An Economical Approach
to Crime and Punishment

As a God-fearing Christian and American patriot, I cannot avoid exasperation when depravity and decadence demonstrate an inordinate and commonplace nature throughout our great country. It is difficult to ignore the prevalence of the wicked while the news making events of the day are reminiscent of a blockbuster action sequence. In 1996 American citizens over the age of twelve suffered 9.1 million violent crimes. In the same year, taxpayer spent $24.5 billion on prisons. In 1997 the nations prisons held 1,302,019 inmates, more than 200,000 over capacity. At the end of 1997 there were 3,335 on death row (Bureau of Justice Statistics). All those who are aware of this obvious moral deterioration should give careful consideration to the topics of crime.

I do not profess to know what causes this depravity that plagues our world. Although there have been numerous studies conducted and many impassioned arguments made in an attempt to place blame, I do not believe that any sure cause ever will be determined. In his book When Good Kids Kill, Michael D. Kelleher explores "homicides committed by previously nonviolent teens" (Abstract). While teen violence is an especially puzzling concern for many people, inexplicable crimes are not exclusive to the youth of America. The minds of criminals, specifically serial killers and other violent criminals, are an enigma of which we have very limited understanding. While psychiatrists, philosophers, and politicians, might try to offer explanation, the true reasons for crimes of a nature so vile as these remain a mystery.

If we had a better understanding of the criminal mind, then it would be easy to establish a punishment that would deter crime or at the very least prevent repeat offenses. Prisons may deter crime on the most basic level, simply because it is difficult to commit crime while under constant supervision, yet the deterrent effect of prisons or any other punishment on criminal offenses amongst the free population is questionable at best. Due to the high number of variables involved with real life, results of the many studies conducted on the deterrence of various punishments cannot be considered scientifically accurate. In addition to their questionable deterrent effect, prisons have also failed to prevent criminals from repeat offending. Despite a more than 600% rise in expenditures for the building of incarceration facilities from 1980 to 1996, and a 300% increase in the number of prisoners, more than 60% of those who have been imprisoned and released ultimately return (Taylor 21).