Samuel Walker Crime

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Recommended: Essay on why mass incarceration affects society

icia Brown
5 Nov., 2014
Reaction Paper 2
Dr Radar (Senior Sem.)
Samuel Walker discussed the problems that the united States are facing in regards to crime. Although the United States has significantly higher crime rates than any other country, there has been a reduction in violent and property crimes. Walker explained that the crime drop was due to “increased incarceration, community policing, a decline in the use of crack cocaine, a stronger economy, and so on” (p. 5). America’s two crime problems is one that affects mostly whites and middle-class Americans and that effects African Americans, including the young, and the poor. Walker discussed that the war on crime is biased and has drained tax money from other social needs. The Crime Commission …show more content…

The problems of over incarceration led to a downfall in healthcare and other treatments, increase in medical expenses, discrimination among race and ethnicity, and led to chaotic effect on the society. Walker stated that crime can be reduced by “treating criminals, correcting their behavior, and rehabilitating them as law-abiding citizens” (p.251). The Criminal Justice System main goal is to create a safe environment, maintain the order of society, and create a new direction of preventing crime through compliance with the …show more content…

The war on crime specifically target young African American males, which result in a deep distrust in the justice system among this group. The things that effects the ability of the criminal justice system to effectively reduce crime are the flaws of the public defender office, drug treatment programs, prison and parole crisis, and shortages of police officers. Public defender’s office typically do not have enough time to examine evidence carefully or seek witnesses, this results in innocent people being convicted while the real offenders remain free. Parole have not been effective because fifty percent of parolees are not participating in any work or rehabilitation programs. Walker also argued that war should not be a metaphor for crime policies because war promises a victory that will never happen and it suggests that the criminal justice system is fighting a foreign enemy. Community policing is more effective when trying to reduce crime because a relationship is developed between the police and

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