crime short essay

Essay on Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Crime

Understanding crime.

Crime refers to acts that violate the law. They are considered harmful and punishable by a governing authority. Crimes can range from theft to murder.

Types of Crimes

There are various types of crimes. Violent crimes include actions like assault, while theft falls under property crimes. White-collar crimes involve fraud or embezzlement.

Consequences of Crime

Crimes have severe consequences. They can lead to imprisonment, fines, or even death penalties. Moreover, they harm communities and individuals, causing fear and damage.

Preventing Crime

Preventing crime involves law enforcement, education, and community programs. Everyone can contribute to a safer society by obeying laws and reporting suspicious activities.

Also check:

Paragraph on Crime
Speech on Crime

250 Words Essay on Crime

Introduction.

Crime, a pervasive aspect of society, is an act that violates a law and is punishable by the state. It disruptively breaches societal norms, creating a sense of insecurity and fear. This essay delves into the nature of crime, its causes, and the role of law enforcement.

The Nature of Crime

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across cultures and societies. It ranges from minor offences like theft to severe ones like homicide. The nature of crime reflects societal values, as what is considered criminal is determined by the prevailing legal and moral code.

Causes of Crime

The causes of crime are multifaceted, involving biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Biological theories suggest genetic predispositions towards criminal behaviour. Psychological theories focus on the individual’s mental processes and their interaction with the environment. Sociological theories, on the other hand, emphasize societal structures and inequalities as major crime contributors.

Law Enforcement and Crime

Law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in maintaining order, preventing crime, and ensuring justice. They function as a deterrent, keeping potential criminals in check. However, their effectiveness is contingent upon their ability to adapt to evolving criminal tactics.

In conclusion, crime is a societal issue with deep roots in individual and social structures. Understanding its nature and causes is key to formulating effective strategies for prevention and control. As society evolves, so too must our approach to understanding and combating crime.

500 Words Essay on Crime

Crime, a social and legal concept, has been a part of human society since its inception. It refers to the actions that violate the norms and laws of a society, leading to harm or potential harm to individuals or the community. The study of crime, its causes, effects, and prevention, is a crucial aspect of sociology, psychology, and criminology.

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across societies and times. It is not static but evolves with societal norms and legal frameworks. What may be considered a crime in one society may not be in another, and similarly, what was a crime in the past might not be so today. For instance, homosexuality was once criminalized in many societies, but it is now widely accepted and decriminalized.

Types of Crime

Crimes are generally categorized into personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes, and financial crimes. Personal crimes involve direct harm or threat to an individual, such as assault or robbery. Property crimes involve interfering with another person’s property, like burglary or theft. Inchoate crimes are those that were started but not completed, while statutory crimes are violations of specific statutes. Financial crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, involve the illegal conversion of property ownership.

The causes of crime are multifaceted, often interwoven with societal, psychological, and economic factors. Poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, and family violence are some common societal factors leading to crime. Psychological factors include personality disorders, low self-control, and aggression. Economic factors, such as unemployment or income inequality, also contribute significantly to crime rates.

Effects of Crime

Crime affects society in numerous ways, from creating fear and insecurity to damaging social cohesion. It impacts the economy by diverting resources towards law enforcement and away from other sectors. On an individual level, crime can lead to physical harm, psychological trauma, and financial loss.

Crime prevention strategies are as diverse as the causes of crime. They include social strategies, such as improving education and employment opportunities, and legal strategies, such as effective law enforcement and fair judicial systems. Psychological interventions, like counseling and therapy, can also play a significant role in crime prevention.

Understanding crime is essential to creating a safe and harmonious society. By examining its nature, types, causes, effects, and prevention, we can develop effective strategies to reduce crime rates and mitigate its impact on individuals and communities. It is a collective responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of individuals, communities, and governments.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Crime Against Women
Essay on How to Reduce Unemployment
Essay on Conclusion for Unemployment

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Crime Essays

by Ali (Iran)

Why has the number of police officers declined?

In some countries the number of police officers in active service is decreasing. Why is this happening and how could it affect society? The storage of police officers has been bothering some counties, this might have negative effects on the society as a whole. In my opinion there could be several factors which discourage the youth from joining the forces. Cops are essential to maintain peace and safety of the country but in the recent time few nations have been facing a shortage of police and this may be due to the rigged system some country operates on , a system which is controlled and governed by the strong and powerful leaving the protectors of the nations without any choice but to follow order or drop out of the service, it is quite evident that more than a few have opted for the later option. Another reason behind this social issues could be the selfish mindset that the new age people may hold, not wanting to work for and towards the betterment of the society and state as the patriotism in their hearts may be decreasing. Few people may also drop out due to the long and rigour process of achieving a rank and not much salary and choose to opt for a more lucrative career choice. For example, my cousin who works as head constable in the police department for the past 7 years, does not make enough to support his family and has decided to opt out of the department and go for a different career choice as a clerk. All these issues have a negative effect on the public which includes people feeling unsafe , increase in crime rates, increase in the corruption of society and could cause an imbalance in the society , people may also hold prejudice against the whole police community due to this, ruining the relationship between the protector and protectee . to conclude, the lack of officer would become a serious problem in the coming future but at the same time the government should fund the department more than now since at the end of the day , being a police officer is too a career and should be able to support the worker for the better.

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How to Write a Crime Short Story: 10 Top Tips

By Georgina Roy

Crime fiction, regardless of the format – whether a short story, a novella, or a novel, comes in two forms: the protagonist will either solve a crime, or commit one.

In the first type, i.e. solving a crime, we follow the protagonist as they use their brain and their skills to figure out who did the crime or what happened. In the second type of crime stories, we follow the protagonist as they commit the crime, and this type can have two subtypes: the crime happens in the beginning (i.e. first part or act), and the second part focuses on the fallout, or, the protagonist decides to do the crime in the first part, and either goes through with it or not in the second part.

Considering that today we are focusing solely on crime short stories, rather than fiction, the tips below on how to write a crime short story will all be related to writing shorter pieces of work, and they might not work for longer pieces like novellas or novels.

1. Keep your audience in mind

Considering the two types of crime fiction we’ve highlighted above, it is worth noting that while there are omnivorous crime readers, i.e. those who enjoy reading about the solving of a crime just as much as they would enjoy reading about the protagonist committing a crime; quite often, the audience for one type is not the audience for the other one.

The readers who prefer to read solving a crime might not enjoy reading about committing one. So before you embark on the wonderful journey of writing a short story, think carefully about which audience you wish to target and attract.

2. Have a clear theme and idea

Often, short stories do not have the time to elaborate on all the nuances of a certain theme or idea. Practically speaking, a short story does not allow you to dwell longer in the life of the protagonist. Regardless of what type of story you are writing (committing a crime vs. solving a crime), due to the nature of those two events, you would not be writing a short story that spans over several years.

The longer a crime goes unsolved, the more difficult it would be to solve it. This type of urgency is what drives crime novels, let alone short stories. So, the clearer your theme and original idea, the better – for it would allow you to distill it to its essence and present it, in as short manner as possible, in your story.

3. Keep it short

We’re not talking here about trying to say as much as possible in as few words as possible. When it comes to writing crime short stories, you do not need to dwell on the protagonist’s backstory. If he is an experienced detective, there is no need for the reader to know all the details about all of his previous cases to convince them that this detective knows what he is doing – show that in the procedures and the actions he takes to solve the crime, but also in how he reacts to seeing this particular crime.

If your protagonist is somebody who is willing to commit a crime, try to convey their motivations as shortly as possible. The readers do not need to know all the details that led or will lead them to commit the crime, just enough to sympathize with them or, alternatively, find the protagonist compelling enough to follow them to the end.

4. Create a believable crime

In longer works like novellas and novels, you need to create such a crime that will take someone a whole novel to solve. In short stories, specifically short stories that are focused on solving a crime, the crime needs to be out of the ordinary, but the protagonist should still be able to solve it in an “a-ha” moment, that would both make sense to the reader in retrospect, and also surprise them at the same time. If your story is about committing a crime, the crime itself needs to be relatively easy for the protagonist to commit. The planning has already been done and it’s all about the execution and the consequences.

In the second type of crime stories, where the protagonist decides to commit the crime and we follow them as they either go through with it or not, the crime itself needs have a certain psychological effect on the protagonist. Additionally, it should be more difficult to commit and pose a certain danger to them as well.

5. Create a compelling protagonist

The protagonist who solves the crime needs to have the tools and experience to do so. You make that protagonist compelling by how they react to the crime that has been committed, and then what steps they take to solve the crime, as well as what motivates them to solve the crime so quickly.

The protagonist who commits the crime, on the other hand, will be more difficult to create in a compelling manner. This type of protagonist either has to be easy to both sympathize and empathize with, like for example, a person who has been hurt in some way looking for revenge, or, they would be a kind of person who most people would find abhorring, and, they would follow that person just to see whether they get what is coming to them or not (the ending, of course, depends on the message you’re trying to send, stemming from your original idea and theme).

6. Determine the timeline of the crime

Short stories do not have the time to focus on cold cases that have not seen progress in years unless there is new evidence that would help the detective solve a cold case quickly. As such, the crime should be recent enough that there is fresh evidence for the protagonist to work with.

When it comes to the second type, committing a crime, the protagonist needs to be at the right moment to commit the crime. For example, let’s say that a woman is trying to kidnap her own child, who is currently in the custody of the ex-husband who abused her for years. Fearing for the safety of the baby, we do not need to see her stalking her ex-husband and her child for weeks on end; we need to tune in right at the moment when the woman is watching her ex-husband’s new girlfriend take the child to the park, who leaves the kid on the swings and steps aside to take a phone call, and the woman grabs her child and leaves.

7. Different types of subgenres in solving a crime

The first type of crime stories, where the protagonist is solving a crime, are divided into several subgenres (or subcategories):

Whodunit : this is the most famous type, where the protagonist needs to solve the problem of who committed the crime (theft, murder, etc.,) from a certain list of suspects. The protagonist is usually a detective or a private investigator. A specialized subset of whodunit is locked room – where the crime has been committed in a locked room with no way in or out, so the suspects have all been present at the murder/crime scene.
Cozy mystery : similar to whodunit, with the sole difference that the protagonist is most often a woman with no experience in solving crime, and the setting is a small, cozy town rather than a big city.
American noir/hardboiled crime fiction: where the protagonist, in the course of solving the crime, runs into personal danger. Darker themes like abuse, sex, and violence are at the forefront of these stories.
Police procedural and forensic crime: the protagonists are members of the police or a forensic team, like pathologists, and either use standard police procedures to solve the crime, or forensic tools, respectively.

8. Subgenres based on committing a crime

When it comes to committing a crime, while there are two basic subtypes of stories, there are two main subgenres:

Caper stories: opposite of whodunit and procedural stories, the protagonists are criminals who are trying to evade capture of legal authorities – after they had committed the crime, or they commit the crime in the first part of the story.
Heist stories: they always revolve around theft, often grand theft in museums or casinos, and the protagonists are trying to commit the crime by the end of the story.

9. Connect the theme and the subgenre

The theme, or, the point you want your reader to take in while reading the story, needs to directly dictate the type of subgenre you are going to use, and so will the nature of your protagonist. A mother trying to get revenge for the death of her child will most probably not be trying to rob a bank or a casino. A con man looking for his big score (moneywise), who is trying to keep himself out of prison, will not be so willing to murder the guards of the Hope Diamond.

10. Use a certain balance of humor

Short stories, by nature, need to have a certain sense of lightness that would make it easy for the reader to lose themselves in the story. Even stories that deal with darker themes like violence and abuse need to have the narrative deliver the same lightness that makes it easy for the readers to absorb what is happening. Humor is one of the best tools to use in the narrative to make the story lighter for the reader to take in.

However, some themes are more serious, and using excessive humor, for example, in a short story of a mother trying to get revenge and kill the murderer of her dead child, humor would not be welcome. Humor helps to make stories “read” or “feel” softer, but it would also take the reader away from such a dramatic and traumatic story. The only possible type of humor acceptable in such a story might be sarcasm or irony, but even that should be used sparingly and only if sarcasm is a strong element of the protagonist’s personality.

On the other hand, heist stories, whodunit stories, and cozy mysteries would highly benefit from the use of humor. Humor can make any story better, as long as it is used in a manner appropriate for the theme and the point that you are trying to make with it.

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The Best Crime Short Stories

A window shatters in the dead of the night. Somewhere on the streets, a suspect runs from the scene of a crime. Who could they be: a desperate parent stealing to support their family? Or a serial killer driven by their darkest, basest instincts?

The crime genre has consistently remained at the top of the publishing industry for over a hundred years. Authors ranging from Agatha Christie and Patricia Highsmith to James Patterson and Karin Slaughter continue to delight readers with thrilling tales of criminals and detectives.

Welcome to the bleeding edge of new crime stories

Created by a diverse group of writers from around the world, the crime stories here were written specifically for Reedsy’s weekly writing competition . At the top, you’ll find stories shortlisted by our panel of judges. We also compile winning stories from a range of genres in Prompted , our new literary magazine — make sure to claim your free copy!

Just as Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle built their careers on a foundation of short stories — so might some of the writers you’ll find here. With that in mind, keep your eyes peeled for the next big name in crime fiction.

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Fresh Writing Prompts for a Killer Crime Essay (2023)

If you are a newbie or curious first-time reader, you may be asking yourself, “What is crime essay?” As the name suggests, it is a coherent set of ideas on an illegal act for which the government punishes someone.

Wait a minute,

“What does that have to do with me? I am only but a high school or college student.” Bottom-line is that you will have to write a crime essay at one point of your academic progress. It is, therefore, crucial for you to be ready. First of all, why don’t we take a look at the sample essay on the crime and punishment?

Crime And Punishment Essay Sample Under classical theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes when there is a lack of proper or sufficient punishments or deterrents in place (Rawlins, 2005). These theories place a heavy reliance on the notions of free will and self-pleasure, essentially arguing that people commit crime because they have the chance or opportunity to, and that by doing so they are gaining some sort of pleasure or enjoyment out of it (Samaha, ). On the other hand, sociological theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes due to a lack of proper ways and means of rehabilitating criminal behavior (Rawlins, 2005). Yet interestingly enough, when it comes to why people commit crimes, a lack of rehabilitation is not the only reason these theories offer as an explanation. Instead, sociological theories sometimes claim that criminal activity is often the result of the relationship individuals build with other people, or the environment that is surrounding them, and that the only way to fix this is to change their behaviors by changing the relationships that they have or improving the quality of the environments in which they live (Rawlins, 2005). Some of the sociological theories of crime commission take these notions even further and offer more specific explanations for why people commit crimes. One example of this comes from social conflict theory, which explains that the reason why people commit crimes is because the law is controlled by the rich and powerful and that these people are simply defining their behaviors as illegal (Rawlins, 2005). Another example takes this even further and comes in the form of the labeling theory, which essentially argues that people commit crimes because they are given labels as criminals at a point in their lives, and then these individuals end up having to organize their lives around such a label and in turn, end up continuing to commit crimes because it is what they believe they are supposed to be doing (Rawlins, 2005). On the other hand, I think that people really commit crimes due to a combination of different reasons, and that the best explanations for their behaviors comes from the mixed perspectives offered by biological and psychological theories. With that being said, each of these theories for why people commit crime on their own, are also a bit of a stretch. For one, biological theory blames people committing crimes solely on the genetic, biochemical, or neurological problems that they inherited in their gene pool through birth (Rawlins, 2005). Likewise, psychological theory says that personality imbalances that arise through problems that occur during childhood (Rawlins, 2005). Although each of these seems to offer valid explanations for criminal behavior, often times when they are used just by themselves they appear to be offering more of an excuse for why most people commit crimes rather than explaining the full picture of why they take place. Under these positivist theories, all of the blame is basically take off of the individual who commits the crime and placed either on society or biology (Samaha, ). Instead, I strongly believe that people commit crimes for a whole host of different reasons and that each of these theories comes into play in some way, shape or form. Ultimately, biology and psychology may certainly play a big role in leading people towards a life of crime, and the sociological environment of people can put them in situations where they are even more likely to act on those biological and psychological roots that they possess. However, there still is the action itself, which in many ways is still best explained through classical theories on why people commit crimes.

Essays about crime are sensitive, and thus we have come up with professionally handpicked prompts to set the ball rolling for you.

Are you ready? Let’s get right into it then!

Latest Causes of Crime Essay Writing Prompts

How do people decide to commit crimes? Are there any pre-meditations?
Do people commit a crime to think about the benefits and the risks?
Why do some criminals go ahead with their actions regardless of their consequences?
Write on why some people never commit a crime regardless of the situation.
What are the biological, social, psychological, and economic factors for crime?

Impressive Crime and Punishment Essay Prompts

What is the relationship between punishment and opportunities in crime?
Should social conditions fuelling crime be addressed first before punishment?
Why most individuals fail to accept responsibility for their actions
Are the current laws addressing punishment for offences effectively?
Address the Biblical interpretation of crime and punishment
Is murder a rational punishment for crime? Why?

Hate Crime Essay Writing Ideas for College Students

Why do factors such as race, religion, and sexual orientation act as a catalyst for hate?
Give examples of traumatic national events that sparked hate crimes
Are hate crime laws effectively mitigating this menace?
Do hate crime laws violate a fundamental democratic principle? Explain
Political values and attitudes that spread hate crimes during campaigns and elections

Hot Cyber Crime Essay Ideas

Why is hacking of financial accounts the most prevalent type of cyber-crime?
How has modern-day cyber terrorism evolved over the last five years?
How the fast pace of internet growth has opened a world of information
What is the performance of cyber cells in police stations?
How cyber-crime violates not only the law but also human rights

Inspiring Poverty Causes Crime Essay Prompts

Is poverty still in America, one of the most developed countries in the world? Why?
How has crime contributed to poverty?
Why impoverished urban areas are the salt for crime
Why tossing cash at poor populaces does not help end crime.
Why the shortage of fundamental necessities stirs up crime

Juvenile Crime Essay Ideas

Why youthful crimes are rampant in modern society
The dynamic role of the Juvenile Justice System
Personality and juvenile crime offenders
Practical strategies to curb juvenile delinquency
How middle and high school contribute to minor offences

Why Do People Commit Crimes Essay Prompts

Peer pressure as a cause of crime
The role of poor parenting in crimes
Addictions to alcohol and drugs and how they trigger crimes
Discuss how education is a big part of committing crimes
Do serial killers find it a pleasure killing people or they are slaves to this habit?

When tasked with a crime essay, do not get yourself all worked up. Instead, use our guru writing prompts or better still, ask for our professional custom writing help . We will be glad to help you come up with a top-grade paper!

Essays on Crime

The ethics of true crime.

True crime, a genre that delves into the intricate web of criminal behavior and the pursuit of justice, has garnered a massive following across various media platforms. However, beneath the intrigue lies a tapestry of ethical considerations that merit meticulous examination. This essay embarks on...

Strategies to Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft, a growing concern in our digital age, threatens the very fabric of personal security and privacy. As technology advances, so do the methods used by malicious actors to steal sensitive information. This essay explores effective strategies to prevent identity theft and safeguard individuals...

The Importance of Protecting Endangered Species

Our planet's rich biodiversity is a source of wonder and a testament to the intricate web of life that has evolved over millions of years. However, this diversity is now under threat as numerous species face the peril of extinction. The decline in global biodiversity...

Confronting Social Injustice: Criminal Justice Reform

The criminal justice system plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order in society. However, it is not immune to flaws and biases that perpetuate social injustice. Throughout history, marginalized communities, particularly people of color, have faced disproportionate targeting, unfair treatment, and harsher punishments...

The Phenomenon of Missing White Woman Syndrome

In a world where news cycles dictate public attention, a disconcerting pattern has emerged - the "Missing White Woman Syndrome." This term refers to the disproportionate media coverage and public concern given to cases involving missing or endangered white women, often overshadowing similar incidents involving...

Young People Commit Crime: Understanding Factors

Crime is a complex issue that affects societies worldwide, and understanding the reasons behind why young people engage in criminal activities is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. This essay aims to explore the factors that contribute to youth crime, including socio-economic factors,...

Why Should Felons Be Allowed to Vote: Respecting Human Rights

What’s the point? What's the point of sending people to jail in hopes of rehabilitation and then taking away rights that every human has? As if they are less than a human, when after an individual gets out of jail it is already hard enough...

Death Penalty Vs Life Imprisonment: What Brings to Better Society

Abolition of the death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in the United States of America. There is a popular phrase that a lot of the death penalty supporters use to justify the death penalty:” An eye for an eye.” This is means,...

Negative Effects of Immigration in America: the Issue of Crime Rate

One of the most underlying controversial themes in contemporary society reveals the connection between crime and immigration. Immigration in the contemporary United States exposes heavily debated issue of public policy. Security and security concerns strongly frame this discussion. One side of the debate supports a...

The Silent Suffering: Exploring the Effects of Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is a type of violence that involves the use of force to harm another person's body or physical well-being. Physical abuse essay reveals that this form of abuse can take many different forms, from hitting, slapping, and punching to burning, biting, and choking....

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Crime Prevention
Serial Killer
Child Abuse
Identity Theft
Juvenile Delinquency
White Collar Crime
Cyber Crimes
Forensic Science
Sexual Harassment
Criminal Justice
Broken Windows Theory
Criminal Behavior
Criminal Procedure
Criminal Profiling
Criminals in Society
Drug Trafficking
Juvenile Crime
Juvenile Justice System
Organized Crime
Physical Abuse
Prostitution
Sex Offender
Somali Piracy
Violent Crime

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