Tough on Crime Approach and Its Characteristics in Criminal Justice
The tough on crime approach can be defined as a system where the only response to criminal acts is punishment, and severe punishment at that. Tough on crime approach is considered as a conservative approach to criminal justice and in most cases meant to not only deter crime, but also effectively eliminate the bad elements from the society. Within this approach, the punishment is excessively harsh in that the sentences are relatively longer and the possibility of the death penalty is constantly lurking in each trial. The tough on crime approach to criminal justice does not recognize or appreciate the concept of rehabilitation or corrective incarceration but rather makes examples out of criminals regardless of their circumstances. In essence, the tough on crime approach is a set of policies that make it rather impossible for the criminal to get a second chance regardless of their crime. These policies shun the idea of a reform and thus aim to expel the cancer, that a crime is, from the society, often with little success.
In the Canadian context, the tough on crime approach can be considered as one of the main objectives of Stephen Harper government. The proponents of the tough on crime approach believe that extremely punitive punishments will deter and eventually reduce the rate of crime in the country. Since its ascension to power, the Conservative Government in Canada has been ratifying policies that strengthen punishment as sole response to crime. The government has strengthened three strikes programs, enhanced the quality of life policing and relegated to the periphery rehabilitation programs. The conservative government wants the judiciary to prioritize deterrence through harsh penalties as the only solution to crime.
Characteristics of the tough on crime approach vary depending on the country. The major characteristics however are in line with the inability to consider rehabilitation and correctional procedures for the criminals, harsh sentences for minor crimes and the death penalty for a number of offences. The tough on crime approach to criminal justice considers punishment as the only response to crime, and thus foregoes procedures such as juvenile detention and rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities and parole programs among other significant aspects of criminal justice. This system does not recognize the rights of the accused and in most cases, they are considered as the third class citizens once they break the law.
In addition, this approach prescribes very harsh sentences for crimes that are otherwise labeled victimless and may be given minor terms and alternative sentences that may promote reform and rehabilitation of the criminal. As such, countries that practice this approach are not known to have rehabilitation and correctional facilities for criminals, but rather have prisons where these individuals serve their terms with a high probability of being rearrested once they complete their terms given that they have no opportunities for rehabilitation into the society and are rather treated like outsiders even when they complete their punishment.
The Criticisms of the Approach
Some criticisms of the tough on crime approach to criminal justice includes a negative influence on public opinion; in Canada the citizens have been made to believe that crime is rampant and that the streets are not safe at all for them. This happens despite the studies that have shown reduced crime rates in the country, and the fact that very few citizens have actually encountered crime at a personal level. By spending a lot of time and taxpayers resources on a matter that is not as important as it is purported to be, the government actually ends up creating a negative public opinion with respect to crime. Thus Canadian people are not only afraid of being caught in criminal activities; they are also terrified of being out on the streets given the idea that the country is very dangerous. This misperception is deliberately propagated by the government to justify their unnecessary focus on the countrys previously efficient criminal justice system. This implies that the tough on crime approach is only relevant in countries where the crime rates have gone through the roof, but Canadian statistics actually indicates a downward trend in crime rates for the past 20 or so years.
Another critical aspect is that the crime rates end up increasing rather than decreasing given the increased focus on profiling and stereotyping in terms of crime and poverty as well as ethnicity. Tough on crime policies increase the focus on criminal activities, thus further increasing the incidence of racial and financial profiling, community surveillance and suspicion. Rather than keeping the streets safe, this approach ends up dividing the society by racial and economic lines thus increasing the incidence of violence and crime especially by those who feel discriminated. This also spreads fear in the community and increases suspicion rather than instilling calm and security.
In addition, tough on crime approach is often seen as stigmatization on convicted felons in criminal justice. Rather than em