SOCI 1000 - Presentation

11) Argue a case for and against a Caribbean criminology.
INTRODUCTION
Criminology is the scientific study of the non-legal aspects of crime and delinquency,
including its causes, correction and prevention from the viewpoints of many diverse
disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics and statistics.
Existing theory is extremely useful in identifying factors that should be considered in
understanding the level, change in level and distribution of crime in society. These theories,
however do not apply to the Caribbean in all instances, and so, there is the question of
another sub-discipline, Caribbean Criminology emerging.
ARGUMENTS FOR A CARIBBEAN CRIMINOLOGY
The applicability of crime theories that use the development theory in explaining
crime may not be applicable to the region. Countries that are developing have the
unique situation of competing economically with those that are already developed.
Countries already developed did not have to handle the pressures of competing with
superior nations. Furthermore, developed nations tend to limit the industrialization of
developing nations to ensure the continued provision of raw materials from the lesserdeveloped nations. This means that the applicability of normal developmental theories
and conflict theories of crime will not be sufficient in explaining crime explicitly
related to development.
The scale of the region is also a major factor in making Caribbean criminology
necessary in the region. Most Caribbean islands are small islands or federations of
islands and the distance between rural areas and urbanized centers is relatively small.
Urbanization may not have the same effects in the Caribbean and the opportunity
structure for those living in rural areas is much different for those living in rural areas
in developed countries. The increasing homicide rate in Trinidad and Tobago among
young men, 2009 (92.5% Male) (7.5% Female). The element of chaotic urbanization
the opportunity structure being different indicates the need for a Caribbean
criminology.
The importance of tourism as an economic activity in the region contributes to the

uniqueness of the region as it relates to crime. The dependence on tourism promotes a
shift from traditional production to service industry. The service industry requires
decentralization, small business and entrepreneurship, all of which are consistent with
a more complex social stratification system, all determined by the organization of
tourism by the governmental powers. Criminal theories must take into account
tourism explicitly as this affects the stratification system that directly impacts crime
and deviance in the region. Tourists also present targets of criminal activities and
opens up the possibility for robbery and prostitution for instance.
The illegal drug trade is one of the more major factors that promote the creation of a
Caribbean criminology. Firstly, the Caribbean islands are located between the drug
suppliers in South America and consumers in North America. This affects
the stratification as well as the social organization in the region. How the drug trade is
handled in terms of law enforcement can lead to high, or low levels of crime. It will
also have residual and unintended effects of transshipment can have dramatic effect
on local criminality. With the Caribbean as a direct route between supplier and
consumer, the shifts in the social structure and the focus of criminal groups have
negatively impacted the pattern of violence in the Caribbean over the past decade.
Some drugs intended for transshipment can be redirected into society, allowing an
influx of drug related crimes.
The relative immaturity of the political and social institutions and the legacy of
colonialism. The culture within Caribbean nations varies from country to country,
however colonialism is a shared past. There are even islands in the region still under
colonial rule. The colonial powers have left their mark on these societies both in terms
of the nature and distribution of crime as well as the responses to criminality. Nations
that have closer ties to the colonial powers tend to be more stable politically and
economically and stimulate better investments into the economic activity, this affects
the economy and subsequently the levels of crime.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST A CARIBBEAN CRIMINOLOGY
There is the need to use scientific approaches to understanding crime and criminality.
In the region, policies related to crime are based around fear of crime and political
expediency rather than an understanding from scientific research. This is an issue to
developing Caribbean criminology. Governments lack the fundamental knowledge to
seek the creation of scientific base upon which policies are developed. Without the
support of the government, as well as NGOs, the funding necessary for creating and
maintaining the data systems necessary for the scientific approach, tackling crime in
this manner is simply impossible.
The reliability of statistical data, it is a great problem with accessing data related to
crime in the region. There is a lack of data, in part to the fact that criminal justice
organizations tend to resist divulging information to non-governmental organizations.
The police do not collect data that is suitable for producing explanatory models of
crime. Even when they do collect some useful data, the data is decentralized. It is
suggested that many crimes are not reported for fear of further victimization. There is
also a problem with data that is not available to other organizations, which is stored
away for certain individuals to evaluate. The statistics are also very skewed by the
private sector where tourism is concerned. Private security firms may take measures
unknown to police for the safety and comfort if their clients. They also handle many
property crimes privately, unbeknownst to the police making these statistics
inaccurate.
Different kinds of mediums must be used to collect the data. There is a lack of
funding to conduct surveys, namely victimization surveys. These surveys require high
capital in terms of both funding as well as personnel, as these surveys require
interviews. These surveys help to get statistics on offenses that are not usually
reported, data necessary for the development of criminal theories.
Inaccessibility of social and economic data in an aggregated form, for easy analysis is
a problem. Data that may useable in many cases do not even exist. If a problem is
often caused by the fact that statistical organizations are resistant to change, especially
of the changes include changing how they collect, code, analyze, and dissemble their
data. There is also the lack of finances to enable such changes. Therefore the
reorganization of data is very much unlikely.
One of the main contributors to crime in the Caribbean is the issue of drug trafficking,
however there has been increased preference for a route passing through Central
America, thus decreasing the need to use the Caribbean as a hub which can therefore
reduce the amount of gang and street violence which may have arisen from the
presence of the drugs. From the years 1997 2009, the amount of drug seizures in the
Caribbean have decreased by 71%. Without use of the Caribbean route between North
America and South America, it can reduce the issue of drug trafficking.

SOCI 1000 - Presentation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SOCI 1000 - Presentation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

SOCI 1000 - Presentation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

11) Argue a case for and against a Caribbean criminology.

ARGUMENTS FOR A CARIBBEAN CRIMINOLOGY

The importance of tourism as an economic activity in the region contributes to the

ARGUMENTS AGAINST A CARIBBEAN CRIMINOLOGY

You might also like