1.2.2. Образцы текстов для чтения Специальность "Правоведение" social conditions and crime

For many young people, the excitement of the streets provides the principal escape from boredom and seemingly unsolvable problems. These streets are also the scene of much vice and crime-gambling, prostitution, narcotics use and sale, public drunkenness, and acts of violence. Law enforcement in the inner city is difficult, partly because too few police officers patrol the neighborhoods. In addition, many of the people fear the police and refuse to cooperate with them.

Most residents of the high-crime slum areas of many large cities are blacks or members of other minority groups. As a result, the crime rate for such minorities is higher than that for the white majority. Nonwhites are also more likely to become the victims of crimes.

Most crimes in the United States are committed by boys and young men. People under 18 years of age account for 43 per cent of the arrests for motor vehicle theft; 33 per cent for burglary; 30 per cent for larceny-theft; and 24 per cent for robbery. This same group makes up about 15 per cent of all people arrested for murder, rape, and aggravated assault.

There are several reasons why young people commit most crimes. As people become older and settled in their jobs and families, they acquire a stake in society that they would not care to risk for momentary gain. On the other hand, young people have fewer job opportunities. The unskilled jobs available seem dull when compared to the quick and exciting returns from theft. Young people are also more willing to risk arrest because they have less stake in things as they are.

About 80 per cent of the people arrested for crimes are males. In 1989, men were arrested most often for driving under the influence of alcohol, which accounted for 13 per cent of all male arrests. Women were arrested most often for larceny-theft. This crime accounted for 19 per cent of all female arrests in 1989 and 77 per cent of female arrests for serious crimes reported in the FBI's Crime Index.

Many violent crimes are committed by people who are acquainted with their victims. In over half of all murders, for example, the killer and the victim knew each other. In fact, about a sixth of all murders are committed by a member of the victim's family. In numerous cases, because so many murderers know their victims, the police have a relatively easy time identifying the killer. As a result, the arrest and conviction rate for murders is high. Police have a much harder time identifying robbers and burglars, few of whom know the victims. Handguns were used in about 50 per cent of the murders reported during the early 1990's.

Вопросы к тексту:

1. Why are so many young people attracted by the street?

2. Why is law enforcement difficult in the city?

3. Who commits most crimes in the USA?

4. What are the reasons why young people commit crime?

5. Why does it not take a long time to identify the killer?

6. What criminals are difficult to identify?

ОБРАЗЕЦ СИТУАЦИИ

Prepare your arguments for or against the following statement:

All criminals are perverse people.