- Describe the impact that two different types of organized and trans-national crime have on both individual victims and or society in general.
The conceptualization of the notion of security has evolved over the years. Traditionally, the insecurity was predominantly state to state aggression. States were bestowed with the responsibility of making sure that their citizenries were protected from aggression by enemy states (Boister, 2012, p.47). However, this concept of security has drastically changed in recent decades. Individuals that were initially protected by the state from insecurity caused by state-state aggression have become a source of insecurity for the state as well as other individuals with the state. There are various types of organized and trans-national crime that has developed over the years. Both domestic and international terrorism has had an adverse impact on both individual victims and the society in general. To be able to understand the impacts of organized and trans-national crime and individual victims, it is important to note that individuals involved in both domestic and international actions of terrorism use weapons of dual capability(Maguire, 2012, p.621). Unlike states which can be in a position to purchase large weaponry such as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), perpetrators use smaller weapons that are portable and weapons that can be used for multiple purposes. Some of the impacts that terrorisms activities both internationally and domestically have caused on individuals is that people are more suspicious of each other and their motives. Many victims have lost their lives and property as a result of activities of organized crime and transnational activities of terrorism. As a result of this harm that these types of crime have caused to society, different societies have begun to take more stern measures to combat actions of terrorisms and organized crime. For example, the United States was a victim of transnational terrorism in 2001. After 9/11 the United States’ policy entrepreneurs found a policy window for the securitization of sectors that were initially not thought as being avenues for transnational crime. This saw the biffing up of security in areas such as airports. Individuals are more willing today to go through thorough frisking so as to make sure that the society is safe from proponents of transnational crime and action of terrorism. In addition, the United States society saw the eradication of the Department of Civil Defense that was formulated during the Cold War era. In its place, the United States government replaced it with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)(Mueller& Stewart, 2011, p.65). This action was meant to create a department that addresses the evolving notion of security both within and without the United States.
- What impact have the recent developments in computer and internet technology had on crime?
The world has in recent years witnessed rapid advancements in communication and technological advancements. Among those technological advancements has been the development in computer and internet technology. This development has been able to link and integrate the world by allowing information to flow from one country to another. These developments have led to the erosion of the concept of sovereignty that prevented the flow of information from one territory to the other. Despite the realization of this development, the fact remains that these developments have created new avenues for the flourishing of crime. Cybercrime for example has in recent days become a concern for many nations around the world. Many nations around the world have suffered from the leaking of security information through the hacking of computer systems by fraudsters (Yar, 2006, p.115). Recently, the United States suffered from the leaking of vital information to the general public by Mr. Snowden who has taken refuge in Moscow, Russia. This means that the development of computer and technology has presented another challenge to nation states as they seek to enhance security both within and outside their borders.
The development of computers and other forms of technology has also made it possible for the thriving of organized crimes. Transnational terrorist groups today are highly networked across the world because of the presence of technology that allows them to share information from different locations. This has resulted in a scenario whereby citizens from different nations of the world have collaborated with transnational groups such as Al-Qaeda to execute various forms of crimes in their own nation-states. The growth of networks within transnational groups has made it possible for the combating of crime. This is because the networks pass vital information about any change of policies and other pre-emption attempts in different territories. This means theta the growth of technology and development of computers has further led to the evolution of the concept of security around the world.
In spite of the adverse impacts of technology and computer development with regards to crime, it is important to note that this technology has increase the ability nation states to conduct surveillance of both within their territories and territories outside their borders. The advancement of satellite technology has allowed nations to be able to preempt some actions of crime that would not have been identified in the past when there was no technology. Technology also allows different governments around the world to share vital information regarding securities in areas that those governments feel are of mutual concern. Therefore, technology and the development of computers has both advanced more avenues for crime and in some ways increased the ability of law enforcement and nations to deal with organized crime and transnational crimes.
- Describe the differences between the three levels of crime prevention.
Crime occurs at all the three level of the international system. These levels include the individual level, the state level, and the system level. The individual level of crime prevention involves individuals who are in most cases citizens of nation-state. In order to prevent crime at this level, there is a need for the collaboration of individuals with law enforcement institutions. This is because it is individuals who can best understand the challenges of security that they face. Law enforcement personnel cannot be able to effectively function and protect individuals, if individuals are not willing to closely work with law enforcement to make sure that they pass vital information that can be used to contain crime before it has adversely affects individual victims or society as a whole. Individuals must also the willingness to support government policy that is geared towards the prevention of crime. This would involve the willingness of individuals to pass through checks in airports and other activities that would make sure that individual citizens are safe from crime.
At the state level, nation-states have to direct reasonable proportion of resources towards crime prevention. This would mean that states have to make budgetary allocations to security so as to make sure that individual citizens are adequately protected from various actions of crime that are likely to face society. This money would be used both the training and recruitment of law enforcement personnel so as to make sure that there is a higher proportion of law enforcement to individual ratio. In this way, more areas within the state are protected from perpetrators of crime. At the international/system level, nation-states need to cooperate in areas of mutual interest regarding security. This would include the cooperation of law enforcement personnel from different nations so that there are able to share vital information that can be able to preempt the occurrence of crime in both nation-states (Richardson, 2006, p.294). Different institutions such as the United Nations are also bestowed with the responsibility of making sure that there is international peace and stability. This would mean that international organization such as the UN and the International Court of Justice has the responsibility of working with member states to make sure that perpetrators of crime are contained and brought to book for their actions.
- What do you consider in your area to be of the greatest need for a crime prevention policy and why?
In terms of my area, I think that the greatest need for crime prevention is the cooperation of individual members of the public with law enforcement personnel. This is because many people have a preconceived notion that police have the comprehensive responsibility of ensuring that members of the public are safe. However, this should not be the case. As much as police are bestowed with the responsibility of protecting members of the public, the can only work efficiently if members of the public are willing to pass information that could lead to the arrest to individuals that are believed to be potential threats or perpetrators of crime(Masciulli, 2009, p.508).Unless, the public cooperate more with law enforcement officers, it is going to be difficult for crime to be totally contained in my area.
- How would you go about analyzing a crime prevention policy based on your answer to the question above?
I would analyze a crime prevention policy as one that has a bottom-up approach. I believe that members of the public have to play an active role in ensuring that their neighborhoods and cities are safe. For this to be accomplished, members of the public have to be prepared to tip off law enforcement personnel about any events or individuals that they believe would cause harm to society. The state on the other hand should direct should direct enough resources towards the process of ensuring that the fiscal needs of law enforcement and the execution of different security policies is in place. This would include making sure that law enforcement personnel are highly facilitated through training, technology, and other equipment that are fundamental in making sure that they are mobile and responsive enough to actions of crime within the state. At the highest level the state must also play a vital role in the international system by ensuring that it collaborates with international organization and other nation states in making sure that a given crime prevention policy is supported and maintained through inter-governmental cooperation in nations that share the same security concerns.
References
Boister, N. (2012). An introduction to transnational criminal law. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
Maguire, M. (2012). The Oxford handbook of criminology (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Masciulli, J. (2009). The Ashgate Research Companion to Political Leadership. Farnham, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Mueller, J. E., & Stewart, M. G. (2011).Terror, security, and money: balancing the risks, benefits, and costs of homeland security. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Richardson, L. (2006). What terrorists want: understanding the enemy, containing the threat. London, UK: Oxford University Press.
Yar, M. (2006). Cybercrime and society: crime and punishment in the information age. London: SAGE Publications.
