Society in America is experiencing times of the lowest crime rates could be observed. Despite the opportunities to protect the society and create safe living and working conditions, there are also a number of serious concerns and the fear of crime in the American society. In his book, Jonathan Simon discusses the emphasis of such situation and the existing contradictions by introducing the concepts of “governing through crime” and “governing crime”. Simons talks about fear in America concerning safety and crimes. He depicts the culture of fear in order to clarify the implications that can be offered to the Americans, who want to avoid the complications of crime and their fears. Simon expresses ways of how people should comprehend the law and society, use the idea to govern through crime, and try not to confuse it with a similar idea, “governing crime”.
Changes throughout history in crime as an ordinary issue for consideration to crime as one of the possible ways of governing are properly discussed by Simon. He underlines that an attempt to govern through crime is similar to the attempt to promote democratization in the American society (Simon 6). At the same time, he explains that it is wrong to believe that governing through crime can make people safe. Such concept can increase the number of risks, racial discrimination cases, and even gender inequalities because fears of crime remain to be the basis for any kind of police involvement. Crime risk and fears are still the core of proliferating surveillance systems, and people do not want to solve them but continue working through them.
The author helps to realize that it is important to understand the difference between the idea to govern through crime and to govern crime. Governing crime is a certain line of actions that governing agents should take in order to respond to the threats people can be exposed to. Judges, workplaces, schools, and families can govern crimes and solve the questions by arresting people, making them pay fines, or complete some social work. Governing through crime is another kind of activity that is more complicated in comparison to the first one because it is not about some actions only.
“Governing through crime” is the condition under which the majority of politics and administrative decisions should be made so that a solution to the war on crime and fears American people cannot cope with can be found. For example, domestic violence is the problem that has to be treated not only as a criminal matter. It also touches such social institutions as the workplace and school. Judges should not blame people for supporting domestic violence only. They have to govern this issue through crime and discover the reasons for why such situation takes place: poor employment rates or inappropriate or lack of education.
The consequences of the fact that crime gains the status of a governing body determined by Simon are numerous. For example, minorities and poor people cannot achieve a number of benefits because they cannot stop thinking about the conditions under which crimes can occur or the outcomes they can experience. As a result, people should continue discussing crime fears and search for some solutions. People cannot stop bothering about their crime fears. American way of life remains to be under threat, and the number of crime victims increases considerably. Therefore, it is expected to develop new forms of solidarity and responsibility that are crucial for any kind of democratic institution.
In general, the examples, explanations, and conclusions given by Simon show that the current legal and political systems continue developing and discussing the problems that bother ordinary people. It is hard to find one powerful solution to all crime fears and concerns. Therefore, people should understand their individual roles and possibilities that can be used to win the war on crime.
Works Cited
Simon, Jonathan. Governing through Crime: How to War on Crime Transformed American Democracy and Created a Culture of Fear. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.