Crime as a Sociological Problem Research Paper

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Crime is not distributed evenly across a community, but it is concentrated in particular areas known as the hot spots. Even in areas that are crime prominent, the hot spots are clustered together, leaving some areas that are crime-free. Thus, hot spot policing has become one of the popular ways through which crime can be controlled. The public has the expectations that the police play an enormous role in the reduction of crime. The public disorder is characterized by alcohol consumption, drug dealings, prostitution, which may be in an increase in a particular neighborhood. Researchers and police have concluded that crime has a direct link to a particular community’s fear of crime and its contribution to controlling it. Crime is profoundly affected by drug use, availability, and access to guns as well as other behaviors such as consumption of alcohol (Fisher & Lab, 2010).

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The spatial analysis of community problems can be the best way to tell where the police resources can be deployed. The advances in understanding the concentrations of crime indicate that some of the regions have elevated levels of crime. These regions also have the subsequent risk of crime within a relatively short period. The police can be able to prevent these crime scenes if they can be able to identify these regions and control the crime. In some of the instances, in crime hot spots, the levels of shooting can be considerably reduced. The researchers need to understand the specific patterns of crime within a region to be able to be controlled (Vigne & Wartell, 2000).

Even though the experts assure people of safety in the bus stops, studies have indications of high levels of crime. In the inner-city neighborhood, the fear of crime dictates the daily life of the residents. Crimes are also on the rise in bus stops and other forms of transit. Some of the transit companies allow their drivers to carry weapons as a way of protecting themselves. Most of the transit companies have directed fewer efforts to increase the security of the bus stops. Currently, crimes that are committed in the bus stop remain understudied.

Bus stop crimes are happening in a huge percentage though there are few cases whereby these crimes have been reported. A survey carried out on Los Angeles households proves that there are several crimes being committed in the state. It also indicated that the level of crime had increased 30 times than in the previous listed reports. In addition, a survey that was carried in the inner city corridors of Los Angeles indicates that there is a lack of safety in these regions. Most of the police should be deployed in this region to help fight the incidences of crime within this region (Wilson & Petersilia, 1995).

In addition, studies have shown that the features within an environment have attracted crime. For instance, it is easier for most criminals to commit crimes next to the main paths and edges of social activity. The increase in the number of escape routes within the city makes the crime culprits have an easier time to escape. In addition, the surrounding land within a place can have a pronounced effect on the level of crime. For example, the availability of liquor stores, pawnshops, vacant lots, and pool halls, as well as the availability of abandoned buildings, play a key role in generating crime. To reduce the levels of a crime, other features such as the availability of police posts and churches act as the detractors of crime.

Good lighting and excellent visibility, in addition to the availability of, territorial symbols also help in the reduction of crimes. For instance, the neighborhood watch signs and other home personalization signs are crucial. Bushes, tunnels, and walls offer opportunities for hiding of the criminals. Research should be carried out on the design of the walls constructed to avoid the creation of areas that are prone to crime. Studies on residential crimes have shown that corner houses are more susceptible to crimes. This is because they have intersections that create more routes for the escape of criminals.

Houses and bus stops located near the vicinity of alleys offer multiple escape routes for criminals and should, therefore, be considered as potential hot spots. Different types of crime occur under different environmental conditions. For example, pickpockets seek a crowded area for them to commit their crimes. Violent crimes are dangerous and can lead to the loss of life. For instance, in most places, mugging and robbery are exceedingly common. Theft is the most prevalent motif behind the armed robbery, but in some of the instances, cases of rape are reported. Food and drinks spiking are some of the crimes whereby victims are assaulted and robbed after the incidence (Jeffery, 1971).

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How the threats can be minimized

Other mechanisms within and without law enforcement play a vital role in the control of the threats related to crime. For example, criminal penalties can be used effectively to control a criminal from committing more crimes totally. In addition, the community can minimize these threats by forming community patrols. The installation of home security systems can reduce the level of crime. Demographic changes have a crucial role in crime rates as well as disorder. For instance, the shifts in age, household organization, and poverty and employment patterns have had a significant impact on a community (Carter, 2002).

Crime is a serious problem. Fighting crime requires a coordinated approach. Intensive police deployment and surveillance decrease the incidences of crime. The police alone are not able to control crime. For example, in Los Angeles, few police officers are supposed to provide surveillance in all the over nineteen thousand bus stops. In this case, the best way to fight crime in these areas is the creation of what is referred to as opportunity blocking by the criminals.

This should work directly with the work of the police in controlling these crimes. For example, to reduce crime within bus stops, careful design of a bus stop to provide a sitting space can help in creating a difficult situation for the crime to take place. Land uses within the environment critically affect the safety of a place. Negative land use should be extremely discouraged. Liquor stores, bars, as well as other check-cashing establishments, generate crime as they concentrate on criminal elements.

These places also encourage anti-social behaviors. Most of the prominent crimes trends occur in desolated areas. These areas have no activity. The proximity to active businesses enhances the visibility of an area. Therefore, the police can be deployed to these regions to increase safety. Good lighting of all the streets and appropriate shelters that do not block viewers can offer visibility to the passing traffic. Bushes, tunnels, and walls offer opportunities for hiding of the criminals. These spots create an adequate place for the hiding of the criminals.

Houses and bus stops located near the vicinity of alleys offer multiple escape routes for criminals and should, therefore, be considered as potential hot spots for crime to take place. To control these crimes, blocking or gating the entrances to alleys can be the best defensible strategy. Different types of crime occur under different environmental conditions. For example, pickpockets seek a crowded area for them to commit their crimes. To control the crimes related to the pickpockets, the creation of wider sidewalks can significantly reduce this kind of crime. Many victims do not report incidences of crime to the police. The explanation for non-reporting includes fear of recriminations. People should be encouraged to report instances of crime to the police without fear (Blakely & Snyder, 1997).

In conclusion, environmental attributes and site characteristics have effects on the level of crimes. Crime has a direct link to a particular community’s fear of crime and its contribution to controlling it. Crime is markedly affected by drug use, availability, and access to guns as well as other behaviors such as consumption of alcohol. Research should be carried out on the design of the walls constructed to avoid the creation of areas that are prone to crime. Fighting crime requires a coordinated approach. Intensive police deployment and surveillance decrease the incidences of crime. Serious crimes tend to occur in desolated areas. These areas have no activity. The proximity to active businesses enhances the visibility of an area.

Therefore, the police can be deployed to these regions to increase safety. Other crimes such as prostitution are linked to the design of the towns that should be done in such a way that it will discourage such crimes. Violent crimes are dangerous and can lead to the loss of life. For instance, in most places, mugging and robbery are extraordinarily common. Community policing should be encouraged to reduce instances of crime in several regions. Communities should take initiatives to protect their communities against crime. They need to report all the suspected areas that can be classified as the hot spots to the police.

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References

Blakely, E. J., & Snyder, M. G. (1997). Fortress America: gated communities in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Carter, G. L. (2002). Guns in American society: an encyclopedia of history, politics, culture, and the law. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO.

Fisher, B., & Lab, S. P. (2010). Encyclopedia of victimology and crime prevention. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications.

Jeffery, C. R. (1971). Crime prevention through environmental design. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

Vigne, N. G., & Wartell, J. (2000). Crime mapping case studies: successes in the field. Washington, D.C.: Police Executive Research Forum.

Wilson, J. Q., & Petersilia, J. (1995). Crime. San Francisco, Calif.: ICS Press, Institute for Contemporary Studies.

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IvyPanda. (2020) 'Crime as a Sociological Problem'. 27 May.

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IvyPanda. 2020. "Crime as a Sociological Problem." May 27, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-as-a-sociological-problem/.

1. IvyPanda. "Crime as a Sociological Problem." May 27, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-as-a-sociological-problem/.


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