Crime Reporting and Perceived Effects on Its Victims: a Case Study of Ilorin Metropolis
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives Of Study
The motive behind carrying out this research work is to properly and carefully scrutinize the effect of behavior contrary to the formal law in the society, on its victims and to achieve the following aims;
– To assess the actual level of crime as against reported crimes.
– To highlight the effect or impact of such reported crimes on their victims.
– To make practical suggestions on how to reduce the negative effects of crimes.
– To suggest ways in which criminals are to be punished, for correction.
– To ascertain who exactly can be held responsible for widespread of criminal activities.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
For a research to be adequately conducted, it needs the of various literature review. Scholar’s efforts on different literature involvement have been a constant source of historical knowledge for the researchers. It enables a researcher to know and to compare presentations and perspectives of different scholars on the subject under study.
This chapter will review various studies on crime reporting and effects on its victims. In doing so, it shall be divided into subsections namely definitions of crime, causes of crimes, living with crime, crime in Nigeria, crime reporting and criminal victimization and the public and the police.
Crime Perspectives
Without conformity and predictability in human behavior, society as we know would not exist. Order and stability is the cornerstone of social life. It is also a known fact that social life involves people’s breaking of rules. According to Direnzo, (1990),’’all societies have strong prohibitions against certain types of activity. Some types of behavior are universally condemned, irrespective of culture, era or circumstance. Such actions are viewed as been intrinsically wrong and there is great deal of consensus among people in different societies on this matter’’. Beneath this brief and straightforward definition, lies a tangled complex web. Defining crime is a challenge in large part, because it is a relative matter as described by Howard .S. Becker, (1966).’’It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act that makes something deviant or criminal’’. It is no longer possible today to dispute the fact that law and morality vary, from one social type to the next, nor that they change within the same type, if the condition of life are modified’’(Durkheim,1970).
Criminologists and legislatures agree that some crimes are evil in themselves (mala-in-se), while some others are evil because they are forbidden (mala-prohibita). Based on these notions about crime, they believe that there is no crime without punishment (Nullen crimen sine poena), and there is no punishment without law (nullen poena sine lege),and no crime without a victim(nullen crimen sina victima),(Reid,1982).
CHAPTER THREE
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.
Introduction
The issues of crime and punishment have aroused interest and discussion since ancient times. Scriptures dating from the 10th century BC prohibit certain acts and provide consequences for those who disobey. With the development of Christianity however, in the 1st century AD, questions of crime and punishment were almost always discussed in religious terms. The Christian thought, tended to emphasize personal responsibility for wrongdoing, requiring penitence, forgiveness by God. It was not until the 18th century however, that penal policy and thereby the understanding of crime was subject to systematic consideration. Authors such as Cesare Bonesana, Marchese di Beccaria, Jeremy Bentham posited that criminal behaviour was a deliberate rational calculation to break the law. The works of these 18th century legal reformers did not produce an organized body of knowledge about why and when crime occurs. Rather it served as the intellectual foundation for the field of criminology. Beccaria, Bentham and those who followed them, then made crime and criminals, a legitimate subject for scientific study and inquiry.
At the beginning of the 19th century, scholars began to apply the concepts and technologies of the rapidly developing biological and behavioral sciences, to the study of crime. For the first time, criminologists develop typologies of crime and criminals and attempted to identify patterns between typologies and various biological, psychological and social characteristics of offenders.
Many theories concerning the causes of crime focus either on the individual or on society, as a major contributing influence. Theories centering on the individual suggest that people engage in criminal behaviour and activities, because they were not sufficiently penalized for previous delinquent or criminal acts, or that they have learnt criminal behaviour through interaction with others. A person who becomes socially alienated may be more inclined to commit a criminal act.
In this chapter therefore, the literature of theories on why people commit crime and research methodology shall be reviewed.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
This chapter deals with the presentation of data. In so doing, the use of frequency tables and percentage method would be employed for data presentation and analysis, while chi-square will be used to test the formulated hypotheses. The chapter is divided into three segments, the first deals with the presentation and analysis of socio-economic data; the second with the analysis of substantive data and the last segment would deal with the testing of the formulated hypotheses.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
Dealing with the advent of crime in an area is less than actually reporting such crimes to the appropriate authorities. Crime reporting is said to be the relaying of information about criminal activities that is known to an individual to the proper authorities, for adequate containment. Despite all the measures put in place, by various parastatals to alleviate the incidence of dark and grey figures, the problem still persists. A situation where the level of crime reported is not adequate in determining the actual level of criminal activities.
This research therefore has studied and analysed the issue of crime reporting and its perceived effect on its victims, especially the victims in Ilorin metropolis. This research work as served as a means of bringing into limelight, the trend of crime reporting among the residents, how willing they are to come forth with relevant information. Also it would serve as a stepping stone into further fruitful researches about the effect of crime reports basically on its victims and the society in general.
Review of the Study
This research examined crime reporting and its perceived effects on victims, a case study of Ilorin metropolis. The first chapter dealt with the general introduction which contains the background of the study, statement of the problem, research objectives and aims it seeks to accomplish, significance of the study, scope of the study and the organization of the study.
The second chapter dealt with the review of related literature on crime reporting, crime in Nigeria, living with crime, crime report and criminal victimization. Also included are the public and the police and the clarification of concepts.
The third chapter comprises of the theoretical framework and research methodology. Imputed into this chapter is the structural functional perspective of crime, with the use of strain theory, the positivist school of thought, the psychogenic theory and the conflict perspective.
The penultimate chapter dealt with the presentation and analysis of data or information. This is divided into three sections. The first section dealt with the presentation of socio-economic data; the second section dealt with the analysis of substantive data; the third section examined the testing of hypotheses.
The last chapter presents summary, conclusion and recommendations.
Findings.
From the data obtained, the proceeding findings and observations are recorded.
- This research work found out that crimes perpetrated are not often reported. From the data collected, 42%(50) of the respondents claim that crime is relatively low in Ilorin metropolis.
- From the study, it can be deducted that crimes have a negative impact on the victims. This is evident in the fact that the culprits are usually not caught and thereby the victim feels incapacitated. As this is represented, the victim, family and the community in which such acts had been committed feel bad and saddened by the inability to bring the culprits to book.
- It was deduced from the data available from the respondents that negative criminal effects can be reduced. About 70%(80) asserts that they are co-operative with the police force in tackling the availability of crime. This depicts that people are willing to help in curbing the excesses of the criminal world. Also, people employ different tactics in reducing criminal activities in their areas, but the most common amongst them was the improved personal security. About 67% (80) of the respondents claimed that they procured this measure in tackling the menace of criminal activities in their area.
- It was found that bulk of the respondents agreed on the improvement of security as a means of correction in criminals. From the data gathered 57%(68) opined that when there are strict and high level of security against the criminals , in the various correctional facilities and institutions , others who are striving in the criminal path would divulge from such. This is because the eradication of freedom and smooth sailing tenure in prison yards are not guaranteed. By this, locked up criminals would serve as deterrents for others. Another measure brought forth was a better police-community relationship.
- According to the study, the criminal justice system, the individual or the police are responsible for widespread criminal activities. From the data collected 56%(67) of the respondents asserts that the criminal justice system have concerned attitude towards crimes reported, about 42%(50) posited that the police force is supportive and 75% of the victims questioned claim that they report crimes they experience and witness to the police.
Conclusion.
Recommendations.
Based on the results and conclusions above, the following recommendations are provided.
- Governments should enact laws that will include the learning of the legal codes of the society, into the educational system. By this, the younger generation coming up would not be ignorant of their civic rights and duties. The knowledge of the legal codes of a society would help in reducing the rate of criminal victimization, because people would be sensitized against the ills of the vices and would know the necessary steps they are to follow, in bringing culprits to book. These learning could also take form of community forum, media (news papers, television programmes) through which the older generation are tagged along. With this in place, both the presents and upcoming generation would be able to distinguish between what an offence and what is not.
- The appropriate bodies should make provision for better welfarism in police officers. Through this, the issue of corruption or the petty bribe they collect from residents would be reduced. Welfarism should included adequate provision of basic salary as at when due, on-the-job training so that they might improve their capabilities and skills, enlisting the appropriate number of eligible persons into the force. When and if these few conditions are in place, the society would be a safer place to stay because there is job satisfaction on the part of the officers. The motivation to do what one has been adequately catered for, would be high, thereby allowing them perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
- The criminal justice system can also contribute by reducing the lengthy days involved in adjourning cases. Victim cases are usually adjourned to a date when the victims would want to forget the incidence and move on with their lives. When these cases are trialed, they should be done with strict adherence to the constitution and swiftly all at once, so that judgement is delivered on time to meet the timeframe of the incidence. This act (that is bringing the culprits to book) fosters speedy recovery on the part of the victim and family members. Upholding the rule of law is another area that should be looked into. Offenders should not be discharged and acquainted by the virtue of their status in the society, but by the ability to defend and convince the court of law, beyond reasonable doubt that they are innocent.
- Proper investigation should be conducted when criminal reports are made. When this is done, the prevailing issue of once a person is not caught in the act, he/she goes scot-free. Investigative measures or procedures which would enable police officers in fishing or sniffing out criminals should be inculcated. By this criminals don’t get away with their booties.
- The idea of ‘it’s not my business’ should also be addressed. Residents, members of the criminal justice system ,the police and the general public at large should take into cognizance that vices such as criminal acts is not an individual problem but a collective one. This is because a witness today might be a victim tomorrow. If everyone realizes that it’s a collective duty, majority of the loopholes would be covered and peace would reign.
- The government should also provide counseling and job empowerment for the youths and even the prisoners, with vocations which can be useful to them while serving their sentence and once they are out. This is because criminals who have gone through adequate and effective counseling would want to make their lives better, once they are out again. By this, there is the likelihood that they would not return to their former ways.
If some of these suggestions are put in practice, reports in crime might pose a lesser risk.
Implications for Further Study.
There are various implications for further study of this research work. Some of these are as follows,
- It shall acts reference point for further studies. Finding or data gotten from this research work could act as a means of probing further into crime reporting in Ilorin metropolis.
- Scrutinizing this research work also would evolve other research problems which are in dear need of attention. It should serve as a tunnel to other societal problems about crime and its effects on its victims.
- It would also serve as a measure of opinion of the people about the criminal justice system, police force and also the general public through this research work. Everyone can view what more they can do to make the society a better place.
- Lastly, it shall serve as a contribution to literature review in the knowledge of this area of study.
REFERENCES
- Abrahamson.D., (1945), Crime and the Human Mind, New York, Columbia University press.
- Agnew Robert.(1992), Foundation for a General Strain Theory. Criminology.
- Agnew .R. (1997), The nature and determinants of strain. Another look at Durkheim and Merton in the future of anomie theory, edited by R .Agnew and N.Passas. Boston, North-eastern University Press.
- Agnew .R.(2009), Revitalizing Merton, General Strain Theory; Advances in Criminological Theory; The Origins of American Crimes Vol 16,edited by F.T. Cullen, F. Adler, C.L. Johnson and A.J. Meyer. New Brunswick, NJ.. Transaction.
- Agnew.R. and White.H.(1992), An Empirical test of General Strain Theory; criminology.
- Akers R.C.(1979), Social Learning and Deviant Behaviour . A special Test of a General Theory, American Sociological Reviews. 44(1979).