The Rising Street Crimes & Our Criminal Justice System

 

Crime is a behavior or an illegal act punishable by law. It has been a constant part of human society throughout its existence. Social Scientists are very keen to observe the reasons of why offenders commit a crime. The three distinct theories used to classify crime are classical theory, biological theory, and sociological theory. Out of the three theories, the latter one appeals to my senses the most. It asserts that “Criminal behavior is a normal response of biologically and psychologically fit individuals to particular social circumstances.” Undoubtedly, miserable socio-economic conditions force man to commit a crime, but we cannot neglect the state’s responsibility, especially of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, it is necessary to use modern technologies of surveillance and practice in-depth data analysis of delinquents’ record to stop the rising crime that has caused people a severe sense of insecurity. There also needs to be a proper rehabilitation program for criminals along with a campaign to de-weaponize the country. 

We need to know some aspects of sociological theory to comprehend why criminals commit crime. Such as the “Differential Association Theory” which claims that all criminal behavior is learned and that the extent of a person’s relationship and contact with criminals directly influences the learning process. The stronger the association, the more likely it becomes that he will learn and adopt criminal values and behavior. 

Another theory named “Theory of Anomie” argues that the inability of the offender to accomplish his aims and objectives by socially acceptable means finally prompts him to choose socially unacceptable means to achieve his goals. 

Considering the length of this essay, another sociological theory known as “Labeling Theory” asserts that criminality is a product of society’s reaction to the individual. It states that a one-time convicted offender gets a criminal identity in a society and is labeled as a criminal. As a result, he is shunned by the law-abiding citizens while being welcomed by delinquents. Over time, therefore, the offender gradually gets socialized into criminal behavior patterns and is more alienated from law-abiding behavior. 

It is difficult to detail all the theories; however, apart from the few details of sociological theories stated above, we need to confess that Pakistan is facing multiple more serious law and order challenges. The most important being the role of the Police and Judiciary in its criminal justice system.  

In Pakistan, thousands of street crimes and incidents take place on daily basis. For different reasons, almost half of these crimes go unreported. It is, either, because of the influential role of these criminals that bars police from registering a certain crime, or the mistrust of the people upon police that prevents them from going to a police station and registering a crime. Crimes such as rape, robbery, vehicle theft, kidnapping, and looting of pedestrians are a routine matter. Undoubtedly, the police department lacks the human resources to counter the rising crime, but their swift response to public call and unbiased role during the investigation of a crime can somehow overcome public reservations. 

Being a part of the judicial system, I bear witness to all the wrongdoings of the black-coated men. “Rob as much as you can and spend a paltry amount for submitting the surety bonds to get released” is the tried and tested formula of routine criminals. The bail application is moved before the court of law, even before the culprit makes it to the police station; that is the agility of the man! The question here is, “How low can one get for some paper notes?”

Despite knowing the fact that the man in contact is a routine criminal, the counsel will still hold him not to plead guilty and eventually release him to rob once more. One doesn’t need to know the physical chemistry of an inborn criminal as stated by César Lombroso in his biological theory, nor do you need to confuse yourself with the sociological and classical theory about crime to determine whether or not a person is a criminal, you just need a touch of impudence to support a criminal. Indeed, this summarizes the entire criminal justice system of Pakistan.

Looking at some potential solutions, we can reduce crime, particularly street crime, by effectively integrating modern IT infrastructure. Data analysis of the criminals, keeping their full record, and specifying hotspots of particular crimes will definitely help law enforcement agencies in curbing crime. 

Increased surveillance through CCTV cameras is another way to restrain street crimes. The government needs to ensure that High Definition (HD) cameras are installed so that no criminal finds a safe abode. It should ensure the visibility of the faces of the culprits and the number plates of their vehicles. It will not only help in catching the culprits but also in the investigation and prosecution of the crime.

De-weaponization of illegal weapons and formally registering weapons are two crucial issues that the government needs to consider seriously. Unlicensed and unregistered firearms are causing serious trouble for law enforcement agencies in detecting criminals. Thus, if we are serious about protecting the lives of unarmed innocent citizens, a de-weaponization campaign is absolutely necessary.

Last but not the least is the rehabilitation of criminals. According to World Population Review (2021), Pakistan ranked 5th worst country overall for recidivism and the rate is almost 70-75 percent. In simple terms, it means that a first-time offender has a 75 percent risk of committing a crime again. The reason may be what the different theories state; but, we surely need to focus on the rehabilitation of criminals, especially the first-time offenders. All stakeholders, whether it is the government institutions, civil society, or we (the common citizens) need to play our role effectively. 

To conclude, theoretically the forces behind committing a crime are thought to be biological, sociological, and psychological; however, that does not exempt law enforcement agencies from their responsibility to restrain crime. The biased role of police, their incompetence, and manpower shortage all contribute to the rising crime. The demoralizing role of our corrupt judicial system is yet another dark aspect of our society. However, there is always a possibility to change for the better and it is never too late to mend. We can attain peace by adopting modern technologies of surveillance and via thorough tracking and analysis of the criminal record of a delinquent. With that, we need a proper rehabilitation program for the first-time offenders and, most significantly, a strong campaign against the use of illicit firearms. In case, if the government fails, then the last resort for us is to recite “Ayat ul Kursi” and fervently pray that “May the Lord Protect Us Himself!”