Crime is deviate behavior or any conduct that differs from the prevailing norms of the reference group. Proliferation of crime and criminal behavior in American colleges is a troubling concern. It is cardinal to note that it is at these universities that our young people are seeking a bright future. This is because the average age of students in campus is between the age of 18 and 24 years. There are several causes of crime in campus. Some of them include; larceny, public intoxication and sexual assault. Students who cannot afford the essential necessities are more inclined to steal from fellow students. Other crimes such as rape get catalyzed by lust. There have also been reported cases of psychopath’s spree killing in various colleges by students who suffer from mental illness.
Statistic indicate that crime occur daily on American college campuses. Recent data indicate that 659 robberies and 610 murders got reported to the authorities in the year 2001 alone. These numbers may not reflect on the reality on the ground because many cases of simple robbery and rape go unreported. There are also cases where students get robbed or mugged off campus ground on their way to the hostels and such crimes rarely make it to the official records.
In order to avert such crimes, the university administrators and the local authorities need to design measures that will be swift, certain and severe in combating these deviate behavior. To achieve this, they need to safeguard the students from drug abuse. Strict and punitive regulation against those selling illegal drugs on campus should be put in place for deterrence. Preventive measure should also be enacted by ensuring that there is regular patrol of the university premises. Female students should be discouraged from going to parties with strangers. CCTV cameras can also come in handy for swift detection of larceny crimes.
References
Siegel, L. J. (2010). Criminology: The Core. New York: Cengage Learning.
Sloan III, J. J., & Fisher, B. S. (2010). The Dark Side of the Ivory Tower: Campus Crime as a Social Problem. Chicago: Cambridge University Press.
