The environment is one of the crucial components that enhances sustainable development. It is worth noting that environmental crimes are viewed to be less important compared to traditional crimes. Law enforcement agencies tend to ignore environmental crimes in society. Environmental crimes are threats to food security, economic development, health, and sustainability. Environmental crimes include unregulated fishing, illicit trade of hazardous waste, smuggling of ODS (ozone-depleting substances), illegal logging, wild animal traffic, electronic waste management, as wee as dumping in rivers. Analytically, environmental crimes are sensitive and dangerous to the living things. Militant groups and criminal gangs profit from some of the environmental crimes. There are various organizations that deal with environmental crimes. It is because the police are focused on traditional crimes and assert less importance to traditional crimes. Global warming and climate changes are some of the current issues that have asserted pressure to nations, law enforcement agencies and environmental institutions to deal with environmental crimes. Globally, there is a tremendous improvement in how the environment is protected. There are several reasons why the police officer views environmental crimes differently. Responsible stewardship can be used to change the view. In the general perspective, there are differences and similarities between environmental crime and traditional crimes.
Environmental crimes are viewed as white color crimes in society. It is because most of the criminal actors that execute the illegal activities are representatives that enhance corporate interests. Internationally, there is laxity in combating environment-associated crimes. The problem arises from the allocation of resources on an organization that deals with environmental crimes. The issue weakens the international organization such as UNEP and INTERPOL in dealing with environmental crimes (Situ, & Emmons, 2000). Also, environmental crimes are carried out through transnational environmental crime networks. It has become part of global networks of organized crimes. Analytically, there are several routes that are used to carry out environmental crimes at international level.
Environmental crime is similar to traditional crime on the basis that they are both committed by various individuals and groups in society. Notably, the corporation is the key perpetrators of environmental crimes, especially on disposal of hazardous wastes and pollution. On the same note, small businesses and individuals engage in environmental crimes through littering and waste disposal. The organized crimes syndicate are used by major corporations to commit environmental crimes. It occurs through the illegal disposal of biohazardous and toxic materials. Traditional crimes are also carried out by organized groups and individuals.
Justice and crime research are streamlined towards traditional crimes such as drug offenses, robbery, rape, and burglary. These offenses are equally dangerous as the environmental crimes. The environmental crimes are understudied in the world today. It is because nations and government view environmental crimes as less dangerous compared to traditional crimes (Clifford, & Edwards, 2012). The devotion in dealing with traditional crimes more than environmental crimes is based on the differences in acts and actors.
Also, the differences between traditional crimes and environmental crimes are the impacts. The harms caused by environmental crimes are often indirect. The negative effects caused by environmental crimes are believed to occur in the long run. Also, corporations are the main players that are associated with environmental crimes. Both crimes are different in the sense that multiple parties are involved in commissioning, which makes it challenging for law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators. It is easier to identify the perpetrators of traditional crimes.
Based on the nature of environmental crimes, it is believed that environmental crimes are multidimensional than the traditional crimes. It is attributed to the knowledge, professionalism, and skills that are required when investigating environmental crimes (Clifford, & Edwards, 2012). Investigation of environmental crimes is carried out by experts on environmental issues because the investigation entails various scientific process and tests.
The environmental crime involves several victims. For example, pollution carried out by a corporation affects many people living in the neighborhood. In fact, the range of victims may not be established. The environmental crimes may be carried out without the knowledge of the public. On the other hand, traditional crimes involve specific victims and offenders. On the legal perspective, traditional and environmental crimes are viewed to be different. Environmental crimes are viewed to be civil issues that lead to financial penalties. Traditional crimes have to undergo a court process, and the punishments decided by the court (Situ, & Emmons, 2000). In the general perspective, environmental crimes are different to traditional crimes. Some of the similar issues entail the fact that both crimes cause harm to society.
Environmental crimes and traditional crimes are treated differently because of various reasons. The police assert more importance to traditional crimes than environmental crimes. Environmental crimes are viewed differently because of the effects on society. In most cases, environmental crimes are unreported and go unnoticed. For example, there are many factories that emit toxic substance to the environment without the knowledge of the public. In such cases, the effects may be deadly but may take many years to be noticed. Also, the police officers do not view environmental crimes as important because of the laws and regulations. The police tend to have minimal powers to deal with environmental crimes. It means that there are no specific set laws and regulations within the police that guide them in dealing with environmental crimes.
Environmental crime needs to be dealt through internationally coordinated efforts. It is because environmental crimes entail illegal actions that are transnational in nature. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations have to be enhanced by international groups that are mandated to deal with environmental issues. Also, it is difficult for the police to combat environmental crimes because they lack approaches and understanding. The police can deal with environmental crimes through a consensus and support of international agencies.
Notably, environmental crimes are not restricted by national boundaries and borders. It means that the international agencies and intelligence should assist in dealing with environmental crimes. There are situations whereby environmental crimes lead to traditional crimes such as theft, fraud, murder and corruption. INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) should assist in eliminating environmental crimes because they are uniquely qualified. Environmental criminals can only be brought to justices through a partnership between environmental and law enforcement agencies.
The view that environmental crimes are not important than traditional crimes can be improved through responsible stewardship. In this case, responsible stewardship is streamlined towards protection and responsible use of natural resources through sustainable and conservation practices. Responsible stewardship should be shared by those who comprehend the effects of environmental crimes (Situ, & Emmons, 2000). Organization and corporations should take responsibility for their actions. Responsible stewardship is a core value, which means responsible management and handling of available resources. It means that individuals will view environmental crimes as a problem and ensure that they deal with the issues by responsible managing resources. For example, the organization will ethically dispose of toxic products in the most recommended way.
Responsible stewardship can improve the view by changing the mindset. Responsible stewardship incorporates actions and desire to deliver the best. Perhaps, responsible stakeholders are expected to change their mindset and treat environmental crime with importance. Environment determines several issues in the world. To assert more importance, responsible stewardship manages the environment and ensure that individuals comprehend the impacts of their action.
Responsible stewardship can be used to improve the view because it enhances lifecycle thinking. Lifecycle thinking is one of the principles of responsible stewardship. It entails the reduction of risks and enhancing sustainability through the production process. Responsible stewardship enhances communication between the police, environmental experts, and citizens. The communication process ensures that individuals and corporations understand hazardous actions. Other ways that stewardship can change the view on environmental crime include innovation, awareness, teamwork, as well as integration (Clifford, & Edwards, 2012). Environmental stewards include the practitioners, donors, and doers. These environmental stewards ensure that the ecosystem is kept clean. In society, anybody can be an environmental steward by being knowledgeable and aware of their environment.
In the general perspective, environmental crime can be viewed from a legal perspective and philosophical perspective. The misunderstanding of environmental crime has become a major problem to politicians, legal experts, environmentalists, and criminologists. There are dereferences and similarities between environmental crime and traditional crime. Environmental crime is viewed by most people as a white color crime. On a legal perspective, the police officers view environmental crime as less important compared to traditional crime. Investigation of environmental crimes is carried out by experts on environmental issues because the investigation entails various scientific process and tests. Traditional crimes have to undergo a court process, and the punishments decided by the court. Responsible stewardship can be used to improve the views on environmental crimes.
References
Situ, Y., & Emmons, D. (2000). Environmental crime: The criminal justice system's role in protecting the environment. Thousand Oaks, Calif. [u.a.: Sage.
Clifford, M., & Edwards, T. D. (2012). Environmental crime. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
