Importance of Various Concepts for the Development of Crime and Delinquency (Term Paper Sample)

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Ways through Which Different Sources Explain and illustrate the Importance of Various Concepts for the Development of Crime and Delinquency
In the field of criminology and criminal justice, various ideas, theories as well as concepts have been employed by a number of experts and scholars in this field in efforts to explain the topic or the issues behind the development of crime and delinquency on many occasions. Researches on this subject have also been carried out severally all in the efforts to see to it that this topic is explored well and understood due to the crucial role and position it can, and plays in our society especially in relation to understanding crime and criminals. This has all been done in efforts to see to it that this rather crucial and vital topic especially in today’s world where crime and such delinquency have become almost an order of the day, are understood well in relation to some of the factors that lead to their development and some of the best measures to prevent them or manage them. Through these efforts, different theories, ideas as well as concepts have been developed to facilitate this. This paper intends to look into some of the ways through which different sources (books, journal articles, and current events articles) explain and illustrate the importance of the various concepts that have been developed on this subject, for the development of crime and delinquency, as well as for the fairness and effectiveness in the operation of justice agencies.
To begin with is the concept of deindustrialization and rise of the service economy (1). Deindustrialization can be described as the fall of employment if the manufacturing sector as a share of the total employment of a country’s or a nation’s economy. A service economy on the other hand can be described as an economy or the sector of an economy that is mainly based on providing different kinds of services rather than manufacturing or producing goods, or one that is based on trade in services. The concept of deindustrialization and rise of the service economy is of great importance in the field of criminology and criminal justice due to the vital role it plays especially when it comes to the understanding of the development of crimes and delinquency, as well as the trends of crime. This concept is used to explain ways in which issues such as unemployment can lead or result in a situation whereby there is a raise in crime rates, and how this condition is generated from such situations. For instance, Dr. Wilson, the book, "the Truly Disadvantaged" shows the importance of this concept when employs it in explaining some of the ways through which the "black population in the ghetto was affected by the issue of unemployment and joblessness when the manufacturing sector contracted" (p.8, 2012). Wilson employs this concept and states that individuals who lack skills and training that are necessary in an economy that is based on trade in services, and either experience a situation of a long term joblessness or cannot be said to be in the labor force, are involved in street crime" (p.8, 2012). Here, the author Wilson helps in explaining the importance of this concept by showing that this concept can be employed when it comes to the understanding of the crime trends and its development. It is from such a background of information therefore, that experts in this field can employ this concept in the understanding of how crime and delinquency develops in areas and regions that such a concept can be applicable in.
Social isolation (6), is another concept that has been for a long time ben employed in the criminology and criminal justice in efforts to understand ways in which delinquency and crime develops. Many authors have employed the concept of social isolation in explaining some of the ways through which it affects matters relating development of crime and delinquency especially in relation to communities and groups that are viewed to be of the underclass in relation to their social statuses. For instance, Dr. Doerschler, and Dr. Jackson help in illustrating the importance of this concept in the book "Benchmarking Muslim Well-Being: Reducing Disparities Polarizations," whereby they employ it in explaining hoe members of the Muslim community have not refused to integrate with their colleagues from other religions, but have rather been isolated. In addition, Wilson in "the Truly Disadvantaged" employs the same concept in explaining the fact that the break up that has been evident in the black family and which has been well documented, has taken place under the context of "social isolation" and not under a culture of poverty as was contended by certain liberals turned conservatives. In addition, Anderson in the article "Greg Ousley Is Sorry for Killing His Parents. Is That Enough?" illustrates the importance of social isolation concept by explaining some of the ways through which it could have led to Greg turning out the way he did, to the extent of killing his parents. She states that such social compacts can lead to a kind of pressure cooker environment. This, therefore, helps to show the importance of this concept in understanding delinquency and how it develops. The importance of this concept in this field, therefore, is quite huge due to the purpose it plays in relation to understanding crime statuses especially in the minority groups which are more often, found in this situations.
The concept of Trust in the political system (2) is one of great importance in this subject especially in relation to the fairness and effectiveness in the operation of justice agencies in a number of different ways. This concept involves the notion with which the public holds its political systems, and how this trickles down up to the trust and belief in the fairness and effectiveness in the operation of justice agencies. This concept also involves the relationships of trust and distrust between the offender, the victims, as well as the justice agencies. The moment that a certain group of individuals in the community or in the society starts to feel the need to distrust a certain agency of justice, then the provision of fairness and justice can greatly be affected as well as an increased risk of rise in crime rates. Communities or groups that have had any form of distrust in the justice agency on many occasions have resulted other ways of seeking for justice which in turn has had a negative effect on the crime rates of a country. In the article "Confronted in Court With His Own Words, Sheriff Denies Profiling," for instance, the author, Santos seeks to show how this concept is of importance in order to ensure that there is fairness and effectiveness in the operation of justice agencies. The plaintiffs, in this case, all took legal actions against the sheriff who can be deemed to be an agent of the justice agencies, for lack of fairness through the claimed profiling. A people’s lack of trust in their political systems has a likelihood of trickling down to their legal system, a factor that can greatly impair the administration of justice and fairness by the agencies of justice.
The concept of Risk Assessment and Sentencing (3) is one that involves the use and application of evidence based risk/need assessment instruments to help in the structuring, informing , and/or evaluate a growing range of corrections-management practices which include arresting, diversion, bail, pre-sentence reports, sentencing, prison classification, and parole decisions. The use and application of these instruments, however, vary from one criminal justice setting to another. A number of international jurisdictions, however, have gone forward and embraced these instruments and are currently in use in a number of various international jurisdictions. Beckett and Sasson help in the illustrate the importance of this concept when they discuss matters surround the high number of incarceration in the United States, even though the crime rate had dropped in a significant manner for more than a decade (p.32-34, 2003). According to these authors, there are currently almost 2 million Americans in jails and prisons; a factor that has left large numbers of poor families in devastating situations as well as making the nation the leading in terms of the numbers of incarcerations. It is in the background of such circumstances as those discussed by these authors that one is able to realize the much impact and value the concept of risk assessment and sentencing would play in efforts to see that such high numbers of incarcerations are avoided where not necessary. By employing the instruments in this concept, the criminal justice department can help cut down on these numbers through avoiding those that are deemed unnecessary.
Blalock’s threat curve (4) the larger the size of the minority group, the greater the majority group will feel threatened, who will respond to the perceived threat by instituting legal controls and other measures to protect their dominant status. In this context, this concept has been employed on many occasions when explaining how the continued increase of the minority groups which include the Hispanics and the blacks among others is viewed as threat even an economic one and political one. An advanced idea of this concept suggests that such dominants groups are more likely to react to the increase of the minority groups through different ways, some of which can include discrimination, ideologies that are more threat oriented, as well as symbolic segregation. The importance of this concept in understanding crime and delinquency development is more elaborated when one considers the works of authors such as Wilson in the book, "the Truly Disadvantaged”, Dr. Doerschler, and Dr. Jackson in the book "Benchmarking Muslim Well-Being: Reducing Disparities Polarizations." Wilson for...