The
existence of crime in a society is a challenge to its members due to its
deleterious effect on the ordered social growth. In fact, it leads to a colossal
waste of human energy and an enormous economic loss.
On the contrary, its very prevalence
makes it a normal feature of any society and it must therefore continue to exist
because it has some useful purpose to serve. It may be that crime is useful
because it provokes people to organise against it and thereby promote social
order or solidarity.
Crime is said to be a form of
adjustment, brought about by pressures -: and tensions of existence e.g.
deprivation, conflicts, etc. (In other words, crime is an outward expression of
other socio-economic or psychological' problems), and thus its presence forces
the groups or the authorities to look into the changed circumstances which forced
the individual to become criminal. Thus, attention gets focused on the various
socio-economic and psychological problems, and the remedies or solutions sought
for (For example, the investigation into the cases of juvenile delinquents
reveals that they embark on that career because their energies are not properly
channelised) .
It could be that the protest, which
is emobodied in crime, against present restrictions and values is a subtle but
dynamic factor in the whole process of social change and development. Thus,
though crime is a threat to the stability of society, however it is not always
dysfunctional and it may become source of the social change. And social change
is necessary for the running or progress of human civilization. Thus, crime is
also functional.
Courtesy:- Legal Point
Foundation
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