Question

Based on the reading of Chronic offending and overall crime patterns, answer the following:

a. What if the justice system was able to identify chronic offenders at a very young age?

b. What kinds of policies could be enacted to reduce crime?  

c. Are there any concerns that could be raised by these policies?

Answer 1

a. What if the justice system was able to identify chronic offenders at a very young age?

If the justice system was able to identify chronic offenders at a very young age before the accumulation of a lot of serious offenses, there are more chances of review and interventions that could remedy their state of mind. More effective planning and interventions could be conducted for these child offenders to prevent them from becoming criminals during their adolescence and adult years.

b. What kinds of policies could be enacted to reduce crime?  

Here are some of the policies that could be used to reduce crime:

1. Stringent alcohol policies: Intoxication is a major cause of crime. Therefore, taxing alcohol and reducing the number of outlets selling alcohol could be helpful. It will also be helpful if a repeat offender's right to drink is revoked.
2. Focussing on crime-prone localities: Having police personnel deployed in crime-prone areas could instill fear in criminals and help people lead safe lives in such areas.
3. Stringent education monitoring: Children who drop out early go on to become offenders in most cases. By monitoring truancy and by ensuring that education is mandated to a certain age before dropping out, one can reduce the number of child offenders.
4. Engage in community policing: It is important for people of a community to come together with police personnel in order to eradicate problems in specific localities.
5. Employment and housing to returning prisoners: A prisoner coming out should have access to proper housing and a job in order to avoid becoming a repeat offender.

c. Are there any concerns that could be raised by these policies?

Yes, there are concerns that could be raised:

1. Alcohol comes under free will and cannot be censored. But proper monitoring is indeed necessary.
2. Patrolling crime-prone localities and community policing may instill a kind of distrust towards law enforcement agents and may become counter-intuitive.
3. Securing housing and employment for prisoners should be based on good conduct over a period of time and being a prisoner should not be the only criteria.