Criminology

It is difficult for me to comprehend why an individual would want to commit a crime after seeing a high number of members of the community being incarcerated. I would think the situation would be the other way around which, is most likely what the justice system within the community is thinking. It would make sense for crime rates to be higher with a lack of law enforcement and lower instances of criminals being incarcerated.

Several variables are in play in this situation, in order to identify the breaking point. Meaning, the point when so many criminals are incarcerated, the community is negatively impacted by others possibly rebellious behavior. Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould (2010) suggest this rebellion may be in response to the high rate of enforcement causing negative feelings toward the enforcers.

One critical variable is the economy within the neighborhood. In an area where there is a lack of education and employment, people may be committing crimes as a means for survival they may have a family to support. Incarcerating the family member who is putting the food on the table may force another member to commit crimes. Therefore, incarceration may only be replenishing the number of criminals.