Individual Perception of Crime

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There are a variety of variables that will affect the way a person views crime. The most common factors are race and ethnicity, religion, social class, education, and ethics. These variables are the most common way to differentiate the belief structures our society possess . Our belief systems are not innate, they are set in place; it is a learned ideal. In essence, a person’s perception of crime is based on their upbringing and background.

Race and ethnicity play a major role in the way crime is perceived. One race may look at crime in a completely different manner than any other race. For instance, blacks may look at a crime differently than whites or Hispanics. Likewise, Muslims in the United States may not view some crimes as a criminal offense. An example that comes to mind is the Michael Vick case in 2007 where Vick was convicted and imprisoned for owning and operating a dog fighting circuit. The black culture defended Vick vigorously; they had a clear view that what he did was not a big deal and certainly not a crime, while white predominantly were outraged at the animal abuse and demanded justice. Another example would be concerning Islamic beliefs. The Muslim view on domestic violence may be entirely different to that of any other race or ethnicity. Male Muslims will not hesitate to strike their wives if they get out of line because that is acceptable behavior in their culture. That type of behavior is not acceptable in our society and is not tolerated, but that will not stop the behavior from being done. Males in their culture are in total control of their household and so their actions are not criminal in their views, it is their right to do so .

The victims of these crimes ma...

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...black and white to law enforcement, where as to civilians there are shades of gray. When we take our oaths, we infer that we will not place judgment on the suspects or the victims. This means we simply assess a given situation and act accordingly, nothing more and nothing less.

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The way we are raised ingrains our beliefs on every situation we encounter, including crime. Certain crimes will be looked at in a different light in different regions of the country based on what an individual or cultures have faith in. These backgrounds will affect not only affect the way a suspect views a crime but also the victim’s view as well. Law enforcement officers however are to put these feelings or perceptions aside and act as they were trained; they stick to protocol. The variables that affect a suspect or victim should not affect an officer.