Gender and Crime
Introduction
‘436 Jamaicans killed in 101 days’, this is the latest banner in the Sunday Gleaner of April 11, 2010 as an ‘update’ of the murder figures are fed to us on a daily basis. This generates a lot of fear and the feeling that this ‘monster’ called crime continues to rocket out of control. Areas such as Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. James and Clarendon have accounted for a high percentage of the crimes committed. Rural areas have seen an increase in crime as it is no longer concentrated in urban areas. It becomes imperative therefore that an examination into the relationship between gender and crime in urban Jamaica be undertaken.
Background
It was said once that a person is murdered every six hours and it’s a certainty that this time has decreased as the murders increase. Jamaica is reported to have more churches per square mile than any other nation but the crime situation is higher than that of some developed nations with larger population. The crime situation has reached a level so that Kingston was labeled the ‘murder capital of the world’. Successive governments have tried various measures and have employed their brightest minds in the area of national security, but to no avail.
Statement of the Research Problem
An investigation into the relationship between gender and crime in urban Jamaica.
Research Questions
How is crime affected by gender?
What extent does gender determines one’s propensity to commit crime?
Rationale
Jamaica is among countries in the Americas ranked as having a high homicide rate. Though not unique to us, it is still alarming because Jamaica is not at war with another nation. The alarming crime rate and the perceived inability to deal with it has negatively impacted the nation the business and government sectors.
Anthony Harriott, Police and Crime Control in Jamaica (2000) pointed out that in countries similar to Jamaica, where high levels of inequality exist there is an
‘436 Jamaicans killed in 101 days’, this is the latest banner in the Sunday Gleaner of April 11, 2010 as an ‘update’ of the murder figures are fed to us on a daily basis. This generates a lot of fear and the feeling that this ‘monster’ called crime continues to rocket out of control. Areas such as Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. James and Clarendon have accounted for a high percentage of the crimes committed. Rural areas have seen an increase in crime as it is no longer concentrated in urban areas. It becomes imperative therefore that an examination into the relationship between gender and crime in urban Jamaica be undertaken.
Background
It was said once that a person is murdered every six hours and it’s a certainty that this time has decreased as the murders increase. Jamaica is reported to have more churches per square mile than any other nation but the crime situation is higher than that of some developed nations with larger population. The crime situation has reached a level so that Kingston was labeled the ‘murder capital of the world’. Successive governments have tried various measures and have employed their brightest minds in the area of national security, but to no avail.
Statement of the Research Problem
An investigation into the relationship between gender and crime in urban Jamaica.
Research Questions
How is crime affected by gender?
What extent does gender determines one’s propensity to commit crime?
Rationale
Jamaica is among countries in the Americas ranked as having a high homicide rate. Though not unique to us, it is still alarming because Jamaica is not at war with another nation. The alarming crime rate and the perceived inability to deal with it has negatively impacted the nation the business and government sectors.
Anthony Harriott, Police and Crime Control in Jamaica (2000) pointed out that in countries similar to Jamaica, where high levels of inequality exist there is an