Increase in crime rate is one of the main problems that the US struggles to deal with today. In the last decade, the country has witnessed cases of different crimes being perpetrated in in various places by different people. In some instances, the law enforcement agencies struggle to get to the bottom of the matter (Walklate, 2011). In other instances, the agencies succeed in identifying and arresting those who commit the crimes. With criminals adopting diverse methods to carry out their acts and escape the criminal justice system dragnet, there is a need to continuously monitor the crime trends in the country and develop mechanisms for managing them. The aim of this report is to explore ways of dealing with simple and complex crimes in the United States. Domestic violence is one of the main gender-related criminal violations that have been reported in the country. In most states in the US, domestic violence encompasses partner abuse and intimate violence ( Erez, 2002 ). It is a practice that is listed separately as a crime in most criminal codes. Thus, it can be addressed separate from assault cases or other related occurrences. Over the years, there have been reports of both women and men who have been mistreated, battered, and abused by their partners. Historically, the society viewed partner abuse as a normal occurrence in marriages ( Erez, 2002 ). Therefore, many victims of such crimes opted to keep silent to protect their marriages and avoid backlash from the rest of the society. Others decided to seek alternative forms of conflict resolution since abuse against women in marriage or established relationship was largely tolerated. At the same time, many people thought that it was only women who suffered from domestic violence. In the recent years, however, concerns have been raised regarding the plight of men who suffer from domestic violence. In the US, about one in every three women have experienced some form of domestic violence committed by their intimate partners. In the case of men, one in every three of them experience physical violence committed by their partners. The crimes are characterized by various behaviors like pushing, slapping and shoving (Erez, 2002). The cases of domestic violence can have significant effect on the emotional and physical wellbeing of the victims ( Walklate, 2011 ). In some cases, the victims develop other complications such as feeling of guild, loneliness, sleeping problems, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. In such instances, the victims may not be able to live a normal life. Therefore, domestic violence is one of the factors that cause significant burden of the victims and the healthcare system. It is undeniable that domestic violence is one of the major issues that affect many Americans today. Therefore, there is a need to find ways of dealing with the problem. One of the methods that can be used to manage domestic violence involves the US of the courts. For a long time, victims of gender violence kept silent because the practice was perceived to be acceptable in the traditional society. In the recent years, more victims have come out to raise their voices against the act ( Walklate, 2011 ). Therefore, it is imperative to involve the court systems in the management and prevention of domestic violence. Once the cases are proven before the court, the judges should issue sentences that will act as deterrence from engaging in the crime. Such sentences will also help in reducing cases of repeat offending among the people who have been convicted of domestic violence. The second method that can be used in preventing domestic violence is by offering post-release and prison support. Prisons are supposed to offer opportunities for rehabilitation. This is achieved through a wide range of methods such as work release, counselling, education, and employment. Furthermore, offenders require help to deal with the risk factors that lead to crime. When such individuals are given post-release support, they will acquire knowledge and skills that will make the useful members of the society. In addition, the post release support can go a long way in reducing the chances of recidivism. Terrorism remains one of the most difficult crimes to deal with. In the last two decades, the United States has been involved in the fight against terrorism. Even since the 9/11 attack, the government has taken a proactive method to deal with the issue of terrorism. Despite this being case, the country continues to face significant threats of terrorism. The economic impact of terrorism cannot be over stated (Walklate, 2011). The 9/11 attack revealed the extent to which such acts can affect the country. Terrorist can destroy property, damage critical infrastructure and kill innocent civilians (Nacos, BBloch-Elkon, & Shapiro, 2008). Those who survive the attacks also require specialized care to be able to recover and live a normal life. From a social and health perspective, terrorism can also cause fear, depression, and anxiety among the masses. It is against this background that the US government has been working towards identifying and arresting potential terrorists. However, combating this particular type of crime is not an easy affair for the government and the criminal justice system. The risk of terrorism in the United States remain high. The trend is attributed to a wide range of factors such as illegal immigration, involvement of the US in wars in the Middle East, advances in technology, and emergence of many terrorist groups throughout the world. Therefore, there is an increasing need to develop mechanism that can be used to deal with the menace. The first approach that can be used in dealing with the issue of terrorism is through community policing. The process entails working with members of the local communities to identify those who may be suspected to have links to terrorist organizations. Members of the local communities understand the individual characteristics of the residents and can help the police find terrorists living among them. Secondly, there is a need for increased technical and natural surveillance to help in identifying would-be offenders ( Nacos, BBloch-Elkon, & Shapiro, 2008 ). The third method is by increasing access control. The process entails blocking access to items and venues that the terrorists may target to harm the country and its citizens. Finally, there is a need to engage in target hardening to protect the people and systems that terrorists are likely to target. In this case, the law enforcement agencies should install security devices on critical infrastructure and deterrence systems on physical property to prevent vehicle attacks.
Conclusion
The increasing rates of crime in some parts of the United States is a concern for the government, citizens and businesses. The cost of such crimes are high both for the victims and the government. Domestic violence and terrorism are among the major crimes that have been reported in the United States. Managing the two types of crimes need to be a priority for the law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system. The strategies that are laid out in this paper may provide a basis for dealing with the two types of crimes. While implementing the recommendations, it is important to consider the contextual factors that may affect crime rate in a given region. Furthermore, the interventions should be evaluated regularly to determine whether they are contributing to the reduction of crime rates in the US.
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References
Erez, E. (2002). Domestic violence and the criminal justice system: An overview. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing , 7(1), 1-13.
Nacos, B., Bloch-Elkon, Y., & Shapiro, R. (2008). Prevention of terrorism in Post-9/11 America: News coverage, public perceptions, and the politics of homeland security. Terrorism and Political Violence, 20 (1), 1-25.
Walklate, S. (2011). Criminology: The basics . Routledge.
