IGNORANCE...OR A CRIME CRY FOR HELP?!

Ignorance is the worse attribute a person can have; it is a permanent disadvantage in every situation, it can lead to death, serious harm, misunderstanding, social complications, and much more. 

This is the concept that began the need for Law enforcement and unfortunately remains it job security to this very day. Most crimes are committed out of ignorance and with selfish intentions in mind. However, there are some that are not. Some crimes are committed because of a need that derives from lack of opportunity or resource. There is a true difference and it has taken me a long time to truly understand this concept. 

I use to get upset at criminals because of their actions, I looked forward to taking them to jail, and longed for the sound of judge reading off their sentences in the courtroom after I had given testimony to put them away. Now as I have moved further into my Law enforcement campaign, I have come to pity criminals because most of them are ignorant at heart and don’t understand the extent of their actions. Don’t get me wrong, I love locking up bad guys, and will do some happily until the day I leave this earth if I could. However, now I have grown to the point where I can truly understand how crime is manifested and what drives criminals to act as they do.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs basically breaks down the needs of every person and what is required in order to reach a point of self-actualization. The breakdown is as follows from the bottom to the top; Physiological Needs, Safety Needs., Love and Belonging Needs, Esteem Needs, and finally Self-actualization. 

Some criminals fail to make it out of one of these areas and thus lash out because of a NEED for something. On the other hand, some criminals don’t care about anyone else and commit crimes out of pure ignorance of their behaviors. Both fail to reach self-actualization, but for different reasons and that is the difference.

I have arrested criminals stealing food because they didn’t have the resources to obtain it and were starving, yes a crime was committed and they were held responsible…but they did it because they were STARVING! 

On the other hand, I have arrested criminals for Robbery, they didn’t do it for a NEED but for a WANT instead. In their minds they said “I want this, that person has this, I will take this from that person”. See the difference? The person stealing for food has a physiological need for food. lack the resources to obtain it, and thus resorts to stealing it as a means of self-preservation. This is obviously a failure to meet the Physiological Need base and thus the true reason the crime was committed.

The Robbery scenario is a little different because it isn’t as cut in dry, the crime is committed because of a WANT instead of a NEED and thus has the capability of failing to meet multiple requirements for Self-actualization. Also, the Robbery was committed out of ignorance to how it would affect the victim, how it would hinder the community, etc. Not as basic as simply stealing food, nonetheless it can still be derived from a failed area of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. 

Of course, I arrested the person and they were convicted of the offense. The criminal in this scenario fails at potentially both the Safety Need and the Love & Belonging Need as well. The need to have resources can apply, the want to belong can apply, and the want to express love can apply as well. The point is that the criminal potentially failed in these bases, did not reach Self-actualization, and thus lashed out in the form of the criminal behavior.

I enforce the law without bias, prejudice, or discrimination and now can say that I understand criminal behavior and how it comes into development. I can speak on this topic forever and discuss it ever after that. However, I am ending it here…for now!

I Challenge You! Look at yourself and ask have I reached Self-Actualization? If not come up with a plan to take control and move forward.

Ignorance…or Simply a Crime Cry for Help?!