. Dictatorship of the Foreign-Controlled Media. Netbay Internet. Web.
Gibbon, E. [1776] 2001. The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Web.
Lanier M. and Henry, S. 1998. Essential Criminology. Boulder: Westview Press
Lynn, A. 2005. No Strong Link Seen between Violent Video Games and Aggression. 2005. News Bureau, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Web.
Lombroso, C. [1891] 2007. The Man of Genius. NY: Kessinger Publishing.
McKenzie, C. 1997. The Menace of Multiculturalism. Australian Nationalism Information Database. Web.
McClintock, P. 2009. Movie Marketing Targets Latinos. Variety Magazine. Web.
O’Riordan, B. 2005. Race Riots Turn Sydney’s Suburbs into Battleground. Guardian Online. Web.
Sheng, K. 2007. An Exploration of Media Violence in a Junior-High School Art Classroom. International Journal of Education, vol.3, no. 1, pp. 57-68.
Young, A. 1996. Imagining Crime. (Textual Outlaws and Criminal Conversations). London: Sage Publications.
It is imperative to mention that the role of both crime control and prevention has been increasing over the years. The first term can be defined as a set of approaches aimed at the reduction of the number of criminal activities in a particular region. Such strategies as penalties are used to deter individuals from repeating offenses. On the other hand, crime prevention can be viewed as an anticipation of risks related to crimes. Various methods have been developed, and they vary in their effectiveness. An appropriate course of action should be taken in case there is suspicion and the damage done can be reduced (Karmen, 2016).
Analysis
The biggest difference between these approaches is that the first one is reactive and the second one is more proactive. Crime control focuses on incidents that have already occurred, and the central goal of prevention is to keep them from happening. The dissimilarity is rather dramatic, but they can be closely connected with each other. The government should view both of these strategies is equally important.
The problem with crime prevention is that some techniques are still underdeveloped, and further research is necessary. Another aspect that needs to be acknowledged is that it is impossible to avoid all of the crimes because some individuals will participate in such activities even if it is dangerous and significant risks are present. Such factors as mental illness and membership in questionable organizations should not be disregarded. The combination of these techniques is justified, but both of them should be improved significantly because current crime rates indicate that they are not as effective as they should be.
On the other hand, the community should be focused on crime prevention because it does not have the access to tools necessary for crime control most of the time. Active participation in such activities is incredibly important because an enormous percentage of crimes are preventable. The strategies should be reasonable and individuals must understand that it is necessary not to take advantage of powers. Risk management and avoidance of dangerous situations are incredibly important and should be considered by all members of the community. Having access to methods of self-defense is also vital.
Local government needs to conduct research focused on crime control, and only evidence-based approaches should be utilized. An increase in the number of surveillance cameras is also reasonable, and it is necessary to ensure that the quality of monitoring is high because it will help to reduce the number of crimes. Community policing also could be improved, and officers should utilize a variety of approaches to establish long-lasting relationships with citizens.
Moreover, it is important to avoid any bias and discrimination based on the color of skin. Racial profiling is not acceptable, and the approach needs to be eliminated. The community needs to be much more active when it comes to crime prevention, and it is appropriate to schedule meetings every week and discuss the techniques that may be used to avert crimes.
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible to state that the understanding of differences between these concepts is crucial, and helps to identify strategies that are more efficient depending on the situation. The progress that has been shown in this area is rather significant, but crimes still affect all the communities. Therefore, the focus on research and development of improved techniques is of utmost importance.
References
Karmen, A. (2016). Crime victims: An introduction to victimology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
The increasing knowledge base in such areas as psychology, sociology, and medical science, as well as the continuing regard for human life, continue to play a role in how society’s criminals are treated. While society once tortured and murdered its criminals in many cases, prisoners are now being treated more fairly than ever. Punishment is now designed to rehabilitate and solve problems, rather than simply attempt to eradicate them.
Human rights movements, legislation, psychoanalysis, and hundreds of empirical scientific studies are among the factors that have led to the current humane treatment of prisoners today. Michael Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison is one example of the modernized perspective in this area. Research findings continue to show new promising ways in which criminals can be rehabilitated, and through this newfound understanding of criminal behavior law enforcement can actively seek effective solutions while reforming convicted criminals.
The following describes the best ways to punish “better” rather than “less,” while describing how these theories apply in a more general sense (Foucault p.82). Through this, we gain a deeper understanding of why humanization has been a common theme while there is some hope in “better” punishing criminals, while the implementation of the modern theories in criminal justice and psychology seek a better solution.
Foucault implies that general individuality may be integrated into modern processes while are egalitarian by definition, however using components that do not fit this definition while he explains “Historically, the process by which the bourgeoisie became in the eighteenth century the politically dominant class was masked by the establishment of an explicit, coded and formally egalitarian juridical framework, made possible by the organization of a parliamentary, representative regime. But the development and generalization of disciplinary mechanisms constituted the other, dark side of these processes. The general juridical form that guaranteed a system of rights that were egalitarian in principle was supported by these tiny, everyday, physical mechanisms, by all those systems of micro-power that are essentially non-egalitarian and asymmetrical that we call the disciplines. (Foucault p.222)
In this, we see the complexity of not only discovering the most effective practices but in implementing them as well. Foucault takes care to consider the areas of sociology and criminology in his book.
All social theories can use cognitive restructuring to reform criminal behavior. Cognitive restructuring is the process of eliminating counter-productive thoughts and replacing them with productive ones. This is now one of the most popular ways of attempting to change prisoners into productive citizens, while it is thought that all prisoners were once such people (i.e., there is no genetic basis for criminal behavior despite many attempts to locate such genes.) Criminal behavior can thus be reformed by using these methods, while they can be applied to any social theory. Social disorganization theory, strain theory, and subculture theory are just some of the theories that can benefit from cognitive restructuring in reforming criminal behavior.
Some theories suggest certain environments actively produce criminals, which further caters to empathy towards reformation. Social disorganization theory suggests that neighborhoods filled with poverty while generally economically deprived tend to have a higher percentage of criminal citizens. As such, social structures have a more difficult time developing, which then makes it difficult to maintain social order. Cognitive restructuring could be applied to this theory on a larger scale by implementing programs to combat the dissolution of social structure.
Neighborhood watch and similar programs are an example of this, and this combined with people not letting their lives be run by the fear of crime would have a positive effect on the social structure of poverty-stricken communities. This in turn would affect the criminal mentality, restructuring it as well. While in this case, it would be the non-criminals that would initially require the implementation of cognitive restructuring. In any case, this would aid in reforming criminal behavior and crime.
Some theory on discipline and punishment blames the way the economy and culture deceive the average individual while taunting the less fortunate. Meanwhile, Foucault says the prison system is creating “disciplinary careers” (Foucault p. 300). We can analyze his discussion of sociology in an attempt to seek answers. Strain theory implies that mainstream culture is filled with freedom, dreams, and prosperity.
The theory assumes the majority of people believe these presumptions regarding life while it serves as a powerful motivator. Strain theory says that in reality there is a difference between the opportunity and demand as expressed in the general mentalities of society and the opportunities which can be achieved. Some of the people who fall short in actual achievement may resent the initial promise and turn to illegitimate means of realizing their dreams. Still, other people will become discouraged and lower themselves into substance abuse. Cognitive restructuring could be used here in two ways.
First, it could be applied in key points where misconceptions are believed to occur, to both the speakers and listeners. This way it could be stopped at the source while people will never have faulty thought patterns, even for motivation. The other way it could be applied is to the criminals who seem to have turned to crime from the conditions described in this theory. The criminals could be reconditioned to not be bitter towards their missed dreams, perhaps by first teaching them that they were not intentionally deceived (when this is the case.)
In the same fashion as strain theory, subcultural theory suggests crime becomes the social norm in some areas. Philosophically, it is difficult to punish crime when society conditions are so rough where crime becomes nearly commonplace. As such, again, rehabilitation is stressed rather than general punishment. This is the most easily influenced area, as criminals believed to have fallen under an illusion this way can be taught that crime is not normal nor tolerated in society.
As a method of reformation and humanization of punishment, all modern theories of discipline and punishment can use cognitive restructuring in some way. The fact that crime exists because of mentalities that are not “set in stone” implies that cognitive restructuring can be of some benefit.
Social disorganization theory has been attempted to be explained by many analysts. Analysts have adopted the concept to explain increases in criminal activity which accompanied a change within lower-class societies where the influences surrounding someone are steady and harmonious when compared to Western society. Commonly experts consider Western society to be inconsistent, full of conflict, and generally disorganized.
Experts also see that the economic competition, mobility, and ideology of individualism that accompanies capitalism and industrial development have been responsible for the decay of large families and harmonious neighborhoods being agents of social control. The failure of extended groups has thus extended the realms of relationships no longer under the control of the community while undermining the controls in place by the government. As a result, communities have been lead towards circumstances were persistent and systematic crimes and delinquency.
Operant conditioning is the use of consequence in an attempt to change the form and occurrence of a behavior. Operant conditioning is different from respondent conditioning as operant conditioning is concerned with changes involuntary behavior.
Impulsive, reflexive, or instinctive behaviors are exhibited in what is collectively referred to as “fixed action patterns.” These behaviors are thought to exist outside of the parameters of operant conditioning but are considered critical to a comprehensive analysis of behavior.
Fixed action patterns have their origin in DNA. An example of fixed action patterns in animals is ducklings following a moving object within a given period, or the dancing of a queen bee. Fixed action patterns have been related to crime through genetics and sociology. The traits of fixed action patterns are typically performed with accuracy on the first attempt. Operant conditioning uses fixed action patterns as reinforcers for behaviors that are learned, thus being an effective discipline that is humane.
Currently, Foucault says the prison system is operating in such a destructive way that it “cannot fail to produce delinquents” (Foucault p. 266). Modern psychological and sociological theories are but some of the explanations which gave rise to the humanization of criminal treatment. Reformation is now commonly thought to be possible, and these “better” forms of punishment continue to be the topic of continued research. With continued consideration and implementation, Foucault provides the means for a better system that solves problems rather than catering to them.
The purpose of the presentation is to review some crime trends in the jurisdiction and provide some commentaries regarding the matter.
Crime analytics can be instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in many respects. Crime analysts collect data and analyze the obtained information (Kennedy et al., 2018). These professionals develop an effective methodology to implement research and collect and analyze information properly. Based on this analysis, they identify crime trends that can shed light on the efficiency of agencies and the overall situation in the jurisdiction. It is also possible to recommend specific steps to improve the situation based on data analysis. These recommendations can be the basis of new incentives aimed at reducing crime rates in the area. The purpose of this presentation is to analyze a number of crime trends in the given jurisdiction and provide commentaries.
Crime Trend
Crime trends can be defined as the measurement of the changes in the crime rate. The focus is on place, time, and rates. Thus, a crime trend can be defined as a change in the crime rate in a particular area over a specific period of time (USLegal, 2022). In the jurisdiction under analysis, an ascending trend for violent and property crimes is apparent, although some types of crime remain unchanged. Overall, it is possible to conclude that the criminal situation is worsening in the jurisdiction.
Data Needed to Explain Trends
In order to explain the existing trends, more data is needed. It is important to evaluate some demographic data of the population (Walker & Drawve, 2018). People’s age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status should be assessed to understand the reasons for the increase in violent crimes. Clearly, the growing poverty rate inevitably leads to higher crime rates. Such variables as population density and mobility can also explain the existing trends as the more people (especially new people) live in the community, and the higher crime rate is likely to be. These aspects as crime reporting and law enforcement agencies effectiveness also affect the crime rate.
Explaining the Absence of Change
No change is observed in the incidence of motor vehicle theft, which can be explained by a set of factors. It is necessary to note that the number of cases of this crime was rather high. An influential factor is the development of technology, as motor vehicles now have multiple devices that make tracking much more manageable. In addition, surveillance devices are also available and make the investigation process much more effective. At that, more data may be needed to identify exact reasons for the high incidence and absence of change over a year.
Robberies
Robberies saw the highest increase in 2018, reaching 44% (55 robberies in 2018 and 79 robberies in 2019). This high figure requires closer attention, and deeper research can help in identifying other trends. For instance, it is necessary to analyze the exact areas affected, as well as the demographic characteristics of offenders and victims. Some relationships between socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity, and population density can be found. It is also essential to look into the potential correlation between patrolling and robberies, which will help in evaluating the effectiveness of patrolling in crime prevention. Finally, it is necessary to analyze the peculiarities of the crimes (use of weapons, time of day, and so on) and the link between robbery incidence and the occurrence of other property crimes (if any).
Strategic Analysis
Crime analysts implement tactical, administrative, and strategic analyses (Kennedy et al., 2018). In order to investigate the causes and potential solutions to the increasing robbery incidence, it is possible to implement the strategic analysis. This type of research is associated with the evaluation and development of operational strategies. The focus is on current issues (that is months, quarters, and years). For instance, by looking into the peculiarities of robberies that took place in 2018, it is possible to define the causes and develop prevention policies. It is also possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing incentives based on the analysis.
Part 1 and Part II Crimes
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) divided crimes into major categories: part I and part II crimes (Walker & Drawve, 2018). The first type includes serious crimes that are characterized by the use of violence, considerable damage to people and property, as well as threatening to the overall stability in the community. These crimes are homicides, forcible rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, and larcenies. The reviewed crimes are part I crimes and often draw the most attention. Part II crimes are considered less serious and comprise forgery, fraud, embezzlement, vandalism, prostitution, and drug abuse crime.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to state that crime trend analysis is a potent instrument that can be utilized to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies. The brief analysis of the current trends in part I crimes suggests that certain measures must be undertaken to improve the situation. Such data as demographics and the correlation between the existing prevention interventions and exact types of crimes should be analyzed.
References
Kennedy, L. W., Caplan, J. M., & Piza, E. L. (2018). Risk-based policing: Evidence-based crime prevention with big data and spatial analytics. University of California press.
USLegal. (2022). Crime trend law and legal definition. Web.
Walker, J. T., & Drawve, G. R. (2018). Foundations of crime analysis: Data, analyses, and mapping. Routledge.
One should perfectly realize the fact that the crime scene investigation is an extremely important and, at the same time, complex process that determines the success of the whole case and contributes to the improved comprehending of the main issues related to the problematic situation. For this reason, there are numerous aspects that should be taken into account to guarantee that specialists will be able to make credible conclusions using objects found in the area. There are also specific rules and regulations that should be observed to guarantee that an officer who arrives on the scene before the investigators preserve all proofs and accomplishes his/her tasks at a high level. Only under these conditions, some positive outcomes could be expected.
Nevertheless, it should be said that the first officer is responsible for a number of things and actions that should be performed in terms of the crime scene investigation. It is possible to say that he/she becomes one of the main contributors to the positive final results as in case proofs or pieces of evidence are replaced or disturbed, a specialist could hardly make a credible conclusion and restore the image of the crime in a right way. In this regard, we could assume that the first officer should possess a set of skills and deep knowledge related to the crime scene investigation to be able to provide his/her colleagues with credible and untouched materials. The complexity of this task gives rise to a number of crucial concerns that should be discussed here.
First of all, having arrived at the crime scene, an officer has to ensure that the safety and well-being of people found in the area are not endangered (“The role of the first responder,” n.d.). The fact is that there could be numerous potential hazards that resulted in the appearance of the emergent situation and their elimination is one of the most crucial tasks of the officer (Shiro, n.d.). He/she should protect himself/herself, people around, and other facilities. Having performed these actions, the officer should also help an injury if they are present in the area. These are very important tasks that guarantee that no more victims will appear. In this regard, the police officer should be ready to accomplish this task and assure that people realize the great potential danger that might come from the crime scene.
Therefore, once all people have been informed about the danger, it is crucial to prepare the crime scene for further investigation by specialists. For this reason, it should be cordoned off by using special tape which demonstrates to individuals that the area is dangerous and extremely important for the investigation (“Crime scene procedures,” n.d.). The fact is that the preservation of pieces of evidence is one of the main tasks that should be performed by the officer as it impacts the final results greatly. Only in case, the state of all proofs is preserved, an investigator could guarantee positive outcomes and determine the character of actions and other essential peculiarities (Warrington, 2006). Additionally, very often, some individuals may try to remove or alter important evidence to make an accident look in a different way. For this reason, the officer should be ready to deal with it.
The next important step is the collection of all pieces of evidence that could be found in the scene. It is recommended to record all facts and strange things found in the area. This list will obviously help investigators to work better and understand the nature of a crime. However, the officer should not touch any piece of evidence and try to collect it. In such a case, a unique picture could be destroyed (Saferstein, 2012). It is crucial for him/her to create a list of proofs to be able to assist specialists in their collection and processing. It could dictate the overall direction of the investigation and precondition its outcomes greatly. For this reason, it is crucial to be able to organize recordings in an appropriate way.
Work with witnesses is another extremely important activity that should be performed by the officer who arrives at a crime scene. The fact is that very often, individuals might forget meaningful details of the accident or consider them unimportant (Penven, n.d.). For this reason, it is extremely important to ensure that all witnesses have provided the most relevant information and it is recorded in the proper way. This data will later be used by an investigator who will try to restore the complete picture of an accident and provide credible final results.
Altogether, the work of the first officer who arrives at the crime scene becomes extremely important for the overall success of the case. He/she assures that all meaningful pieces of evidence will be preserved and collected in an appropriate way. Moreover, the information obtained from witnesses could also be used by investigators to determine the nature of an accident and make a final conclusion. In this regard, the officer performs a wide array of tasks that create the basis for the further comprehensive investigation of the case and acquisition of the appropriate final results needed to find an offender.