The Impact of Criminal Law on Society

The main goals of criminal law are to punish offenders and prevent future criminal activity. This is achieved by regulating behavior through accountability and consequences for breaking the law, with the overall aim of discouraging people from engaging in unlawful actions. Do you think the law is too harsh or not harsh enough?

According to research published in the Oxford Journal of Legal Studies (volume 24, No. 2, 2004, pp. 173-205), citizens have a fear of criminal law due to concerns about potential arrest and acquiring a criminal record.

Criminal law serves to govern behavior by defining what is permissible and establishing guidelines for ideal citizen conduct through legislation. Essentially, criminal law pertains to substantive criminal law, which prohibits specific actions and enforces penalties for unlawful behavior.

The Canadian Encyclopedia stresses the significance of criminal law in upholding order and justice in society. Merely having laws is insufficient; they must be enforced rigorously to prevent individuals from breaking them. In Alberta and other parts of Canada, the Distracted Driving law is strictly enforced, with harsh consequences like demerits on driving records and substantial fines for individuals caught texting while driving.

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By enforcing laws, citizens are urged to think about the repercussions of their actions, which deters many from violating them. However, some criminals may not show this same restraint and could become repeat offenders. Laws are crucial in addressing issues within the criminal justice system and maintaining public safety.

The level of restriction in laws varies depending on the country you live in, with some being strict and others being more lenient.

For example, actions that may be legal in one country, such as Canada, can be considered criminal in another due to cultural differences. Similarly, the drinking age ranges from being almost non-existent in Europe to being as high as 21 in the United States, leading to differing perceptions of what is reasonable. Ultimately, where you live can greatly impact whether laws seem too restrictive or not restrictive enough.

Advocates suggest raising the drinking age to 16 and increasing the driving age, as allowing young people to drive before fully understanding the risks of alcohol consumption is considered unwise. Some mistakenly believe their road experience allows them to drive while intoxicated, leading to serious consequences. In Canada, individuals aged 18-24 have the highest rate of driving under the influence per 100,000 licensed drivers.

Lowering the drinking age to 21 and raising the driving age universally is intended to decrease instances of drinking and driving. By increasing understanding of alcohol's effects before getting behind the wheel, there may be a reduction in these incidents. This could ultimately reduce the need for police check stops, allowing officers to focus on other critical duties across the country.

Discussions on criminal justice and safety often revolve around the debate of whether crime is influenced by biology or society, specifically in relation to the belief that males are inherently more prone to violence than females. Data from 2005 shows that males were responsible for over five times as much crime as females, even when exposed to similar environments (Source: Women and The Criminal Justice System, http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11416-eng.htm.)

The idea that males are naturally more aggressive and inclined towards criminal behavior due to testosterone is widely accepted, but lacks sufficient evidence. Despite having testosterone as well, women cannot be excluded from this behavior. The main factor driving male criminal activity is the need to demonstrate masculinity and power to women. This urge is most prevalent among men aged 20-25, who exhibit the highest crime rates and frequently resort to violence and unlawful behaviors in order to assert their manhood.

Older males may commit less crimes than younger individuals because they have alternative ways to demonstrate their masculinity, such as through their job, wealth, or possessions like cars. This suggests that crime is not biologically driven, but rather a display of power and dominance in pursuit of attracting a mate.

The difference in aggressiveness between males and females who are in the same environment may be due to the fact that males are not as protected as females. In high school, children often hear about fathers or brothers who will defend their child or sibling from anyone who harms them. It is less common to hear a sister or mother make the same protective statement.

Professor Jan Stanners discussed questions regarding criminal justice and safety in the lecture on Introduction to Criminology held on September 23, 2013. An interesting point was made about the difference in aggression levels between males and females. It was noted that females are generally less aggressive, possibly due to being more protected and restricted from certain activities out of societal concerns for their well-being. Recent studies show a rise in women's crime rates while male crime rates are decreasing. This shift could be linked to changing roles of women since the 1950s-80s, when they were primarily homemakers. With increased opportunities and freedom in the workforce, women now have more chances to engage in various activities similar to men, potentially leading to the ongoing increase in female crime rates.

According to the statscan government website, females have a higher victimization rate between the ages of 18-44, a trend that is expected due to the belief that men are "more violent". Surprisingly, however, after this age range, males become the more victimized group. This challenges the debate of men being more violent due to testosterone production, as the data shows that age does not necessarily correlate with violence levels.

Questions regarding criminal justice and safety
iii. Do you agree with the assessment that a school is one of the most dangerous locations in a community for young people? Did you perceive your high school as unsafe? According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 17 teens were killed at schools and five children died by suicide in the year ending June 30, 2002 (School Safety, http://www.ncpc.org/topics/school-safety). Schools can pose significant risks for teenagers depending on the neighborhood they live in. In Calgary, high schools in the south are considered safer than those in Forrest Lawn due to the influence of families and individuals in the area.

Teenagers can be influenced to become bullies based on the type of influence they receive. In the tragic Columbine shootings, two teenagers shot and killed innocent peers. Michael Moore's documentary "Bowling For Columbine" suggests that the shooters were occasionally bullied, which may have motivated their violent actions (2002). Despite schools being considered dangerous areas, with teachers and counselors providing supervision and support for students throughout their school years, it is unlikely that schools are as dangerous as commonly believed.

However, I believe that the most violent activities take place outside of school, involving students and peers met during high school. In my personal experience, the confusion lies between these outside activities and those within the relatively safe confines of my high school. There was an incident where a student from another school entered ours with a knife during a lockdown, but the police handled the situation swiftly and our teachers were well prepared in terms of criminal justice and safety measures.

Practicing lockdowns regularly due to situations arising from activity outside of school was a common occurrence in our high school. Despite never experiencing physical altercations myself, I observed organized fights among students in grades 10 and 11, often drawing large crowds. This behavior may be linked to the question of male violence, as teenagers may feel compelled to prove their manliness through physical confrontation. The most risky environments in our rural communities, in my opinion, are dark alleys at night when walking home after socializing with friends or at a bar.

Being drunk makes you an easy target for criminals to mug you, while being at school surrounded by teaching staff makes it hard to be a big target. I disagree that schools are the most dangerous place for young people, as sometimes even your own home can be more dangerous. School can be a safe escape for some students.

questions about criminal justice and safety

Reference Page
The Canadian Encyclopedia, Criminal Law, http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/criminal-law, para. 1.
Michael Moore, Bowling For Columbine, 2002.
Paul H. Robinson, John M. Darley, Does Criminal Law Deter? A Behavioural Science Investigation, Oxford Journal of Legal studies, volume 24, No. 2 (2004), pp. 173-205.
School Safety, http://www.ncpc.org/topics/school-safety.

The website "Women and The Criminal Justice System" can be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11416-eng.htm.