Chronic Criminal Examples

Chronic Offenders

Chronic offenders execute serious crimes repetitively. According to criminal data obtained by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in the state of Minnesota, criminal offenders severely perpetrate different kinds of crimes in different areas of the country. (Yunker, Bombach, & Meyerhoff)The build-up of offenses leads to criminal careers. The concept of criminal careers refers to crimes committed by an individual that occurs one after the other extendedly. Moreover, the concept of criminal careers focus on the involvement of individuals to crimes, characterization of offenders and non-offenders, and the regularity of criminal activity by offenders.

(Blumstein, Cohen, Roth & Visher, 12)

One of the major reasons why offenders commit crime unceasingly is the lack of an integrated network system within and among states. The presence of a database that should be made available in all states is necessary in order to prevent chronic crimes. This confines justice systems in dealing with chronic offenders. Records of offenders and crimes committed should be made available not only in a nationwide system database, but also networks within states.

Access to these databases will allow justice systems to make appropriate decisions for sanctioning chronic offenders. Although this need has been addressed by state governments, the process of establishing network databases still call for appropriation of financial resources. (Yunker, Bombach, & Meyerhoff)

Other reasons for “chronicity” of crimes include is failure of justice systems to acknowledge the fact that imprisonment does not solve the issue of chronic crimes. Most offenders have been in and out of prison, but serving their respective sentences does not eliminate their initiatives to commit crime after leaving prison.

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Other options should be looked in to as punishment, such as reintegration to society by involving them with community service, socialization programs, work positions, etc. Granting incentives is also an excellent way to encourage chronic offenders to fulfill orders by the justice system and laws mandated by the constitution. (Yunker, Bombach, & Meyerhoff)

The government, the justice system, and law enforcement agencies should focus more on the needs of offenders. Chronic crimes occur because needs or issues of offenders are not addressed, causing them to continue executing crimes despite reprimand or imprisonment. Some chronic offenders have been diagnosed with mental illnesses, psychological problems, etc. These conditions are often left unresolved even after imprisonment permitting criminal activities to prolong and extend to even graver offenses. Stakeholders should not only focus on imprisonment, but also the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders to society. These solutions will ensure that offenders are transformed into healthy and productive members of society. (Oppal)

The chronic offender concept insinuates deficiencies on the part of law enforcement, the justice system, the government, and the community when it comes to dealing with crimes. The growing rate of offenders that commit crime continuously means that law enforcement agencies lack the capacity to foresee criminal patterns and aptitude to strategically prevent crime. (Blumstein, Cohen, Roth & Visher, 109) Knowledge of a crime committed by a first-time offender should instantly furnish law enforcement agencies with important facts and details to predict increase or decrease in crime rate. Follow-through and supervision should also be integrated to the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies.

Aside from law enforcement agencies, chronic crimes also indicate deficiencies in the justice system, specifically sentencing policies. Sanctions granted to criminals by the justice system ideally reinforce criminal activities negatively. Sentences should eliminate criminal activity, and not encourage them. Therefore, offenders who have been sentenced but still commit crime after serving their sentence imply that sentencing policies are weak in realizing its purpose in fighting crime and bringing about justice. Absence of the government’s involvement in funding law enforcement purposes and evaluating the justice system and sentencing programs may be inferred from the nature of chronic crimes. Frequent offenses committed means that law enforcement agencies lack resources to improve services, realize full potential, and enact responsibilities competitively. Moreover, the government does not follow evaluation processes that will determine the strength and weaknesses of the justice system and sentencing programs. Only by addressing these concerns will chronic crimes be gradually resolved.

Works Cited

1. Blumstein, Alfred, Cohen, Jacqueline, Roth, Jeffrey A., & Visher, Christy A. (1986). “Criminal
2. Careers and ‘Career Criminals’.” Retrieved from National Academy of Sciences. 11 September 2008. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=922&page=12.
3. Oppal, Wally. (2006). “Crime, Safety and Chronic Offenders.” Retrieved from The Canadian
4.             Bar Association. 11 September 2008. http://www.cba.org/bc/CBA_Publications/bartalk_12_06/guest_oppal.aspx