Essay Example on Youth Crime: An Unsolvable Problem?

Introduction

The involvement of youths in criminal activities is becoming a worrying trend. Illegal activities are on the rise; as a result, a significant increase in the level of school dropouts, drugs and substance abuse, rape, killings, and robbery have been witnessed in the crime-infested areas. Perpetrators of crime are usually incarcerated, but this does not seem to solve the problem, because more people continue to inflict the community with criminal activities henceforth. Victims of illegal activities are left to nurse injuries, some physical and others psychological. Word in the community is that unemployment and lack of education are the main contributors to crime. In most cases, unemployment leads to poverty, and then parents lack money to educate their children who later become susceptible to crime. While unemployment and lack of education might be imperative in the demystification of crime, it is worth noting that not all poor or uneducated people engage in crime (Prager par1). Crime is more of a function of mental wellbeing than it is of unemployment, poverty, and drug abuse.

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Research and Background

Crime constitutes activities that are punishable by law. Criminal activities have implications for both the perpetrators and victims. Offenders are mostly incarcerated, where they end up losing their valuable time and also risk diversifying their criminal activities. Prisoners are required to endure hardships in prisons, notwithstanding that their family members are regarded as hidden victims. Children whose parents have to face prison life are subjected to a myriad of challenges such as suspension from school, financial issues, and psychological strain. These children also risk being a future criminal. On the other hand, victims are faced with challenges such as loss of property, lost dignity, and a plethora of psychological effects. In my community, criminal activities are increasing annually; as a result, many people are dealing with mental issues, and the rate of school dropouts has risen significantly.

Explanation of Argument

Crime is a common aspect of life that every person must deal with at some point in their lives; as a result, people have come up with arguments that illuminate their understanding of the topic. Most debates surrounding crime in my locality hovers around poverty, illiteracy levels, and drugs and substance abuse. Poverty is deemed to be one of the most significant contributors to crime (Pooja par4). Most state reports pertinent to crime point towards a lack of income as a major cause of crime. Information collected from prisons in the U.S indicates that most jobless people are likely to delve into criminal activities such as burglary (Rafaiee et al. 139). Out of these jobless people, it was also found out that those that were unemployed due to socially unacceptable reasons were also likely to commit robbery. Such reports shape the view of crime is a function of poverty. Few studies have been conducted in the objection of the topic, but closely looking at the causes of crime, poverty is one of the most overrated. According to the report of 2005 of the American Department of Energy, more than 99% of the population owns a refrigerator, television, and a stove. More than 80% have a microwave, and 75% have air conditioning systems in their houses. Additionally, 75 percent of the poor people owned a car or truck (Prager par4). Studies indicate that there is a connection between the drug and substance abuse and criminal attributions. According to a study conducted in the United States in 2010, 11.2 percent of the male population was found to have indulged in taking drugs, in prisons, 70% of men were recorded to be drug abusers (Hodgins and Muller-Isberner 246). Education is another factor that is considered to have a massive influence on criminal activities. According to the U.S Department of Justice, most incarcerated people are lowly educated. The justice institution shapes the argument on the relationship between crime and education.

Proposal

Combating crime should include the application of various strategies. New and robust policies are required. Historically, the issue of crime has been handled by law enforcers. It is the high time that most communities employed the knowledge of psychiatrists; this is because most criminal activities emanate from mental disorders. The knowledge of psychology can go a long way at ameliorating illegal activities through direct assessment as well as laying down programs that aid in reintegrating offenders into society. Psychiatric services will also help in eliminating the stigma associated with incarcerated people and their relatives. Mental disorders are linked to criminal activities. In a study that was conducted among patients suffering from the schizophrenic disorder, more than 77% had been admitted for psychiatric serves, out of which 39% had a history of committing a crime (Frances 110). An interview with a local psychologist indicates that psychological services are among the most underrated services in society. According to the senior psychologist in a local private firm, people only seek psychological solutions when directed to do so. Additionally, he argues that the government has not done enough to utilize psychiatric services in combating criminal activities. It is, therefore, the high time, justice systems used psychiatric serves as an alternative to the stringent law enforcement procedures.

Critical Thinking

In my analysis of the causes of criminal endeavors, I have realized that most suppositions claim that it is caused by poverty, lack of education and drugs, and substance abuse (Larsson 2015). During my study, I have concluded that there are other underlying factors other than the aforementioned that lead to criminal activities. I have realized that not all poor, uneducated, and drug abusers are criminals; similarly, I have realized that psychiatric services are not adequately used in combating crime. Loopholes existential in the ongoing arguments solidifies my argument that mental wellbeing is a significant contributor to criminal activities, the healthier one is psychological, the lower the chances of involvement in illegal activities.

Conclusion

Criminal activities are causing both physical and mental repercussions to society. The application of incarceration for criminal offenders has worked in some instances while leaving a gap pertinent to underpinning issues that cause crime. Instead of over-relying on the existential forms of combating illegal activities, states should consider firing up the application of psychiatric services. Understanding overarching psychological issues in the community may help the government to tackle the impacts of criminal activities.

Works Cited

Gupta, Pooja. "How Unemployment Affects Serious Property Crime: A National Case-control Study." Journalist Resource, February 14, 2016.

Hodgins, S., and R. Muller-Isberner. "Preventing Crime by People with Schizophrenic Disorders: The Role of Psychiatric Services." British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 185, no. 3, Sept. 2004, pp. 245-250, 10.1192/bjp.185.3.245.Interview with a local based psychologist. Role of psychiatric services in combating crime.

Prager, Dennis. "Poverty Causes Crime?" Real Clear Politics, Nov. 18, 2014. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/11/18/poverty_causes_crime_124683.htmlRafaiee, Raheleh, Saeede, Olyaee, and Alireza, Sargolzaiee. "The Relationship Between the

Type of Crime and Drugs in Addicted Prisoners in Zahedan Central Prison." International Journal of High-Risk Behaviors & Addiction, vol. 2 no.3, 2013, pp. 139-40. doi:10.5812/ijhrba.13977.