Question 1 (28 marks)

Case Study: Drug-Crime Connection
Background

The relationship between drug use and crime is complex, with various theories suggesting different causal pathways. A strong correlation between drug use and crime is evident in many studies, but the nature of this relationship is multifaceted. Understanding the drug- crime connection requires analysing several models: the hypothesis that drug use causes crime, the idea that crime leads to drug use, the concept of a reciprocal relationship where they both influence each other, and the spurious relationship where other factors independently cause both drug use and crime.
Case Study

A community experienced a surge in both drug use and property crimes. The local police has reported that a significant percentage of individuals arrested for property crimes tested positive for drug use. This has led to debates among community leaders and policymakers about the nature of the drug-crime relationship and how best to address the issue.
The following situations occurred in the community:

• A 23-year-old male with a history of substance abuse is arrested for multiple counts of burglary. His addiction to an expensive drug, such as heroin, has driven him to commit these crimes to sustain his habit.
• A 16-year-old youth starts engaging in petty theft and vandalism. Over time, he is introduced to drug use through his criminal associates. His delinquent behaviour escalates to more serious crimes, accompanied by the use of harder drugs.
• A 28-year-old woman involved in prostitution begins using drugs to cope with the demands of her work. Over time, her drug use increases, leading to more involvement in criminal activities such as theft and drug distribution.
• In a low-income neighbourhood, both drug use and crime rates are high. However, further investigation reveals that these behaviours are both influenced by underlying factors such as poverty, lack of education, and peer pressure.

Evaluate each of these situations in the context of the provided scenarios. You should assess the evidence supporting each theory and consider the implications for policy and intervention strategies and to reduce both drug-related issues and criminal activity in communities.
This is an essay question that requires a title, headings/sub-headings, an introduction and a conclusion and citing of sources. (Except for the title, all headings should be numbered.)
Your essay should be structured as follows:

• Structure: title (1), headings and sub-headings (1)

• Introduction

Introductory remarks on the relationship between drug use and crime. (3)

• Content (headings and sub-headings)

Evaluate each of the situations in the context of the provided scenario and provide ways on how to prevent the drug-related issues and criminal activity in communities. (20)
(Mark allocation: 3 marks per evaluation of each situation and 2 marks for the providing preventative measure(s) for each situation – 5 marks per situation = 20 marks)
• Conclusion

Based on your discussion provide concluding remarks on the topic. (3)

Question 2 (21 marks)

Consider the scenario below and answer the question that follows.

Scenario: Crime Problems in a South African Community
The community of Masiwela, a small township in Africa, has been grappling with increasing crime rates over the past year. The local police have reported a significant rise in burglaries, gang-related violence, and drug trafficking. The community is in distress, with residents feeling unsafe in their homes and on the streets.
Problem 1: Rising burglary rates

Details: Over the past year, Masiwela has seen a sharp increase in residential burglaries, particularly in the evenings. Many homes have been broken into, with valuables stolen, leaving residents fearful and mistrustful of their neighbours.
Problem 2: Gang-related violence

Compile the crime prevention conceptual framework below for each of the problems that are experienced by Masiwela community.
Note to the student: For each problem you need to have 1 strategy, 2 intervening factors, 2 intermediate outcomes and 2 long-term outcomes.
(Mark allocation: Strategy: 1 mark, 2 intervening factors: 2 marks, 2 intermediate outcomes: 2 marks and 2 long-term outcomes: 2 marks.)

Question 3 (22 marks)

Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.

Scenario: Developing a Crime Prevention Strategy in Greenwood Community
Greenwood is a medium-sized suburban community facing an increase in various types of crime, including burglary, vandalism, drug-related offences, and youth violence.
Greenwood SAPS decided to develop a crime prevention strategy to address these issues.

The target community is the entire suburb of Greenwood, with a particular focus on the elderly, youth, and small business owners.
According to police statistics the crimes committed are burglary, vandalism, and drug- related crimes. Youth violence was also identified as a growing concern.
There was a significant increase in burglary rates over the past year. The majority of these occurred during the evening, particularly in the northern part of Greenwood. Vandalism was more common near schools and parks. Burglars typically targeted homes with minimal security and drug-related offences were concentrated around certain hotspots known for illicit activities. Elderly residents were frequently targeted in burglaries, while youth were both perpetrators and victims of violence. Drug-related offences involved a wide age range, with a significant number of repeat offenders.
The involvement of alcohol and drugs was a significant factor in many crimes. The impact of these crimes on the community included a decline in property values, a sense of fear among residents, and strain on local businesses.
Greenwood SAPS conducted a victim survey and found that many crimes, particularly vandalism, were underreported.
Interviews were conducted with the Community Police Forum and community members and the following concerns were raised:
• Streetlights that are not working and darkened areas are contributing to burglaries.
• Youths that are not going to school and loitering around.
• More regular patrols are needed in areas and community meetings to address safety concerns.
• Programmes for at-risk youth and victims of domestic violence. SAPS Greenwood is working with the following stakeholders:
• Local Government and Municipal Departments

Apply the information in the case study to construct Step 1 within Stage 1 of a crime prevention strategy.

Answers to Above Questions on Crime Prevention Management

Answer 1: The relationship between drug use and crime can be assessed in the above case scenario ..

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