Fight Crime at
Its Roots (
By Dean Hartwell
A recent study by the U.S. Department of Justice showed that 1 out of every
32 people in the
More than half of those on probation had committed a felony or felonies. Convicted felons often serve several years in prison, do not always get probation, and frequently lose rights in society like voting.
These punishments do not seem to work. Why not?
The typical felon may not consider the punishment for his (or her) actions. He may not think that he will get caught. If a criminal does not care about punishment, no deterrent will be effective.
How do non-criminals decide they will not commit crimes? Penalties for criminal behavior likely scare some. Others may not need to commit any crimes if they have necessities. Still others fear a loss of reputation if caught. In short, law abiders act in their own interests to avoid unwanted consequences.
What if the consequences for lawful behavior were worse than consequences for criminal behavior?
Imagine that your significant other had a serious illness. You discover that this illness will become terminal without a certain medication not currently on the market. You find out the exact location where a company makes the medication and when and where security is present.
Would you break in and steal the medication?
If you do, you are now a felon. If you do not, your loved one dies. When obeying the law would bring with it a high cost, your interests would likely change. Your interest in the medication may, in your mind, outweigh the company’s legal right to it.
When we see how easily we could give up our belief that we must obey the law, we can better understand why others commit crimes. Since we act within the laws when it serves our interests, we should consider the interests of those who break the law.
Are most criminals, but for extenuating circumstances, really law abiding?
The question above is one that the Justice Department and others who study crime ought to ask. We should discover the types of circumstances that cause a distinct portion of society to believe that harming another person or their property is justified. We should find out if the threshold of pain that finally convinces one to commit crime differs from person to person.
When we discover the true reasons for crime, we can then decide the best ways to deter them.