CRIME FIGHTING: Identify root causes first

THE high crime rate and the culture of violence point to an urgent need to address the country's social capital. The letter, "Tackle nation's social ills head-on" (NST, Dec 4) from Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, vice-chairman of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, calls for a review of our social policy to re-evaluate efforts by the government to create a stable, healthy and harmonious society based on a strong moral foundation.
Tackling the nation's social ills, especially the crime rate, head-on would also mean addressing the root causes of crime. Crime is primarily the outcome of multiple adverse social, economic, cultural, educational and family conditions that influence the mindset and activities of an individual.There is a direct cause-and- effect relationship between poverty and crime. Deprived and economically impoverished neighbourhoods breed criminal minds. The theft is committed initially out of survival instincts but later, the greed and desire for material gain leads to property crimes such as robberies, burglaries and auto thefts.In addition to lack of financial resources, poverty manifests itself in poor parental supervision, lack of educational opportunities, lack of meaningful employment options, poor housing and lack of hope. Failure in school and an unstable job situation can combine to push an individual into involvement in crime. Because of their poor educational background, their employment histories consist of mostly low-wage jobs with frequent periods of unemployment, which is another condition conducive to the nurturing of criminals.
Alcohol and substance abuse are often associated with criminal behaviour. Many offenders are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when offences are committed. Both drugs and alcohol impair judgment and reduce inhibitions, giving a person greater courage to commit a crime. Substance abuse and alcohol triggers anti-social and criminal behaviour among some people.
The presence of many illegal immigrants is another factor that needs to be addressed by the government. Their unwarranted presence is a threat to the security and social stability of our country. These illegal immigrants have been the source of many crimes such as house break-ins, snatch thefts, robberies and murders. Before we start looking for a solution to crime that actually works, we need to dig for the root causes of crime. Only then can we find solutions that deal directly with the source of the problem, as opposed to limiting ourselves to dealing with the symptoms through punitive measures. Punishment deals with the symptoms of crime, whereas prevention deals with the root causes.