Robbery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Robbery - Essay Example This is even though both theories profess to be ones that posit their assumptions based on the criminal event - human ecology. The study ends with advice on how the inclusion of all people from all walks of life can enable a successful precautionary as well as preventive approach to crime as a whole and robbery in particular. Though some very elaborate theories are often proposed to explain robberies in the negative contexts of mental health and social problems the main and very down-to-earth explanations come from the perpetrators themselves - money, thrills, drugs and peer influences. These reasons, some of them quite trifling, are the principal propellants that induce persons to attempt to take by force things of some value from other persons. As representative of overall international demographical trends Canadian statistics reveal that robbery is almost the exclusive preserve of the young male. In Canada just 5 % of those accused of robbery are female, about two-thirds of those accused are below 25 and almost no accused is above 50. Also, approximately 16 % of those accused are young offenders (Research Division, Correctional Service of Canada, 1995). Though the derived statistics is slightly dated study of recent literature reveals that the trends persist to the present day for most countries, incl uding the USA. Another alarming trend revealed by statistics for robbery is that it is the crime most feared by victims. This is even though is constitutes about 10 % of all violent crimes committed in Canada (Research Division, Correctional Service of Canada, 1995). This is because robbery involves a high probability of suffering physical harm from a total stranger and it can happen to anyone anywhere, at any time. Robbery offenders are also more likely to use weapons than other offenders. About one quarter of robberies involve usage of fire-arms, one quarter involves usage of other weapons like clubs and knives and one half involves usage or threat of some sort of physical force. Also, what is alarmingly important, from the victims' point of view, is that almost one quarter of robbery victims in Canada sustained some sort of minor physical injury with about 4 % being treated medically either at the scene of the crime or at a medical facility after transportation there from the scene of crime (Res earch Division, Correctional Service of Canada, 1995). Another good indicator of the seriousness of the crime is that almost 80 % of offenders accused of robberies are incarcerated while, for offenders of other crimes convicted at Canadian federal courts during the same period, the figure is only 23 %. Statistics for those sentenced for two years or more in prison reveal that 20 % are there for robbery offenses. A December 31, 1994, survey revealed that almost one third of all federal offenders were identified as robbery ones (Research Division, Correctional Service of Canada, 1995). As mentioned earlier the statistic is slightly old but not much has