Crime is as old as civilization itself. In this world, it is difficult to find a place where there is no crime. The only difference is the type and method of the crime. Various crime problems like kidnapping, rape, murder, drug dealing and kidnapping are rampant all over the world. Crime rates and types of crimes are different in developed and underdeveloped countries. Advances in knowledge and technology allow people in developed countries to use the law, computer and internet to commit crimes mostly while in developing countries we can witness direct crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape, trafficking of girls etc.
There are various reasons why the crime rate is increasing all over the world. Lack of education, greed, laziness and poverty are the common reasons for the increase in crime rate. There are still several other socioeconomic issues that need to be addressed in developing nations. Human rights have been a slogan only for developed countries. There are still people in this 21st century where they do not have food to eat, clothes to wear and a house to live in. Education, gender equality and security are too far away in these communities. Crimes are associated with various socioeconomic problems, such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, natural disasters, family, and social influence. A society is only safe, crime free and worth living in when people are educated and can tell the difference between right and wrong. The utilitarian approaches, the universalist approaches would develop slowly as they matured.
Obstacles in Crime Control:
- The Laws: The laws themselves are not strong enough in Nepal to control crime. There are various flaws in the law and people are taking advantage of that.
- Impunity: The crime rate would be controlled to some extent if there was a provision against impunity. Even government officials are responsible for the crime and easily get out of it. Due to impunity, people are encouraged to commit even more crimes than before because they feel that there is always someone protecting them.
- Police inefficiency: The police in Nepal are too ineffective. It may be due to a lack of proper training and modern crime detection techniques. A simple case takes years to solve and people don’t even trust police officers. When people don’t even believe the police, where should they go for justice?
- Forensic Techniques: The lack of advancement in forensic methods has certainly clouded the cause of the crime and is unable to give proper justification of the crime method.
- Slow judicial procedure: The inefficiency of the courts is another reason for increasing the crime rate. A case takes years to settle.
- Lack of education: The lack of education in people is undoubtedly a big factor to consider because in this condition people cannot decide what is good and what is bad. A good speaker with bad intentions can easily lead these ignorant people with his impressive words and easily encourage them to commit a crime. The interesting thing here is that the people who do this do not realize that they are committing a crime.
How can crime be reduced?
I would like to present various ideas on how the crime rate in Nepal can be prevented. Child care programs can be designed to enhance the personality of children and provide them with the correct knowledge about good and bad things. “Free education programs for all” must be provided so that no child or person is deprived of the right to education. Family support programs can be designed to keep the family together and care for foster children. The new employment schemes would certainly help to reduce the crime rate in Nepal, where thousands of people are unemployed. New judicial procedures can be developed and judicial efficiency accelerated and the restructuring of the constitution and the law itself to make simple laws eliminate the space for crime.
Criminal justice is the very broad term which has yet to be introduced in a poor country like Nepal. Direct services dealing with crime, such as police, prison, court, probation and probation, should have specific programs to deal with crime. More attention should be paid to increasing police efficiency, 24/7 security services, and advanced crime detection training. A society will only be safe and worth living when the roots of crime are removed. The ultimate programs to root out crime are education, good child care programs and advances in forensic science, impunity laws and natural disaster relief funds, and restructuring of the constitution to increase police efficiency and expedite judicial service.