Analaysis of an issue

Q.122:

The recent increase in number of violent crimes committed has led some experts to suggest that if a
society hopes to stop more serious crimes, it must vigorously enforce those laws pertaining to
relatively minor crimes. This is true, given that an individual’s view of the law is often a function of
their behaviour from the start. As such, if a society wishes to obtain a cessation in more serious
crimes, it must also focus on the enforcement of all laws, including that of petty crimes.

One reason for the importance of punishing minor offences is that the majority of violent crimes
tend to be perpetrated by the same individuals which started off by committing relatively minor
crimes. A recent study found that a significant percentage of those individuals convicted for serious
offences started their run-ins with the law by committing minor offences. As such, it is important to
instill a sense of respect for the law even at the most basic levels.

Additionally enforcing the more basic laws and regulations, in effect breeds a law-abiding culture.
Such a culture is much more conducive towards law enforcement and reduces the possibility of
more violent crimes to occur. A study comparing the criminal activities of relatively more stringent
law abiding countries such as Singapore, to those of countries with relatively more freedom from
law, such as the US, found that the seriousness of crimes committed in the Singaporean community
is significantly lower than in the US. This further supports the importance of creating a law-abiding
culture through the uniform enforcement of the law at all stages.

Thirdly, by enforcing the law at all stages of criminal behaviour, authorities are providing the law
offenders a chance to rehabilitate themselves before they ultimately commit a more serious crime.
Such a rehabilitation opportunity allows criminal offenders a chance to reform themselves outside of
the company of their fellow offenders. As such, it reduces the likelihood of their crimes escalating to
more violent offences by stemming its effects at a lesser stage.

Some may argue that by enforcing the letter of the law across all levels of criminal activity,
authorities are wasting valuable resources which would better be concentrated on prosecuting more
violent criminals. While this is true, it neglects the fact that most criminal activity is bred from an
early stage through minor offences. As such, by vigorously enforcing the law for even petty offences,
authorities are breeding a sense of respect within the community for the law. This shows a long term
view of creating a law-abiding community, where citizens proactively remind one another of the
importance of being following the regulations, as opposed to a fire-fighting type behaviour which
seeks to punish crimes only once they are seen to pose sufficient harm to the society.

In conclusion, if a society wishes to obtain a reduction or a complete stop in all serious criminal
activities, it should first aim to enforce the law against all types of criminal behaviours, thereby
breeding a greater understanding and respect for the law.

- Violent criminals start off w/ relatively more petty crimes

- Breeds a law-abiding culture  does not tolerate minor misdemeanours
- Provides a chance to rehabilitate at a less serious level than at a more serious
- Some claim: this creates society fixated on following the letter of the law  true, but
consequences of this less serious than that of society where major crimes rule
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