- Category: Information Science and Technology , Science
- Topic: Technology
This essay delves into the varied opinions surrounding the definition of crime by examining different papers. However, due to the evolution of societal norms and laws, I believe that no one definition can comprehensively define crime. We will also discuss the challenges of defining crime from different perspectives.
Defining crime proves to be challenging since it encompasses social, political and cultural aspects. Warren (2021, pp. 6-12) argues that crime is a multidisciplinary concept that involves legal and human rights dimensions, alongside social and political implications. Furthermore, Warren (2021, p. 9) suggests that studying criminal law alone cannot entirely enhance the understanding of crime. On the contrary, Des Rosiers and Bittle (2004, p. 7) suggest that crime primarily involves studying an act that breaches the law, while also underscoring that objectivity in defining crime involves the "sociology of deviance" (Des Rosiers & Bittle 2004, p. 8). While Lynch and colleagues agree with these ideas, they assert that crime is a criminological concept that exists independently of criminal law (Lynch & Stretesky & Long 2016, p. 116).
Interpreting crime definition is challenging because it reflects different perspectives from different disciplines and is also socially constructed. Consequently, it is complicated to provide a single definition that effectively explains crime.
One of the significant challenges in defining crime is establishing which behaviors should be considered crimes. Des Rosiers & Bittle 2004; Lynch & Stretesky & Long 2016; Warren 2021 all point to the vague nature of historical and contemporary criminological research that criminalizes behaviors, leading to individual and social consequences. They assert that society's reaction to criminal behaviors is intrinsic to how it is structured, not necessarily a reflection of inherent problems. However, Ryan (2020, p. 86) sticks to criminal behaviors being identified based on physical anomalies or inherent characteristics shared among others, contradicting the above perspectives.
Another challenge is inequality in defining crime and criminality. Positivism, a branch of criminological theories, focuses on the scientific approach of understanding criminal behavior (Ryan 2020, p.84). The theory identifies future criminals by their inherent qualities and promotes treatment and rehabilitation instead of punishment. Ryan (2020, p. 85) gives the example of Lombroso's scientific approach to criminality, which focuses on the belief that criminals could be recognized by physical characteristics with criminal behaviors being inherited. This approach could lead to biased views on crime, potentially undermining the justice system's principles. Contrary to this perspective is classicism, which emphasizes punishment instead of treatment and reformation.
In conclusion, crime is the study of behavior that breaches the law, encompassing legalistic, social, political, cultural, and human rights perspectives. The challenges relating to defining crime illustrate that it’s a complex concept that society needs to tackle with care and concern.
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