CMY2602-23-S2

Assignment 1

Student full name : Jo-Anè Celine Hammond

Student number : 68462166

Module number : CMY2602-23-S2

Unique number : 700105

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Table of Contents

Question 1……………………………………………………………………………………3

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..3

1.1)Definition of the key concept : Socioeconomic factors contributing to crime……..3

1.2)Definition of the key concept : Relative deprivation…………………………………3

Crime opportunities………………………………………………………………………….3

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………4

Question 2……………………………………………………………………………………5

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..5

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………5

References…………………………………………………………………………………...6

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Question 1

Introduction

When I think of crime, I think of senseless murders, petty theft, sickening deeds like
child abuse, rape, violence against others and so much more, but is there something
missing? There is so many different reasons people commit a crime from which
socioeconomic factors and relative deprivation is just fraction of hundreds of other
reasons. Ukoji and Okolie (2016) argue that “The problem with crime is that it is
usually linked with greed and violence which stimulate the abuse of unchallengeable
rights of the people”.

1.3)Definition of the key concept : Socioeconomic factors contributing to crime

The Socioeconomic factors contributing to crime, but not limited to, is the following :
Unemployment, poverty, urbanisation, overpopulation, squatting, and last but not
least illegal immigrants which leads to increased unemployment (Study guide,
CMY2602. P82).

1.4)Definition of the key concept : Relative deprivation

According to Study Guide CMY2602, relative deprivation is when people think they
are in a disadvantage in a specific situation or comparison and estrangement, where
people live on the edge of society and outside the social mainstream with little stake
in society overall (Carrabine et al 2014:100).

Crime opportunities

In South Africa we have an extremely high unemployment rate, which, at this stage,
is around 32.6% this include an astounding amount of about 3.4million young people
that does not have any income whatsoever (Michael C, 2023). In my opinion this is a
huge concern if you take in to account that today’s youth is tomorrow’s leader,
unemployed, uneducated, uninformed leader. This for example can lead to young
people, over the age of 18years old, trying to hustle to make a living. It may start
small with petty theft, or white collar crime, but it may also lead to bigger situations

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and crime for more money and more gain. Socioeconomic factors, just as
mentioned, like unemployment might just be one of our biggest problems at this
stage. Should the South African Government do a little more investigation in this
matter and create more opportunities for our unemployed citizens, crime rates might
have an enormous decrease. Why do I feel so strong about unemployment leading
to crime? Research done have shown that unemployment results more in property
crime than violent crime and research results show that most people who commit
property crimes are unemployed, unemployment can also be related to other
psychological problems such as alcohol and drug abuse (Rafael & Winter, 260).

Conclusion

As discussed above, do not just look at crime as a whole, try to analyse the situation
and think of a way to solve the problem. Start by helping someone who needs you by
a simple matter like sharing a job opportunity on social media or even speaking up
when you see things like someone being unfairly treated, if you don’t you are
unfortunately part of the problem. Since it takes a village to raise a child, start with
our youth, be the change you want to see and motivate them to be a child, do things
wrong, learn from your mistakes and start again. Barack Obama once said “These
are young people who made mistakes that aren't that different than the mistakes I
made and the mistakes that a lot of you guys made, we have a tendency sometimes
to almost take for granted or think it's normal that so many young people end up in
our criminal justice system. It's not normal. ... What is normal is teenagers doing
stupid things.”

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Question 2

Introduction

Why aren’t all criminals treated the same? There is a lot to take in consideration
when you want to ask this type of questions. Would you like a child or juvenile to be
treated the same as an adult who might have done worst or would you like everyone
to still be treated as they were before 1994? Police have different policing styles to
prevent crime or criminal behavior working together with communities to prevent
crime.

Colonial policing started before 1994 when it was used as a way of controlling other
but had to change from a force to a service and comply to the “Batho Pele” principles
(Study Guide, CMY2601). Thomas ( 2012) argues that colonial policing easily came
to inter-ethnic conflict or faction fighting and lead to the loss of control over the state.
During strikes or protest we need the help of public order policing, which, when
protests lead to unwanted conflict could lead to police needing to use force to stop
the situation and might lead to the public seeing the police as a force and not a
service, this could result in breaking the partnership between the police and the
public (Study Guide, CMY2602). In contrary to colonial policing, community policing
works with the community. They rather focus to prevent the crime and solve
community problems in other words they raise more awareness about crime and
how to prevent it, this is also the best or most effective way of policing (Study Guide,
CMY2602).

Conclusion

The South African police must always think on their feet to keep the community safe

and aware of crime, without being a police force and rather show they are a police

service to the South African citizens. “Questions have arisen about the policing of

science. Who is responsible for the policing? My answer is: all of us”(Serge Lang). If

we stand together, raise crime awareness and work together it will make their job a

lot easier.

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References

(Ukoji and Okolie, 2016), September 2021 ,Mediterranean Journal of Social

Sciences 12(5):71 DOI:10.36941/mjss-2021-0045. Available at :
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354382389_Impacts_of_Crime_on_Socio-
Economic_Development

Dr Michael Cardo MP, 2023 Available at : https://www.da.org.za/2023/08/qlfs-latest-

unemployment-statistics-reinforce-rudderlessness-of-ramaphosa-led-
anc#:~:text=15%20Aug%202023%20in%20News&text=Our%20official
%20unemployment%20rate%20stands,decrease%20from%20the%20preceding
%20quarter.

Rafael & Winter, 260, Raphael, Steven & Winter-Ember Rudolf. Identifying the effect
of unemployment on crime. Journal of Law and Economics, 44 (1) (2001): p.259.
Available at : https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-
crime/#:~:text=Unemployment%20results%20more%20in%20property,as%20alcohol
%20and%20drug%20abuse.

Barack Obama quote are available at :

https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/criminal-justice.html

Martin Thomas (October, 2012) available at :

https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/violence-and-colonial-order/colonial-
policing/F57CC721B1E6D9404451C965CA145014

Serge Lang quote available at :

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/serge_lang_259444?src=t_policing