RE-ACTIVATED: A RETREAT TO PROGRESS

Almost one year later, I return with cautious optimism. Although unintentional, the break-away was necessary: Far from the madding crowd, a crowd obsessed with self(ies) and materialism and all the frivolities of social media; an inexplicable fixation with the obnoxious and the obvious, the visual and the visible. There is a need to be seen, to be recognised to be validated, to be adored. This is the new crowd. Understandably therefore, there are no more boundaries with behaviour, taboos are passe and the generation gap has closed in enough to blur the lines of appropriate communication and conduct between children and adults, guardians and charges, employees and the workplace. The threshold of tolerance for scandals seems limitless and the boundaries of conscience continuously adjusted to accommodate shifting morals. 

These observations are important in the context of crime and social disorganisation. Crime remains relevant and now requires the urgent attention not only for the authorities for anyone with an interest in effecting positive change. Social disorganisation must be introduced in this discussion if we are to understand to the 'norming' of criminality, the necessity of specific law enforcement approaches and strategies and the implement of particular social programmes. Crime is legally defined as "any act or omission forbidden by law and punishable by state". Notwithstanding our many laws that prohibit a wide range of behaviours - from violence to fraud, it seems that the taking of another life is incidental to the achievement of material gain or status and the achievement of material gain or status is at whatever cost, a life even. Clearly, there is an absence of conscience and remorse with recent crimes - of all types. The policy makers and designers of social programmes should do some intensive reading on 'social disorganisation':

The inquiry into understanding crime from the 'neighbourhood perspective' was first developed by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay (1942) at the Institute for Social Research in Chicago. Despite many challenges and modifications by other colleagues, the essential truth of Shaw and McKay remains; that communities weakened by structural problems will be fertile soil for the growth of crime. 

"Those with the misfortune of residing in isolated, impoverished, disorganised communities have the double difficulty of being exposed to conditions that might permit criminal involvement and of being less able to anything about crime when it occurs around them..."

Criminological Theory: Past to Present - Essential Readings 4th Ed.

Pt. III: The Chicago School: The City, Social Disorganisation , and Crime

The literature is insightful, it points to the fact that crime is not individual in all aspects, even though individuals are motivated differently. The depth of this discourse means that several criminological and sociological perspectives need to be examined. I hope to pique the interest of casual and academic readers. We need to remain active and involved in our social affairs. Capture this moment with the hashtags #RudeAwakening #ItTakesAVillage!