does crime pay?

Question

think about it, if it weren't for the criminal element, a lot of people will be out of a job, from law enforcement to security; and a lot of businesses would fail, from bail bonds to alarm companies...without crime, the economy would collapse?

Answer 1

Only a small part of the work force would lose their jobs. The benefits of an absence of crime in society would outweigh the slight loss in economic loss from the businesses which you have mentioned.

Answer 2

Crime never pays for the offender. About 90% of all crime gets solved and offender is locked away for years or life.

Now, the government is another thing. Crime is Big Business.
It is true and it is repulsive. That is why I continue to vote down money for more prisons.
Our system wants more money to build bigger and more prisons. Why? so they can fill them up with people like you and I. It is a money making business. Once an offender gets in it is tough to get out. You may not know this but if you ever went to see a parole hearing you will understand. The offender cant say anything right to get their freedom. Nothing works for them.

The economy wont collapse without crime. Instead we could set up rehabilitation centers where anyone who commits a medium to low crime could be housed until they get educated that crime does not pay. We could also use the man power and the money to help the mentally ill who are behind bars, there are many. We could actually try to help these people instead of just locking them away and throwing the key away.

So what I am saying is this. Keep hardcore criminals in prison (people like Manson). Take the rest of the prisons and convert them to rehabilitation centers and mental hospitals. The guards can learn a new trade or would have to find other work. But these centers would employ many in the psychology fields. And if we have some where offenders live for weeks or months while they are getting help then we need maids, cooks, and such to keep them open.

I am for rehabilitation over imprisonment.

Answer 3

Your theory is not sound. Because of crime, we need to pay for insurance and law enforcement etc. This gives us less money and resources to devote to other things.

If there were no crime, all the criminals, and crime prevention workers could be put to another productive use.

By your theory, if we invented a job, where someone pushes a button, and the button does nothing at all, we would have somehow helped the economy because we created a job.

My point is, the job does not create a good or provide a service. It adds nothing to the economy. Just like crime adds nothing to the economy. Law enforcement is a valid service, but also one that would not be required if there was no crime. Then, these human resources could be put to another productive use.

If you spread all these extra employees around, it would produce more goods and services. Sure, it would put a downward pressure on wages, but prices would drop too as more goods are being produced. People would be able to enjoy more goods and services, since more would be produced.

Then we can leave it to government bureaucracy to create jobs that serve no useful purpose.

Answer 4

Don't know about collapsing, but much of the economy is based on crime and punishment, true. Crime also costs people and companies Billions and Billions a year, and if there was no crime, that money would not be wasted either. Plenty of towns and societies have very little, if any crime and survive just fine.

Answer 5

It did at the school where I used to teach... which is why I resigned from that position.

Now, are you listening to the words that are coming out of your head???

In small rural towns, where there is hardly any, if any, crime, their economy has not collapsed. No dear. The economy would not collapse without crime.

Answer 6

As long as you don't get caught, but either way with all the criminals in the world and future criminals, and crooked lawyers, law enforcement will never run out of business.

Answer 7

Interesting concept but I think crime has a net negative effect on the economy.All those you name would find a different way to make money.It is not a zero -sum game.One door closing opens others.

Answer 8

The world wont ever be perfect and their will be crime all the time. Sometime crime does pay. like when you kill someone when you were defending yourself and i think there are other ways that crime can pay off. a lot of the time crime doesnt pay

Answer 9

Crime pays for everyone else, EXCEPT the Criminal and victim.
Police, EMTs (if violence is involved), Morticians/Funeral Directors (if death happens), Correction Officers, Wardens, Securtiy Personnel, and many many more!
So, Crime prevention and control does pay!

Answer 10

Small time crooks go to jail & prison.

Large scale crooks go to Congress, state Assemblies, and the corporate office of large corporations.

Sad, but true.