Sociology
Measuring Crime
Critically discuss the ways in which information on security and/or crime in South Africa is generated and interpreted, as well as the implications that this has on addressing security/crime concerns
The issue of crime in South Africa has become more and more alarming during the past few years, and it requires in-depth analysis. Indeed, it is very interesting to analyze crime from a functionalist perspective. According to Durkheim (Durkheim, 1897), crime is functional, and all society emerge from some sort of deviance. Durkheim (Durkheim, 1897) adds that the social changes that deviance brings to a country are positive. However, the analysis of crime in a South African context challenges Durkheim’s views on crime and positivity. Indeed, while analyzing crime in South Africa, one comes to see that crime is not always positive and it can have some dreadful consequences. According to Schonteish (Schonteish, 2001), crime in South Africa has been increasing dramatically since the 1990’s. Schonteish (Schonteish, 2001) argues that although recorded crimes have stabilized between the years 1995 and 1996, the number of crimes committed in South Africa has not decreased. There are several ways in which information on crime is obtained. This essay will discuss how statistics on crime in South Africa is generated and interpreted, and the implication that it has on addressing security concerns within the country.
There are many ways in which statistics of crime are obtained. According to Altbeker (Altbeker, 2005), one of the ways in which crime is measured is through the victimization survey. The victimization survey allows data on crimes to be obtained through a list of questions asked to victims about their own incidents on crime. What is interesting to note about the victimization survey is that it can provide a better picture on crime than the police record (United Nations Office on drugs and crimes, 2010). Victimization surveys can cover various
Critically discuss the ways in which information on security and/or crime in South Africa is generated and interpreted, as well as the implications that this has on addressing security/crime concerns
The issue of crime in South Africa has become more and more alarming during the past few years, and it requires in-depth analysis. Indeed, it is very interesting to analyze crime from a functionalist perspective. According to Durkheim (Durkheim, 1897), crime is functional, and all society emerge from some sort of deviance. Durkheim (Durkheim, 1897) adds that the social changes that deviance brings to a country are positive. However, the analysis of crime in a South African context challenges Durkheim’s views on crime and positivity. Indeed, while analyzing crime in South Africa, one comes to see that crime is not always positive and it can have some dreadful consequences. According to Schonteish (Schonteish, 2001), crime in South Africa has been increasing dramatically since the 1990’s. Schonteish (Schonteish, 2001) argues that although recorded crimes have stabilized between the years 1995 and 1996, the number of crimes committed in South Africa has not decreased. There are several ways in which information on crime is obtained. This essay will discuss how statistics on crime in South Africa is generated and interpreted, and the implication that it has on addressing security concerns within the country.
There are many ways in which statistics of crime are obtained. According to Altbeker (Altbeker, 2005), one of the ways in which crime is measured is through the victimization survey. The victimization survey allows data on crimes to be obtained through a list of questions asked to victims about their own incidents on crime. What is interesting to note about the victimization survey is that it can provide a better picture on crime than the police record (United Nations Office on drugs and crimes, 2010). Victimization surveys can cover various