Introduction
Security is an issue of concern to every individual. When a person’s security is threatened, it is almost impossible for him or her to function normally. For this reason, nations across the world are compelled to indulge in different activities to guarantee the security their citizens. To a large extent, security tends to boost economic growth and creates a democratic space where people can freely express their thoughts without fear of victimization.
I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention some important issues about crime and victimization and how the taxpayers in Ontario are affected by criminal activities. I will also offer suggestions on how crime and victimization can be reduced in Ontario. The said issues and recommendations are discussed as follows.
The Risk of Crime and Victimization to Canadians and its Costs to Taxpayers and to Victims
Ordinarily, a rise in the level of crime and victimization will lead to huge expenditures that take up a big chunk of taxpayers’ money. Among other measures, crime will require the Canadian government to beef up its security forces. Despite the fact that an increased number of police officers will help to reduce the rate of criminal activities in Ontario, it will equally raise the cost of government spending. In turn, this is shouldered by the Canadian taxpayers.
Although additional funds to strengthen security forces will contribute greatly to the reduction of crime in Ontario, reduced funding for other public services will affect their quality. The Canadian government will also be forced to incur costs to cater for the demands of crime victims.
Increased criminal activities also tend create fear. This is regardless of whether one is a victim or not. Although victims of crime are the ones mostly affected, witnesses of frequent incidences of crime suffer. Apart from being filled with anger and a desire for revenge, victims also get subjected to social problems.
The Causes and Prevention of Youth Crime
One of the reasons for increased youth crime is the failure of parents or communities to effectively mould their children to become responsible citizens. Communities should be strong enough to shame anyone who fails to comply by the acceptable standards. In most cases, it is social disapproval that prevents individuals from indulging in any form of criminal activities.
Communities in which individuals have lost their sense of interdependence and connection with one another are less able to exercise strict forms of control in order to protect the youth. Certainly, parents have a major role of ensuring that the future of their children is not interfered with.
Other causes of youth crime include the increased rate of dropping out of school and lack of employment. When children drop out of school, they are exposed to so many challenges that mess up their development into dependable citizens. They are denied an opportunity to grow normally and experience the benefits of being part of an educational system. Out of frustration, some of the school drop outs may be involved in crime so as to provide for their emotional needs.
On the other hand, lack of employment creates a community with so many idlers. With so much free time at their disposal, the youth are compelled to look for alternative ways of keeping themselves busy. Sadly, some of them team up with criminals and are eventually led astray.
In order to prevent youth crime, it is important to plan for an early intervention. By identifying risk factors early enough, proper remedies can be sought. It is also advisable to use a targeted approach rather than a universal one. With a targeted approach, it is possible to address the unique problems of every individual and to provide a specific solution.
One of the most probable solutions is to ensure that no child leaves school for whatever reason. Professional counselors should be employed to help track children who drop out of school in order to establish the real problems they are facing and to offer working remedies. Where possible, the government must ensure that any youth who has completed school is engaged in a gainful activity. Finally, coercive engagement, based on tough sanctions for non compliance, is also necessary if the behavior of the youth has to be controlled.
Measures to Prevent Violence, Particularly Against Women
There are a number of ways to deal with violence and especially violence directed towards women. News media and information technology can play a central role in dealing with the problem of violence. Training and sensitizing journalists and other media personnel reporting on violence against women is a promising practice as it can enhance the quality of coverage and contribute to awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of violence against women among the general public.
It is also necessary to promote public safety as a way to deal with violence against women. Generally, it is a good practice to make the physical environment safer for women. Safety audits may be used to identify dangerous locations, discuss women’s fears, and to obtain their recommendations for improving their safety. Education and capacity building is another option available to prevent violence. The formal education system can be used to address the problem of violence towards women and to challenge and eradicate existing stereotypes.
It may also be helpful for men to be trained on the importance of their role as husbands and leaders in the community. Rather than subjecting women to unfair treatment, men should be taught to provide as much support as possible to women regardless of whether they are married to them. Right from childhood, the boy child must be educated about the values of treating the female counterparts with respect and consideration.
Non Governmental Organizations and human rights advocates are also important players in eradicating violence against women in the community. The government should stipulate how offenders are to be dealt with and any suspected offenders must be subjected to stern punishment.
Measures to Reduce Opportunity for Crime
Situational crime prevention and deterrence measures are actions, environmental changes or other tactics that prevent crime by blocking opportunities or access to crime, hardening targets, strengthening potential victims against offenders, and increasing the risk of detection and apprehension by increasing guardianship. Typically, prevention and deterrence measures overlapping and are often distinguished by perspective.
Prevention refers to blocking opportunities so crime cannot occur, while deterrence measures usually increase the risk of uncertainty, severity, or swiftness of punishment and apprehension. Apparently, both can cause an alteration in the decision making process of an individual to commit crime, and both prevention and deterrence mechanisms can be found in the same interventions.
Opportunities for crime may also be reduced be devising mechanisms that will encourage the public to work closely with the security forces. To a large extent, members of a community are aware of what happens around them and those responsible for planning and executing criminal activities are often well known to them.
Once the public understands that those in charge of security can be trusted with sensitive information and that one cannot put his or her life in danger by volunteering vital information to the security forces, dealing with crime will become much simpler and the government will not have to spend heavily on crime related problems.
Ways to Improve the Effectiveness of Policing
Police leaders search for more effective ways to improve policing services. In the recent past, the movement towards community policing has been gaining momentum, and police officers are feeling excitement and interest in its application. However, traditional policing remains the foundation for community policing, transition to which requires cooperation and patience from police officers as well as the community.
A community policing philosophy when properly administered has many advantages, among which is a valuable reference point for problem solving. However, great results can only be realized when a healthy partnership exists between the police and the community. The essence of community policing is the provision of guidance for police behavior and police action. Police officers and citizens cooperating in the problem solving process may develop a better understanding of each other for the good of the public.
Ways to Protect the Needs of Victims
Over the years, victim rights movements have been able to achieve great advances on behalf of victims. This is quite obvious due to the increased level of involvement of crime victims in the justice system. There is a growing need among the victims to participate in every case that involves them. More than ever, victims are now willing to openly raise their concerns in public without fear. In addition, the need to compensate victims is gaining recognition in the eyes of the public. Much more is being done to improve the process of financial impact assessment so as to fairly compensate the victims.
Ways for Cities to Reduce Crime
It is common to hear those on the political right, dismissing investment in more education or housing as not being effective to reduce crime. This is just as common as hearing those on the political left say that heavier penalties will reduce crime and violence. However, it is not just a question of spending more taxes on education or policing, but a question of being smarter in getting agencies to work together more effectively and target their efforts on the situations that are at risk.
Key Recommendations for a Political Vision to Improve the Situation in Ontario
An important recommendation is the need for law enforcers in Ontario to turn their focus towards offering great support to victims of criminal activities. A substantial amount of the taxpayers’ money should thus be directed towards supporting initiatives to cater for the victims. It is also important to establish professional institutions that provide reliable training on crime prevention. Finally, the situation in Ontario can be improved by seeking to understand the concept of community policing and implementing it effectively.