Homicide in Puerto Rico, Term Paper Example

Abstract

This research paper will cover the Homicide issue in Puerto Rico. It will cover the major theories that scholars developed earlier to explain homicide. The paper will also explain some of the major known causes of homicide in Puerto Rico and the current reason for the high prevalence in the region. The paper will also suggest recommendations applicable in providing solutions to the current Homicide issue in Puerto Rico.

Statement of the Problem

The Justice Department in Puerto Rico in 2008 reported that, homicides in 2006 were ranked 12th as the major cause of death in San Juan and Arecibo. It also ranked fifth among the major causes of male death and 15th among causes among females. An estimated 1,500 deaths were reported in these two areas, that same year. Since 2006, 93% of the Puerto Rico homicide victims were aged <30 years with the highest number being males. The common method used by victims of homicide was firearm discharge assault. However, the homicide rates are second after Louisiana that experiences 9.9 Murders Per 100,000. There was an increased rate of homicide in Puerto Rico among males aged 25-29 years within that period. In an attempt to address the issue, the government of Puerto Rico initiated a strategy that included an enhancement of an integrated surveillance system to control fatal and nonfatal assault. The government also supported research done on interpersonal violence, and established prevention programs within the local community including a violence prevention curricula introduced in selected schools. The cases still continued and were rampant despite the measures to control the routine (Ricardo, 2008).

Homicide in Puerto Rico:  A Ten-Year Comparison with M.S.A, (San Juan and Arecibo)

The Justice Department reported that there were over 3,613 total homicides in the San Juan and Arecibo in the year 2000. This number has increased over a period of ten years rating 5645 in the current year, 2010. Approximately 2,303 (64%) of these homicides were among less than 30 year old youths. Of the homicide cases, 2,148 (93%) were male victims. The rates of Homicide for males approximated at 14 times that of females. The reports revealed 47.7 males per 100,000 populations and 3.5 females respectively. Among males and female victims of homicide aged less than 30 years, they mostly used firearms as their method.

Dynamics Within and Demographics of Puerto Rico:  High Homicides and Low (Drug Trafficking, political violence, organized criminal activity)

Criminal report from the justice department indicated that approximated 90.1% of males and at least 65.4% of females were involved in crimes using firearms including robberies, terrorism among others. The common used methods by homicide victims included sharp objects (21.2% of females, 4.6% of males), and other extreme methods (13.5% of females, 5.3% of males). Among homicide victims aged 15-29 years, the activity was common during the months of July and August. Drugs were totally in relations to homicide case with 65% of the homicide cases reported to involve drug abusers including cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs. The homicide victims were also reported to have been somewhat been involved in political violence and other forms of organized criminal activity.

Surprisingly, the reports indicated that 91.2% of the crime case occurred mostly in or near urban areas with 60.3% of this number being urban residents. Some of the issues noted from the Justice Department report included:

• Homicide was dependent on age with majority of the victims being young people aged less than 35 years
• Homicide was dependent on the region with majority of the case prevalent in urban areas
• Homicide was dependent on methods of execution with many cases involving use of firearms
• Homicide cases were seasonal, mostly between August and July
• Homicide was dependent on gender with most of the victims being males
• Efforts to control Homicide are inadequate

Applying Juvenile Delinquency and Social Control Theory Theories to Homicides in Puerto Rico

Juvenile delinquency mostly features in recurrent encounters of crime in Puerto Rico. Many of the homicide victims are young people who regularly face the criminal justice system diagnosed with conduct disorders (MMWR Weekly, 2006). The reason behind this assumption is that the juveniles disregard their own safety as well as safety for the other people around them and they care less. Once juveniles continues exhibiting same patterns of behaviors and grows up with the same character, he risks being developing antisocial personality disorder and this is a true character of a serious criminal offender (Nancy, 2010). With many of the homicides in Puerto Rico being from young people, it is apparent that there could be some logic from the explanations of this theory. Many young people in Puerto Rico have developed these disorders thereby involving in homicides without second thoughts and caring less about the outcomes of their acts (Associated Press, 2010).

Family environment could also be an explanation of many criminal acts by the young people. The environment is harsh for these young people rendering them helpless and desperate in that they always find themselves in illegal acts that involve crime (Ricardo, 2008). Some of the emaciated environment for the juveniles includes low level of parental supervision, poor disciplining of child, regular parental conflict or else separation, parental abuse or neglect, criminal parents or siblings and low quality relationship with parents (The Associated Press, 2008). In the explanation of this cause o crime, children from lone parents have a higher likelihood of committing offences on other people than the children raised in a family with the two natural parents alive (Associated Press, 2010).

Homicides in Puerto have been increasing this explanation being part of what happens in the city. There are high numbers of divorce and separation cases reported in the city leaving children homeless and depriving them better parental care. This has been prominent in the latest country’s reports indicating that families in the region are unstable and parents have failed in bringing up their children in an upright manner. Children therefore retaliate by engaging in criminal acts normally termed as juvenile acts and this includes homicides (MMWR Weekly, 2006).

Conduct disorder is a great perspective of juvenile delinquency used by theorist in explaining crime. The theory argues that, usually criminal acts develop as early as childhood and it develops and manifests during adolescence life. Most of the juvenile behavior according to this theory attributes to a diagnosable disorder (Associated Press, 2010). This is what the theorists explain as conduct disorder. From the theory, it is argued that adolescence exhibiting such conduct disorder shows a lack of any prospects of empathy and they disregard societal norms (Erwin, 2008). This is what provokes most of the criminal acts basing on the perspective in this approach. The theory argues that mostly, crimes of this nature involve young people at the youthful age (The Associated Press, 2008).

Social Control Theory by Travis is a good explanation from the Positivist School explaining crime. The theory proposes that socialization and social learning process builds self-control in individuals and reduces the inclination of the individuals to indulge in criminal behavior. Without these attributes in an individual, criminal acts are highly possible. This explains why many people are involved in homicide. It details the reason why there is a varying degree of homicide in distinct places (Associated Press, 2010). The urban areas as seen from the study hold a large number of homicide cases and this is because the society does not have moral values to ascribe social control in individuals. The theory derives its argument from Functionalist theories in explaining crime within a society. To control crime, the theory explains various approaches.

The first on is the direct approach that involves applying punishment or threatening any wrongful behavior or through rewards to good behaviors (Erwin, 2008). This element lacks within Puerto Rico cities, urban areas, and therefore increasing the number of homicides within the regions as compared to the rural areas. The theory also explains another form of control as internal by which people refrain from delinquency or (Ricardo, 2008) other crimes through the superego. Puerto Rico is composed of many people being raised and developing a negative ego, this explains why individuals commit homicide because the culture in the region does not support them with a stronger ego to control their acts (Associated Press, 2010). From the theory, another solution is through indirect means. This is through the identification with the people who influence someone’s behavior; this is a good explanation into why Puerto Rico urban areas have the majority of homicide cases. The people in the city influence each other much more because of the diversification as compared to other rural areas and therefore some develop negative attitudes leading to commitment of homicides and increasing the number drastically (Erwin, 2008).

Rational choice also a part of social control theory is a good explanation of criminal acts. Most of the individuals in Puerto Rico commit homicide out of rational choice. There have been many efforts on combating the act but there are still a number of cases of homicides by informed people. Classical criminology argues that causes of crime are within an individual offender, and not an influence from external environment. For classicists, the criminals are motivated internally by rational self-interest, and it emphasizes that there is an element of free will in every individual (Associated Press, 2010). There are cases of homicides in Puerto Rico for people who are above the age of 35 and well informed on their acts. This means that the only reason could be rational choice and not a compelling from the external environment as many other theorists argue. In reality and according to the reports, individuals who commit homicide choose their own way of doing it and they capitalize on every chance they have at their disposal. The reason why many cases of homicide involved firearms was that the individuals realize that it is the fastest and the most effective means of completing their motives (The Associated Press, 2008). The victims go far beyond purchasing these firearms knowingly of what they want to do. Nothing can stop them because they have a desire, not even with external convictions (Erwin, 2008).

Male phenomenon also features in the social control theory. It is a perception use by many theorists to explain crime. There ideal argument in this case argues that there is a disproportional commitment of crime between women and men. It argues that men have a higher likelihood of committing crime a case that is not very prominent with women. Feminist theorists have examined this argument thoroughly and have come up with many suggestions explaining the situation (Associated Press, 2010). One suggestion from their argument details that the masculinity idea makes young men develop zeal, self-confidence, and results in more offending cases that women (MMWR Weekly, 2006). Being tough, daring, powerful, aggressive and competitive were the main explanations from the theory indicating why young men attempt crime than women all in the aim of expressing their masculinity (Nancy, 2010). Acting out the so-called ideals may make men more likely to commit crimes and engage in criminal behavior. Alternatively, young men tend to be more daring and aggressive the reason why committing crime in their case is easier than the women. This perspective is a favorable explanation of the Puerto Rico case of homicides. Men have the highest number of homicide cases in the region and this is a good way to give an explanation to the situation within this society (Erwin, 2008).

Robert Merton contributed to the social control theory by developing strain perspective to explain crime cases in the society. He felt that a society develops institutionalized paths for individuals that lead to success or failure. Strain theory argues that major causes of crime emanate from difficult situations especially poverty situations (Associated Press, 2010). Crimes according to the theory come in because of the life struggles in trying to achieve social valued goals only in vain. When legitimate means fail and the individuals face difficult moments, crime is the result. The theory explained that a society holds people who experienced poor educational attainment and later in life have difficulties in achieving status and wealth. These people cannot secure well-paid employment, and the likelihood is that they will use criminal means to get what they want (Erwin, 2008).

Merton suggested five means of adaptations on the part of individuals to this dilemma. Innovations involved people who accept the socially approved goals but on the other hand do not value the means of achieving these goals (Ricardo, 2008). This group can easily commit crime just to have everything at their disposal. Ritualism is another adaptation means of individuals who accept the socially approved means but later loose sight and care less therefore committing crimes (Associated Press, 2010). In his explanation, Merton believes that crime of this nature associates to drug users. The explanation, homicide is apparent just like it happens in Puerto Rico. Many of the crimes happen in seasons when there are few activities to generate income. July and august is a winter season and less activities are available to the people in the region implicating poverty and hard times in the society. This is a major reason why the homicide cases increase during this period as compared to any other within the year (The Associated Press, 2008).

Recommendations

The Puerto Rico case of homicides is increasing by day. It is apparent that the main cause of homicide includes young and deviant age acts, mental disorders, easy availability of firearms, and societal deprivation of norms. To curb these crimes, there is need to have various approaches that handle these causes. There have been many government controls but this is not working for the society because cases of homicide still increase by day (Nancy, 2010).

Juvenile delinquency ought to be handled at an earlier age as it develops to hardcore crime. From the Puerto case, majority of the homicide cases involve people below 35 years old. Young age as little as 15-20 years are the most involved in Puerto Rico homicides. Little has the government done to curb these crimes and control the juveniles. There is need to develop institutions that handle juveniles and train them to develop better moral values and self control to avoid cases of homicides. Delinquency Prevention is a good approach in curbing cases of homicide in Puerto Rico (MMWR Weekly, 2006). Many young people continue being involved in delinquent acts and homicide cases increase by day (Associated Press, 2010). There have been minimal efforts to curb delinquency in young people (Ricardo, 2008).

Many solutions to homicides target the offenders as criminals and sentence them without a trace of their acts and evaluating possibilities of more crimes of the same nature. Delinquency prevention therefore should be in the front line for the approaches used in Puerto Rico to handle homicide cases (Erwin, 2008). Allocating resources in facilitation of prevention strategies for all cases of delinquency is what the government and the residents need to adhere. Since it is difficult for the government to provide fiscal resources required in prevention of such acts, communities, organizations, and other collaborators need to work together to prevent the persistence of juvenile delinquency (Nancy, 2010). Some of the activities that the stakeholders to this virtue must hold include educational support, curbing abuse of drugs, family counseling, parenting education, youth mentoring, and youth sheltering (Ricardo, 2008).

Distributing World Reports on health and Violence to the community by the government is not enough. There is need for the government to facilitate learning in the respective institutions and develop strategies that instill better understanding in individuals to help reduce homicide cases. The literacy levels should also be a check for the government. It is absolute that many people who engage in homicide are illiterate and the education levels are low in the country. Bridging the education gap is necessary from the part of the government is essential and a good root to curbing homicide cases (The Associated Press, 2008).

Because of the many cases in homicides, the government also needs to increase police surveillance in all areas within the city. The high-crime neighborhoods need video installation as well as equipments to monitor crimes (Nancy, 2010) in the streets to combat homicide cases. Very few video and surveillance cameras are installed within the borders of the streets and reckless juveniles engage in criminal acts without a trace. It could be ideal to have checks and balances with monitors in place to assist in curbing homicide acts (Ricardo, 2008).

References

Associated Press (2010, March 13). Puerto Rico police investigate triple homicide. From,  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35853203/

Erwin, C. (2008). Homicide rate skyrockets on Puerto Rico. Retrieved December 30, 2008 From,  http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2008/12/homicide-rate-skyrockets-on-puerto- rico.html

MMWR Weekly (2006). Homicides among Children and Young Adults — Puerto Rico, 1999—2003, 55(13); 361-364. Retrieved April 7, 2006, from            http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5513a1.htm

Nancy, S. (2010). Spreading drug war bloodies Puerto Rico: Homicide rate is more than three times U.S. average. From,            http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/2002/081202pr.html

Ricardo, G. (2008). Is Homicide in Puerto Rico High? Homicide Studies 12: 188-207

The Associated Press (2008). Puerto Rico’s homicide rate climbs to 802, highest in 12

Years. Retrieved December 30 from, http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/12/30/2008-12-30_puerto_ricos_homicide_rate_climbs_to_802.html#ixzz0iM4KKoSi