Why Normal People Commit Crimes Essay

Not all criminals have mental disorders, and not all people with mental disorders commit crimes. There are many reasons why “normal” people may commit crimes. Poverty is one reason. Desperate families may resort to stealing to obtain food and clothing. Addiction is another reason. Drug addicts may steal, commit violent crimes, or make drugs themselves in order to get their fix. Peer pressure may also lead to crime. It is common for gangs to initiate their members by forcing them to complete some illegal act. Adolescents are also very susceptible to peer pressure and may break the rules in order to look “cool” and fit in. Greed is another reason for crime. “Normal”, successful people embezzle money all the time. These people likely aren’t starving or affected by a mental condition. They simply want more than they have, and break the law to get it.

I think whether or not a criminal needs treatment or punishment depends on a couple of factors, type of crime and history of criminal offenses. Violent crimes such as domestic abuse, assault, and homicide deserve

punishment without question. The only exception would be if the individual has a mental condition. In that case, the punishment should coincide with treatment. I also think that people who commit crimes to fulfill their addiction should receive treatment rather than punishment. If a person is a repeat offender, a judgement call will have to be made. If they feel no remorse, and are likely to commit the crime again, they should be punished.

You brought up a great point in your post – that people can seem completely normal one day, but the next they may commit a violent crime.

A perfect example of this happened in my hometown. One day, the police station got a hysterical call from a gas station clerk who said a man had run to the gas station, pumped gas on himself, then lit himself on fire. He attempted to pour more gas on himself, but the clerk shut off the pumps before he could. Irate, he ran into the store and chased away the clerk. He then grabbed scissors and cut a foot long gash down his abdomen. When that still didn’t end his life, he grabbed an ice scraper and attempted to cut his own throat. Police officers arrived shortly after, and he was sent to the hospital with life threatening injuries. To add to the peculiarity of this case, the man’s family said he left out of nowhere and had no history of mental illness or substance

abuse.

You brought up some great points in this post. I didn’t even think about crimes being committed because of cultural movements, but that is actually a very prevalent cause. Upbringing can also influence the actions of an individual once they grow up. If they never learned right from wrong, they may be completely unaware that they are doing something unacceptable.