CRIME PREVENTION

In my latest addition of the PSA Red Tape, the union’s publication for Prison Officers and other New South Wales public servants, I came across this photo and an article on the weapons found in the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre.  For the juvenile prisoners who were engaged in the making of, or involvment in the use of these weapons or contraband items, it is too late to rehabilitate them.

I do not want the Government wasting the public purse on ‘feel good’ programs that simply do not work.

Photo courtesy of Red Tape

Below is the first draft of a segment I have prepared for my next eBook, due out in coming months, “Officers, Criminals and Amazing Prison Stories”.

Nothing is guaranteed to prevent your child from becoming a convicted criminal and committing violent and heinous crimes on society which may result in long prison terms and entering the revolving door of the criminal justice system that seems to never stop.  I have witnessed many decent, law abiding families visiting prisons to support their criminal children.  Hereditary and genetics do not equal destiny.  Here are my theories on how to reduce the odds of becoming a convicted criminal for members of your family.

For married couples

Lead by example.  The male must work at a regular fulltime job and continue with his education for most of his adult working life.  He must provide a home and money to fully support his family in every way possible.  The size of his family should be in keeping with his income and not his religion.  He must provide leadership within his family and yes, I agree it’s a very old but sound concept.

The female may work to help her husband achieve his goals, yet she must either be present in the home before school starts and be at home when the children arrive home from school or have another trusted mature adult fill in that role. All school age children must never be left unattended before and after school for the sake of convenience or economics.  Teach your children to believe in God.  A person, who does not believe in god and has criminal intent, has nothing to lose or fear.  I am well aware this may sound sexist to the modern mum, however let me assure you the traditional roll of parents, seem to me to be the most stabilising in a child’s sound upbringing.

Education is paramount.   There are large numbers of prisoners who cannot read, write or do simple arithmetic.   All children must attend school every day, you must communicate regularly with your children’s school teachers and listen and ask for positive criticism. Remember your child is not the perfect child you may want to believe he or she is.   We can all improve somewhere within our educational and behavioural abilities.   Keep an eye on their homework and attendance and watch for variances in grades between subjects, or declines within a subject that may indicate the presence of other factors outside of learning ability such as bullying, non attendance, depression or poor teaching.   There have been long term studies carried out over many decades that have clearly indicated your child has a 70% higher chance of becoming a violent criminal if their literacy and numeracy ability are below normal levels for their age and grade.   Alarmingly, some studies show literacy and numeracy deficiencies need to be identified and rectified before the age of eight or the child’s third year in school. 

Team sport!   There have been a number of studies completed that have proven that children who participate in or compete in team or group sporting events on a regular basis, have a 75% to 85% better chance of not committing crime and therefore do not enter the criminal justice system.  There are a multitude of group or team sports from which to choose covering most children’s interests and abilities, especially when they have a friend whom you approve of playing a particular sport.  

Choosing friends.  It is very helpful to assist your children to know how to choose a friend.  My mother always instilled in me good old fashion values and would often say, “If you can’t bring a friend home to meet your mum because you know she would not approve, then that boy should not be your friend”, and naturally she was correct.  I have found that advice has been helpful throughout my entire life and I still live by those values today.  

Respect. Teach your children to respect others, their property and their right to own it unhindered, the Police, authority in general, the law, their teachers, their grandparents, parents, siblings, and relatives.   Teach your children to show respect to all those with whom they come in contact, including property.  In general terms that respect will be returned two fold but not always, and if it’s not reciprocated, teach your children that if they are shown disrespect in return, it is not their fault and show neither animosity nor retaliation.

Manners.  Once again I am quoting my mother in her wisdom who always taught me, “Manners maketh the man”. It was a great adage that seems to be lacking in many of the prisoners I have dealt with.   The simple things like “please” and “thank you” go a long way in showing respect, for example standing for those older than themselves or infirmed when on public transport or where it is appropriate, giving their full attention and showing interest when being spoken to rather than not lift their eyes up from their mobile phones, using appropriate language and refraining from swearing in mixed company.  This is a good place to start. 

Cruelty and Fires.   Cruelty to animals and a fascination with lighting fires at an early age seems to be a common factor among violent criminals. It is certainly an indicator and one that all parents need to watch for and take appropriate action.  I would also advise seeking professional help.  Any form of cruelty to animals is a textbook gauge that the child has an inadequate personality and seeks pleasure in exerting power over the defenseless.  
 

Environmental Factors. These are the main key to crime prevention.   I am not politically correct, nor do I have to be, so intentionally I will say it like it is. Stand on your own two feet.  Living in Government housing with three generations on Government welfare support in large families with low education, is a recipe designed to lay the foundations for your child or children to spend a considerable amount of time in prison.   Life can be hard and finding honest dollars to house, feed, clothe and educate your children can be extremely difficult, but you must find a way, it is your responsibility.    In the 1970s it was called the “GOYA” effect ,“Get Off Your Arse” and make sure the environment in which you raise your children, is the best possible within your budget for your children’s sake. 

Ross Homel AO, in his chapter 20, p324 of the text book, “An Introduction to Crime and Criminology”, by multiple authors 17 in all, indicates risk factors for juvenile crime which include,

·        Childhood antisocial behaviour

·         Low self-control (impulsiveness, hyperactivity, a poor ability to plan ahead)

·         Low levels of parental supervision

·         Harsh and inconsistent discipline

·         Child maltreatment (abuse and neglect)

·         Offending by parents and siblings

·         Parental conflict

·         Large family size

·         Weak parental and school attachment.

     What I am saying in this chapter is nothing new. These theories have been known for more than fifty years.  Governments have never wanted to spend money on the prison system nor do I want them wasting the copious amounts that they do presently spend.  
      

I would like to see Governments divert money from the prison system into identifying children under the age of eight, who are at risk with low literacy and numeracy ability, who have poor behaviour and put every effort and resource into correcting that child’s learning ability. In a paper released by the American “Economic Opportunity Institute” EOI titled “The Link between Early Childhood Education and Crime and Violence Reduction”, they state high quality early learning and care is one of the most powerful weapons against crime, while poor early childhood education multiplies the risk that children will grow up to be a threat to every American family. 

They further state under the heading “Prevention Results in Cost Savings”, Investments in early childhood education lead to large economic savings.  The Child-Parent Centre program has served 100,000 Chicago children and predict they will prevent an estimated 13,000 violent juvenile crimes.  It is saving taxpayers, victims, and participants over $7 for every $1 invested, without counting pain and suffering caused from crimes.  A study released by Vanderbilt University estimates that the potential benefits in saving a high-risk youth from becoming a typical career criminal are between $1 million and $1.3 million.

It is my view that the EOI study applies equally in Australia. It is preposterous that Governments continue to “sit on their hands at the point of destruction of the very society for which they are charged to govern and protect”.  The governments need to reintroduce the “GOYA” effect by applying it to themselves and put the tax payer’s money to good use by ensuring all at risk children are identified and educated appropriately.  
  

I am not the first to say that if you, the public, are relying on the Police, the legal system (the courts), and the Department of Corrective Services to rehabilitate and correct violent behaviour within those who commit such behaviour, you will be extremely disappointed.  I am absolutely convinced beyond all doubt that to stop the ever increasing violent criminals from continually entering through the revolving doors of the criminal system, it is imperative to identify ‘at risk’ children and take all measures possible to correct the identified problems before the child turns eight years of age.  I have given you my thoughts on what I believe you need to do or to look for.   I, like many others, am at a loss in coaxing our Governments into diverting money from feel good rehabilitation programs that simply put, do not work, and redirecting that money into identifying ‘at risk’ children and correcting literacy and numeracy deficiencies, along with whatever help that child may require.

If you heed my advice, when your children reach the age of 30 and they have not veered to the wrong side of the law, at that point you can breathe a sigh of relief and experience what I call an undeniable moment of success as a parent,  after that your children are on their own. You have helped and achieved all that you can.

Have you read my latest eBook ‘Australia’s Best Prison Stories’, available on this web site or through Amazon?

This I believe.

Peter T. Egge