In: Psychology
Should so-called victimless crimes, such as prostitution, gambling, and recreational drug use, be decriminalized? Do these crimes harm society?
Decriminalizing the so-called victimless crime which actually has victims is not sensible and safe for the society. The victims of so-called victimless crime are the individual themselves and their families that bear the consequences of such crime. Decriminalising such crimes would create a havoc in the society and the victim less crime could become victim oriented crime. For example decriminalising prostitution would promote crimes against women, it would promote human trafficking and would compel more women into the flesh trade. Similarly, decriminalising gambling would make more people attracted to gambling activities that would cause more financial loses to individuals that may increase robbery,theft and other similar crimes in the society. Legalizing the use of recreational drugs means giving permission to individuals to cause self harm, mental and emotional trauma to their lived ones and taking risk of increase in crime rates. Thus, would these crime harm the society.
There should be leniency while dealing with such crimes. Severe measures should not be taken to deal with such crimes.