The Crime Problem in America - Research Paper

Introduction

Social problems have existed in the world since time immemorial. Different societies and communities have attempted to overcome societal issues and challenges in varied ways. According to sociologists, some problems have declined as others continue to escalate. For the past three decades, America has faced various challenges. The uncertainties have had several positive and negative outcomes as far as the social, political and economic domains are concerned. All the same, the American federal and state governments have tried to overcome the challenges through various programs. In America, some of the issues that are being discussed include as terrorism, the war on drugs, family relationships gun control, feminism, abortion, racism, mental disability, poverty, crime, and incarceration. This paper discusses the war on crime and describes ways of re-integrating the incarcerated persons back into society.

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Categories of Crimes in America

Governmental and non-governmental bodies prepare crime reports in America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation presents timely annual reports on the criminal justice and law enforcement tactics in its Uniform Crime Report while the Bureau of Justice Statistics releases Bureau of Justice Statistics. America has various categories of crimes. Violent crimes are categorized into four groups; murder and manslaughter, rape, robbery with violence, and assault. There are also property crimes such as burglary, larceny-theft, carjacking, and arson.

Persons who have developmental disabilities are prone to crimes than other members of society. Persons who have a mental disability are in most cases victims of one or several crimes. In most cases, they are maltreated and mistreated by the other members of the society as they try to get themselves off the hook. The societal criminal justice system is vital in determining the cases of persons with developmental challenges such as the mentally disadvantaged victims. It should be noted that persons who are physically disadvantaged particularly the mentally disabled persons enjoy the same rights as others do. Under the law, all persons are equal, and hence they should not be victimized

Crime is categorized as one of the deviant behaviors and stigmas characterized by the partial or full violation of the set societal laws. America has data about crime since colonial times. America is one of the nations with the highest crime rates and incarcerated persons in the world. President Johnson first used the term War on Crime over 50 years ago. President Johnson`s regime aimed at combating social poverty but ended fighting other vices in society.

The possibility of criminal activities is pegged on demography. The characteristics of offenders are based on age, gender, and race. The incarcerated males are more than females. In terms of race, homicide criminals differ based on racial lines. The homicide blacks are the majority followed by the whites and other races. According to Harris, (2016), the whites lead in rape cases, property crimes, and hate crimes followed by the blacks and other communities. The young members of the society are more prone to crimes than aged persons in society.

Currently, the crime has sharply declined which is attributed to some factors; the increase in the number of law enforcement personnel such as the police is attributed to deterring crime offenders. Also, the government has spent millions of dollars since1990s in improving the state and federal law enforcement structures. The prisons and other rehabilitation programs have been re-organized. It should also be observed that the majority of criminals are behind bars. Moreover, there is a close connection between drugs usage and crime. Recently, the cocaine market has rapidly declined which partially explains the decline I crime rate. Furthermore, the government policy of legalizing abortion in some states means the number in poverty-stricken environments has drastically reduced. The implication is that the children who would be criminals are aborted! Finally, the police department has embraced modern technology through for example adopting Compstat which has greatly reduced crime in the urban areas. The Compstat technologies have played a pivotal in crime reduction through effective personnel and resource management through the application of dissemination of reliable and timely data, quick deployment of resources, effective application of tactics, and regular crime incidences follow-ups.

Functionalist Theory

According to the functionalist theory of crime, criminal activities are beneficial to society in various ways. The crimes are said to affirm societal norms and values. The deviants are aware of the set laws but choose to deviate from the nom. In so doing, they convey counter-reaction from the law enforcement mechanisms. The society then reciprocates by reacting against the crimes as one. The process of rising against the criminals integrates society. At other times, crime motivates social re-organization through societal change. The society redefines the social set standards to cope with the changing crime rates. Sometimes, crime is associated with material and financial gain.

Symbolic Interactionist Crime Theory

Symbolic interactionist crime theory purports that crime varies in terms of geographical space and time. Furthermore, we all desist from deviant actions, but it should be noted that the crime perpetrators continue to be deviant. Various styles permit persons to rethink of deviance such as denial of inquiry, victim, responsibility, and condemnation of condemners. Also, the victims should appeal to persons of higher authority and loyalty. America is said to have the highest number of violent crimes prisoners in the world which includes detainee and sentenced persons.

Integration of Criminals

Criminals are part and parcel of the society and therefore there is a need for integrating them back into the society. Though they at one time committed a crime and were arrested and incarcerated does not demean them as members of the society. Some of these people have been incarcerated for so long that they do not know/understand how to live amongst others as they did prior to their incarceration. Times have changed, people have changed, technology has advanced, and many of the people lack the proper training to be a productive citizen in the community. With this fault, some criminals resort to the cause and effect syndrome. Neubauer, & Fradella (2015); and Saltzman, Furman & Ohman, (2015) notes that as criminals are afforded three free meals a day and shelter, it places them in the mindset to commit a crime so that they have that place to sleep and food to eat. I am of the idea that if there were a program to help criminals get back on their feet in my community, then the cycle would break. A program that provides reintegration skills, assisted housing, job seeking skills, and a trade program would increase the opportunity for criminals to succeed. A program that would not be taken advantage of by criminals but would be designed to meet the needs of criminals.

It is an axiom that some crimes are more equal than others. Parole is not only beneficial per se to the convicts but also significant to society. Carter, 2011 defines parole as the early release of convicts before the expiration of a period of imprisonment subject to fulfillment of conditions of good behavior. The discharging officers supervise inmates released from correctional institutions and may impose resumption of the sentence term upon violation of the requirements set out. The parolees get the opportunity for reform because they earn their release by demonstrating a change in character. The offenders are offered guidance and counseling courses during their re-entry into society to make them bona fide members of the community. The inmates are considered to be serving their sentence and may be returned to custody if they don't live according to societal expectations.

According to Neubauer, & Fradella (2015); and Saltzman, Furman & Ohman, (2015), some correctional institutions are overpopulated which is an economic burden to the authorities. The prisoners have to be catered for regarding basic human needs as per the states' statutes and provisions. The high cost hikes the nation's expenditure which in turn stretches the taxes paid by the people. The temporary discharge of persons from the penal institutions minimizes the congestion in the jail centers.

Klingele, (2013) highlights that society receives protection because the dis-imprisoned is supervised and the acquittal before completion of the maximum sentence can be revoked as a result of minor transgressions. The reprieved are deterred from committing crimes as they are fully aware of the repercussions of their deeds.

Finally, parole policing in criminal justice is very vital and should be advocated for in all worlds' nations as it makes the jailed persons change for the better, to contribute to the growth of states gross domestic product and enhances social security. However, for one to be granted remittance, the liberated must have faced up the supposed criminality.

The way to help resolve the matter is by designing programming that works in phases. You start with renting property solely to those individuals that were incarcerated. The criminals would conduct jobs on the property such as landscaping the property, secretary, carpentry, maintenance, etc. The tenants would perform daily work schedules in return for free rent. The owners would be paid, and the criminals would live in the house until they can be cleared to live on their own. There would be a checklist that would have to be completed for them to live on their own and once all the steps were met the individual would advance to the next phase of the process which would be the reintegration process. During the reintegration process, they can seek jobs outside of the property complex. This would allow them to be able to integrate into society better. They are now able to budget and pay income-based rent. Once they have maintained a job for a minimum of 1 year, they are now allowed to move off the property, work, and function as the other citizens of the community. Presenting the idea could help, even if it does not change the minds of the citizens, it could change the minds of the city officials. This would help unify the community better because the criminals would not be seen as outsiders if they are working with the other people in the community. It would provide hope, will, and determination in those individuals who are willing to take advantage of a second chance as well as move past the stigma that society has placed on criminals for years.

Conclusion

To sum up, I believe that prison integration is a social issue in my community, and if we can help those criminals instead of giving up on them, then the community would be unified better.

References

Cartel, M (2011). Evidence-based policy, practice and decision making. Implications for paroling Authorities. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections,

Harris, J. E. (2016). The Role of Support in Sexual Decision-Making for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Ohio St. LJ Furthermore, 77, 84.

Klingele, C. (2013). Rethinking the use of community supervision, Journal of criminal law and criminology, 103(4, 1015-1070)

Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2015). America's courts and the criminal justice system. Cengage Learning.

Saltzman, A., Furman, D. M., & Ohman, K. (2015). Law in social work practice. Nelson Education.