Essay 19: Government’s approach to curb crimes
Some people believe that it is better to spend more money to eliminate the cause of crimes, while others think that the government should spend more on punishment. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Over the past decade or so, there has been a significant increase in crimes across the globe. Although it is believed by a section of society that government should allocate more budget to punish criminals, I share the opinion of those who advocate that more funds should be spent on dealing with the reasons behind individuals committing different crimes.
According to a few, the provision of a greater budget for the introduction and implementation of stringent punishments is useful to bring the crime rate down. That is to say, when people see offenders getting jailed and fined, they may get a lesson not to commit offenses and abide by the law. For instance, statistics of NYPD revealed that around 50% of the offenders that got strict punishments did not indulge in such criminal activities again. However, in my opinion, this is a short-sighted view, and at best, such measures can only produce modest results because until and unless the roots are pulled out, crime is there to stay.
On the other hand, many believe that the government should focus on eradicating the root causes of crimes. This is because, when governments fail to provide basic amenities of life to their citizens, they may end up committing crimes to make both ends meet. To illustrate, extensive research of Dhaka University, Bangladesh, has indicated that one of the reasons behind the recent hike in crimes is due to the high inflation rate and graduates being jobless. Furthermore, the low literacy rate and lack of educational infrastructure is another reason for the deprived people being attracted towards illegal means for earning a livelihood. By providing free education and awareness of right and wrong, youngsters can be saved from opting for the wrong means, and hence a decline in the crime rate.
To sum up, some consider that crime the rate can be curbed through greater investment in punishments for all criminals. However, I share the view of many who believe a government’s investment in eradicating the root causes of crime, like the provision of educational facilities and jobs, can yield better results.
