What causes criminal behavior

Criminal Law

Crime is almost always a nasty business . But what causes it ? How come there are people who commit crime ? According to McKay and Shaw (1942 the commission of crime is dependent on the neighborhood that a person is moving in . If there is much poverty , social unrest and dissatisfaction in a community , the possibility of crime is high However , if there is sufficient improvement in the condition of life in the community , the possibility of crime lowers

There are also those who hold that the development of sub-cultures as

an opposition to the main culture is also a source of crime . This is in because the members , usually youth , of the sub-culture seek to challenge the status quo and the power of the majority . This is further confounded by the perceived deprivation of social opportunities (Cohen , 1955 . On the other hand , there are also those who believe that genetics and the psychological makeup of people influence the propensity to commit crime (Cohen , 1955

In to effectively control crime , the source of the propensity to commit crime should be identified . Instead of just apprehending criminals with their criminal acts , the root causes of these acts should be ferreted out and dealt with in to establish a long-term peace in the neighborhoods and communities of an area . Poverty , inequality and the deprivation of opportunities are breeding ground of hate and the tendency to commit crime . As such , in to prevent it , the government should also have an anti-poverty drive and help the people empower themselves in to contribute well to the society . In terms of rehabilitation , apprehended criminals should also be taught how to live decent lives after their incarceration . This will enable them to walk out of their criminal lives

Reference

Cohen , A (1955 . Delinquent Boys . New York : Free Press

McKay , H . D Shaw , C . R . McKay , Henry D (1942 . Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas . Chicago : University of Chicago Press...