Question

There is an emphasis with the theme of social problems and social responsibility. Which perspective better explains the involvement of capable individuals in criminal activity necessitating high-tech skills? What is the best way to deal with such criminals?

Answer 1

• One point of view, termed the social problems perspective, holds that crime is a manifestation of underlying social problems such as poverty, discrimination, the breakdown of traditional social institutions, the poor quality of formal education available to some, pervasive family violence experienced during the formative years, and inadequate socialization practices that leave young people without the fundamental values necessary to contribute meaningfully to the society in which they live
• The social responsibility perspective, tends to become increasingly popular in times when the fear of crime rises. Advocates of the social responsibility perspective, with their emphasis on individual choice, tend to believe that social programs do little to solve the problem of crime because, they say, a certain number of crime-prone individuals, for a variety of personalized reasons, will always make irresponsible choices.
• Hence, advocates of the social responsibility approach suggest crime reduction strategies based upon firm punishments, imprisonment, individualized rehabilitation, increased security, and a wider use of police powers. The social responsibility perspective characteristically emphasizes a form of micro analysis that tends to focus on the individual offender and his or her biology, psychology, background, and immediate life experiences.
• Social Problems Theory asserts that crimes are committed due to matters beyond the control of the criminal. People might commit crimes because of poverty, racism, social status and other constructs that hold the criminal down. For example, people engaging in cyber crimes,frauds,bank thefts,hacking etc. are all done sometimes to get money and nothing else.Lack of jobs and education make people do such crimes in order to overcome their poverty and problems attached to it.
• Crime prevention is the key component of this theory. This means creating programs that provide more education, job training and opportunity for low-income individuals before they decide to turn to crime. Under this school of thought, a man shouldn't feel the need to rob a bank to pay for his children's education or even his bills.