Outline the reasons for crime and the consequences of crimes for both the victim and the criminal.

Drugs; Others turn to crime because of drugs. They often commit crimes to feed their addiction or if they are unemployed and have no money, they turn to crime. They steal items, which they later sell on so they can buy drugs.

Jealousy; Crimes of jealousy are usually done out of passion, and aren’t premeditated. Or they could be spur-of-the-moment type crimes. This is often the case when a husband/wife finds his/her partner in bed with another person. They become so infuriated that the lash out, but may later regret doing so.

For every different crime, there’s a suitable type of punishment. The punishment may be a minor one, such as a fine or caution for speeding. But obviously, more serious crimes will have more serious consequences. Murder is the most serious of all crimes, because it is the deliberate taking of a person’s life, and like the teachings say, “the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral” (Gaudium et spes 51. 3) and the Church of Ireland believes, “No one has the right to take away the right to life, not even one’s own.” (General synod 1993)

In the United States of America, if you murder someone, then there’s a chance that you could receive the death penalty, which is the ultimate punishment. I don’t think the death penalty should be allowed, as punishments are laid down for five main reasons.

1. To protect society from criminals and to protect criminals from vigilantes.
2. For retribution. This is based on the Old Testament principle of “an eye for an eye”. Often, this is applied to Capital Punishment – “a life for a life”. In the U.S.A, members of the victim’s family are invited to watch the murderer die, so they know that justice has been done.
3. To deter the criminal from re-offending and being punished again. It also shows that people who are thinking about committing a crime that it will not be tolerated, and they will be punished if they do it.
4. To reform the criminal. Jesus taught that seeking revenge is wrong, and you should love your enemies.
5. To show that the law must be respected and if you break it, you will be punished.