Summary of the article
In the first three Chapters of Robbing Drug Dealers by Bruce, Jacobs explores a topic that entails the metrics associated with robbing drug dealers. The primary ideas are based on drug robbery, motivation to engage in this acts and the target selection process. The text investigates why there are no reports of robberies in authorities’ by drug dealers and why the action of robbing drug dealers is acceptable in society. The article thus explores the cycles of violence present in the urban areas. A major idea explored in this text is that the use of drugs plays an integral role in drug robbery. Those who use drugs heavily are associated with heavy crimes as their need to sustain the expensive drug intake habit is high.
Another argument entails the fact that drug markets are linked to predation and violence since there is a need to control their customers by seizing them from other drug dealers and also dealing with snitches. Crime benefits in drug robbery are associated with small risks especially since members of the black market can never be identified as victims. Therefore drug dealers would never report robbery. The author argues that drug robbers do not maintain any jobs they secure since most of them lack the skills while some are unwilling to be confined in a particular place for work purposes. Therefore, they turn to drug robbery where they are not required to stay sober, alert, or under any authority (Jacobs, 2000, p. 27). Another argument proven during this research by the interviewed drug robbers is that some of them rob from the drug dealers to restore their place or status. Some drug dealers look down on them and make the drug users feel inferior. As a result, they revenge by stealing from them which makes them feel good.
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The author conceptualizes the primary ideas by conducting interviews with actual drug robbers. The author confirms his ideas with face to face conversation with robbers. For example, the motivation for drug robbery is influenced by the high consumption of drugs. In the interviews, this is confirmed since the drug robbers explain that the intoxication of drugs is like hunger to them that needs to be satisfied.
The author gets the information from conducting interviews with active drug robbers. This information is accurate as it is first hand. To conduct this interview the research team jumpstarted the process by using an African American street-based recruiter who was actively involved in criminal activities. The use of an individual in the criminal world is essential to build trust with these drug robbers. The interviewees were each paid 50 dollars for participation (Jacobs, 2000, p. 11). The interviews lasted an hour and were tape-recorded and transcribed. The validity of this information was carefully assessed by researchers. The different researchers agreed that face to face interviewing was the best strategy to acquire accurate information. This is why the book comprises plenty of quoted text that shows the accountability of the information given.
The text adds to the already existing literature on criminology. The extensive research gives a better understanding of the relationship between drugs and crimes. It is evident that just like any other robbers there are experts in drug robbery. The text confirms that like any other thieves the main aim to continue with drug robbery is a desire for instant gratification that causes violence and risk loss of life.
Critical assessment of the article
The limitations of this study are that the researchers focused on the side of drug robbers. If the researchers interviewed drug dealers who have been robbed then they would have explored a clear relation between drugs and robbery. I think they are would have been a better relationship if both sides were interviewed. The primary concepts would have differed if they had been conceptualized including research on the drug dealers’ statements. There would have been different dimensions in the arguments as the authors would also have understood why drug robbers engage in this activity according to the drug dealers.
The findings in the text are quite similar to some of the text about criminology. This research thus proves concepts like why people engage in robbery like in the text ‘Causes of Robbery” by Assistant Linen. However, this research provides a more detailed analysis as it actively involves active drug robbers in their collection of data.
It is evident that the use of pillar questions that build up the primary concepts is a proper theoretical approach. However, I think that the author would have utilized a formal hypothesis approach to give both explanation and prediction of how the drug robbery will be handled and controlled in the future. The conclusion on drug robbery according to the author is that it is difficult to end the conflict between drug dealers and drug robbers.
References
Jacobs, B. A. (2000). Robbing drug dealers: Violence beyond the law . Transaction Publishers.
