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Sri Chaitanya Senior Secondary school

ENGLISH PROJECT

2023-2024

TOPIC : RATTRAP THE STUDY OF CRIME AND CRIMINALS

Submitted by: Rohith Naidu Kancherla

Class: XII
Roll no:
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INDEX

S.NO CONTENT PAGE.NO

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3-3

2. CERTIFICATE 4-4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 5-5

4. CONTENT 6-15

5. CONCLUSION 16-16

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY 17-17
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my English

teacher Mr.Vasanthan and as well as our principal Mr. Rajesh who gave
me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic
“RATTRAP-THE STUDY OF CRIME AND CRIMINALS”.

Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped
me a lot in finalising this project within the limited time frame.

Lastly, I would like to thank all my supporters who have motivated me to

fulfill this project before the timeline.
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AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively study and analyze various aspects of crime and

criminals, with a focus on understanding the underlying causes, societal
impact, and the effectiveness of crime prevention and intervention
strategies.
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INTRODUCTION

In every corner of the world, the issue of crime and the individuals who engage in criminal
activities looms as a complex and pervasive challenge. Crime has been a part of human
society since time immemorial, evolving alongside our ever-changing cultures and societal
structures. It touches the lives of individuals, families, and communities, leaving a lasting
impact that reverberates through the fabric of our societies.

The study of crime and criminals is not just an exploration of the darker aspects of human
behavior; it is a multidisciplinary journey that delves into the depths of psychology,
sociology, law, and criminology. It seeks to understand the motives, circumstances, and
consequences of criminal actions and the systems put in place to respond to them.

This project aims to shed light on the multifaceted world of crime and criminals. We will
explore the various forms of criminal activities, from petty offenses to heinous crimes, and
the diverse factors that drive individuals to become criminals. Additionally, we will examine
the strategies employed by law enforcement, criminal justice systems, and society at large to
prevent, control, and rehabilitate those who commit crimes.

In this exploration, we will navigate the intricacies of the criminal mind, the societal
pressures that contribute to criminality, and the evolving nature of crime in the modern world.
We will discuss the impact of technology, socio-economic disparities, and cultural influences
on criminal behavior, as well as the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding the treatment
and punishment of criminals.

Ultimately, this project aims to foster a deeper understanding of the forces at play within the
world of crime and criminals. It is our hope that by shedding light on this complex issue, we
can contribute to the ongoing dialogue about crime prevention, justice, and rehabilitation in
our society.

Join us on this journey as we delve into the shadowy realms of crime and criminals, seeking
not only to comprehend their actions but also to find solutions that contribute to a safer and
more just world for all.
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Circumstances that lead to crime

Individualists tend to focus on personal weakness as the reason a crime is committed. If

someone chooses to offend, that is their responsibility and if caught, they should suffer the
consequences. Individualists believe that if punishments were stronger and the police and
courts had more powers, there would be less crime.

Collectivists feel that society is unequal and some people are at greater risk of being
influenced by criminal behaviour, often through the actions of parents or friends.
To tackle crime, collectivists feel that social conditions which create the catalyst for crime
need to be addressed. This could be through better housing, improved employment
opportunities and a more equal society to make crime less of an attraction. If people are in
work and are content with life they will be less likely to break the law.
Most recent governments at a UK and Scottish level see merit in both the individualist and
collectivist beliefs and accept that there are underlying causes of crime. But individuals also
need to accept responsibility for their actions. It is the government’s job to tackle crime, both
its causes and the offenders.
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CASE STUDIES

Case Study 1 (Rachel Hoffman)

On the evening of May 7, 2008, a twenty-three-year-old woman named Rachel Hoffman got
into her silver Volvo sedan, put on calming jam-band music, and headed north to a public
park in Tallahassee, Florida. A recent graduate of Florida State, she was dressed to blend into
a crowd - bluejeans, green-and-white patterned T-shirt, black Reef flip-flops. On the
passenger seat beside her was a handbag that contained thirteen thousand dollars in marked
bills.

Before she reached the Georgia-peach stands and Tupelo-honey vendors on North Meridian
Road, she texted her boyfriend. "I just got wired up," she wrote at 6:34 p.m. "Wish me luck,
I'm on my way."

"Good luck babe!" he replied. "Call me and let me know what's up."

"It's about to go down," she texted back.

Behind the park's oaks and blooming crape myrtles, the sun was beginning to set. Young
mothers were pushing strollers near the baseball diamonds; kids were running amok on the
playground. As Hoffman spoke on her iPhone to the man she was on her way to meet, her
voice was filtered through a wire that was hidden in her purse. "I'm pulling into the park with
the tennis courts now," she said, sounding casual.

Perhaps what put her at ease was the knowledge that nineteen law-enforcement agents were
tracking her every move, and that a Drug Enforcement Administration surveillance plane was
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circling overhead. In any case, Rachel Hoffman, a tall, wide-eyed redhead, was by nature
laid-back and trusting. She was not a trained narcotics operative. On her Facebook page you
could see her dancing at music festivals with a big, goofy smile, and the faux profile she'd
made for her cat ("Favourite music: cat stevens, stray cat blues, pussycat dolls").

A few weeks earlier, police officers had arrived at her apartment after someone complained
about the smell of marijuana and voiced suspicion that she was selling drugs. When they
asked if she had any illegal substances inside, Hoffman said yes and allowed them in to
search. The cops seized slightly more than five ounces of pot and several Ecstasy and Valium
pills, tucked beneath the cushions of her couch. Hoffman could face serious prison time for
felony charges, including "possession of cannabis with intent to sell" and "maintaining a drug
house." The officer in charge, a sandy-haired vice cop named Ryan Pender, told her that she
might be able to help herself if she provided "substantial assistance" to the city's narcotics
team. She believed that any charges against her could be reduced, or even dropped. (…)

Hoffman chose to cooperate. She had never fired a gun or handled a significant stash of hard
drugs. Now she was on her way to conduct a major undercover deal for the Tallahassee
Police Department, meeting two convicted felons alone in her car to buy two and a half
ounces of cocaine, fifteen hundred Ecstasy pills, and a semi-automatic handgun.

The operation did not go as intended. By the end of the hour, police lost track of her and her
car. Late that night, they arrived at her boyfriend's town house and asked him if Hoffman was
inside. They wanted to know if she might have run off with the money. Her boyfriend didn't
know where she was. (…)

Two days after Hoffman disappeared, her body was found in Perry, Florida, a small town
some fifty miles southeast of Tallahassee, in a ravine overgrown with tangled vines. Draped
in an improvised shroud made from her Grateful Dead sweatshirt and an orange-and-purple
sleeping bag, Hoffman had been shot five times in the chest and head with the gun that the
police had sent her to buy.

By the evening of her death, Rachel Hoffman had been working for the police department for
almost three weeks. In bureaucratic terms, she was Confidential Informant No. 1129, or C.I.
Hoffman. In legal parlance, she was a "cooperator", one of thousands of people who, each
year, help the police build cases against others, often in exchange for a promise of leniency in
the criminal-justice system.
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In 2009, the so-called "Rachel's Law" was passed by the Florida State Senate, requiring law
enforcement agencies to provide special training to officers who recruit confidential
informants, instruct informants that reduced sentences may not be provided in exchange for
their work, and permit informants to request a lawyer if they want one.

Case Study 2 (Global Surveillance)

In 2013, computer expert and former CIA systems administrator, Edward Snowden released
confidential government documents to the press about the existence of government
surveillance programs. According to many legal experts, and the U.S. government, his
actions violated the Espionage Act of 1917, which identified the leak of State secrets as an
act of treason. Yet despite the fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued that he had a moral
obligation to act. He gave a justification for his "whistleblowing" by stating that he had a
duty "to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done
against them." According to Snowden, the government's violation of privacy had to be
exposed regardless of legality.

Many agreed with Snowden. Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project
defended his actions as ethical, arguing that he acted from a sense of public good. Radack
said, "Snowden may have violated a secrecy agreement, which is not a loyalty oath but a
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contract, and a less important one than the social contract a democracy has with its citizenry."
Others argued that even if he was legally culpable, he was not ethically culpable because the
law itself was unjust and unconstitutional.

The Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, did not find Snowden's rationale
convincing. Holder stated, "He broke the law. He caused harm to our national security and I
think that he has to be held accountable for his actions."

Journalists were conflicted about the ethical implications of Snowden's actions. The editorial
board of The New York Times stated, "He may have committed a crime…but he has done his
country a great service." In an Op-ed in the same newspaper, Ed Morrissey argued that
Snowden was not a hero, but a criminal: "by leaking information about the behaviour rather
than reporting it through legal channels, Snowden chose to break the law." According to
Morrissey, Snowden should be prosecuted for his actions, arguing that his actions broke a law
"intended to keep legitimate national-security data and assets safe from our enemies; it is
intended to keep Americans safe."
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CORRECTIVE MEASURES

Criminology is a broad field, and there are many different corrective measures that can be
implemented depending on the specific type of crime and the needs of the offender. Here are
some suggestions for corrective measures in criminology:

1. Rehabilitation programs: Rehabilitation programs aim to help offenders

address the underlying issues that may have contributed to their criminal
behaviour, such as substance abuse, mental health issues, or lack of
education or job skills. These programs can include counselling, education
and job training, and substance abuse treatment.
2. Restorative justice: Restorative justice programs focus on repairing the harm
caused by the crime, rather than just punishing the offender. These programs
can involve mediation between the victim and offender, community service,
or other forms of restitution.
3. Community-based corrections: Community-based corrections programs
provide alternatives to incarceration, such as probation, house arrest, or
electronic monitoring. These programs allow offenders to remain in the
community while receiving supervision and support to help them reintegrate
into society.
4. Deterrents and punishment: Deterrents and punishment measures are
intended to discourage future criminal behaviour. These measures can
include incarceration, fines, or other forms of punishment.
5. Diversion programs: Diversion programs offer an alternative to traditional
criminal justice proceedings, such as drug courts or mental health courts.
These programs can provide treatment and support for offenders who may
be better served by addressing underlying issues rather than facing
traditional punishment.

6. Victim-offender reconciliation programs: These programs involve the victim

and the offender coming together to talk about the crime and its impact, and
working together to find a way to repair the harm that has been caused.

Overall, the goal of corrective measures in criminology is to address the underlying issues
that contribute to criminal behaviour, while also protecting public safety and holding
offenders accountable for their actions. The specific approach used will depend on the type of
crime and the needs of the offender
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IMPACT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR ON SOCIETY

Crime is a major part of every society. Its costs and effects touch just about everyone to some
degree. The types of costs and effects are widely varied. In addition, some costs are
short-term while others last a lifetime. Of course the ultimate cost is loss of life. Other costs
to victims can include medical costs, property losses, and loss of income.

Losses to both victims and non victims can also come in the form of increased security
expenses including stronger locks, extra lighting, parking in more expensive secure lots,
security alarms for homes and cars, and maintaining guard dogs. Considerable money is spent
to avoid being victimised. Other types of expenses can include a victim or person fearful of
crime moving to a new neighbourhood, funeral expenses, legal fees, and loss of school days.

Some costs of crime are less tangible (not easily or precisely identified). These kinds of costs
can include pain and suffering, and a lower quality of life. There are also the traumatic
impacts on friends and the disruption of family. Behaviour can be forever changed and
shaped by crime, whether it be weighing the risks of going to certain places or even the fear
of making new friends.

Crime not only affects economic productivity when victims miss work, but communities also
are affected through loss of tourism and retail sales. Even the so-called victimless crimes of
prostitution, drug abuse, and gambling have major social consequences. Drug abuse affects
worker productivity, uses public funds for drug treatment programs and medical attention,
and leads to criminal activity to support the expenses of a drug habit.

Communities and governments spend public funds for police departments, prisons and jails,
courts, and treatment programs, including the salaries of prosecutors, judges, public
defenders, social workers, security guards, and probation officers. The amount of time spent
by victims, offenders, their families, and juries during court trials also take away from
community productivity.
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HOW TO BRING THEM INTO MAINSTREAM

1. The Importance of Rehabilitation: One of the key pillars for the successful integration of
criminals into mainstream society revolves around effective rehabilitation programs.
Providing comprehensive rehabilitation services, including psychological counselling,
vocational training, and education, is crucial. By addressing the underlying causes of criminal
behaviour, such programs equip individuals with the necessary skills to function lawfully in
society. These services should be tailored to individual needs, helping them develop
self-esteem, social skills, and ethical values, ultimately fostering personal growth.

2. Collaboration between Correctional Institutions and Community Organizations: To ensure

the successful reintegration of criminals, collaborative efforts between correctional
institutions and community organisations play a pivotal role. Such partnerships can facilitate
the provision of support programs, employment opportunities, and mentorship, reducing the
likelihood of re-offending. Community organisations can assist in the provision of vocational
training, addiction recovery programs, and transitional housing, creating a supportive
network for individuals seeking to reintegrate into society.

3. Employment and Vocational Training: Access to employment opportunities plays a crucial

role in the successful reintegration of criminals. By enabling individuals to become
economically self-sufficient, gain a sense of responsibility, and contribute positively to
society, employment breaks the cycle of criminal activity. Governments and businesses
should implement policies that prioritise hiring ex-offenders, providing training, and ensuring
fair chances to reintegrate into the workforce. Vocational training programs tailored to
individual needs can equip criminals with the necessary skills to pursue meaningful careers,
reducing the likelihood of them returning to criminal activities.
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ATTITUDE OF SOCIETY TOWARDS CRIMINALS

Crime, then, is a social construction. We had to break down the definition of crime and the
process of recognising crimes to explore that. This is an analytical approach to the issue,
which simply means unpacking an idea or a process into its separate components so that we
can examine them more closely. But most of the time we don't think about crime analytically.
We think about it as a narrative, as a story.
At a personal level we may tell the story, over a drink, of our car being broken into for a third
time this year. Others confide in each other with stories of personal injury. We use stories to
make sense of our misfortunes, to seek remedies to our hurts, to establish a chain of events
and actions that we can understand. What we do as individuals and small groups, we also do
as a society. What kinds of stories about crime are we telling ourselves in the UK?
Broadly speaking, there are two types of stories in circulation. One set of stories is prominent
in public discussions and the media. It describes the UK as a society engulfed in a tidal wave
of crime in which a secure past has become an insecure and uncertain present, crime is
something to be feared and diminished: a society frightened by crime. The other set of stories
we tell and consume, more privately perhaps, is of crime as macabre but glamorous, fearful
but fascinating. It seems that we cannot get enough of this kind of crime and these stories: a
society fascinated by crime.
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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the study of crime and criminals is a complex and multifaceted

field that encompasses a wide range of topics and issues. Throughout this
project, we have explored various aspects of crime, from its different types to its
underlying causes, societal impact, and the effectiveness of crime prevention
and intervention strategies.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqb2pv4/revision/3

https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/organized-crime/module-8/exercises/case-studies.h
tml

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-suggestions-for-corrective-measures-in-c
riminology

https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps
/economic-and-social-effects-crime

https://www.classace.io/answers/write-an-essay-about-how-to-bring-criminals-int
o-mainstream

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/sociology/the-meaning-crim
e/content-section-2.1