essay prompts for crime and punishment

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123 Crime and Punishment Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Crime and punishment have always been significant topics of discussion in various fields of study, including sociology, criminology, psychology, and law. These topics explore the causes, effects, and solutions to criminal behavior, as well as the different systems of punishment implemented by societies worldwide. If you are tasked with writing an essay on crime and punishment, here are 123 topic ideas and examples to inspire and guide you:

• The role of rehabilitation in reducing recidivism rates.
• The effectiveness of community-based corrections programs.
• Capital punishment: a justifiable measure or a violation of human rights?
• The impact of social media on criminal behavior.
• The relationship between poverty and crime.
• The psychological factors influencing criminal behavior.
• The correlation between drug addiction and criminal activity.
• The role of mental illness in criminal behavior.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the development of criminal tendencies.
• The effectiveness of alternative sentencing methods.
• The role of education in preventing crime.
• The relationship between unemployment rates and crime rates.
• The portrayal of crime and punishment in popular culture.
• The ethical implications of using technology for crime prevention.
• The impact of racial profiling on the criminal justice system.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice programs.
• The role of the media in shaping public perceptions of crime.
• The impact of gun control policies on crime rates.
• The relationship between domestic violence and criminal behavior.
• The role of surveillance in preventing and solving crimes.
• The effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
• The impact of organized crime on society.
• The role of policing in preventing crime.
• The relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior.
• The effectiveness of electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration.
• The impact of white-collar crime on the economy.
• The role of the criminal justice system in reducing racial disparities.
• The relationship between poverty and criminal justice outcomes.
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug-related crimes.
• The impact of mandatory drug testing on probationers.
• The role of punishment in deterring criminal behavior.
• The relationship between mental health and criminal justice involvement.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for juvenile offenders.
• The impact of cybercrime on individuals and society.
• The role of community policing in reducing crime rates.
• The relationship between child abuse and criminal behavior.
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for ex-offenders.
• The impact of mandatory sentencing on overcrowded prisons.
• The role of DNA evidence in solving and preventing crimes.
• The relationship between education level and involvement in criminal activity.
• The effectiveness of drug treatment programs in reducing recidivism.
• The impact of gun violence on public safety.
• The role of criminal profiling in solving crimes.
• The relationship between poverty and criminal justice policy.
• The effectiveness of victim-offender mediation in reducing reoffending.
• The impact of hate crimes on marginalized communities.
• The role of forensic science in criminal investigations.
• The relationship between mental health and police use of force.
• The effectiveness of community watch programs.
• The impact of mandatory reporting laws on child abuse prevention.
• The role of rehabilitation in reducing juvenile delinquency.
• The relationship between parental incarceration and child wellbeing.
• The effectiveness of drug prevention programs in schools.
• The impact of gang violence on communities.
• The role of social support in reducing criminal behavior.
• The relationship between media violence and real-life aggression.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in schools.
• The impact of sex offender registries on reintegration.
• The role of technology in preventing and solving crimes.
• The relationship between mass incarceration and societal well-being.
• The effectiveness of community-based reentry programs.
• The impact of mandatory reporting laws on domestic violence victims.
• The role of religious institutions in preventing and addressing crime.
• The relationship between mental health and police misconduct.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for non-violent offenders.
• The impact of human trafficking on global security.
• The role of criminal records in employment opportunities.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child neglect.
• The effectiveness of drug testing in schools.
• The impact of hate crime legislation on societal attitudes.
• The role of forensic psychology in criminal investigations.
• The relationship between poverty and access to legal representation.
• The effectiveness of boot camp programs for juvenile offenders.
• The impact of cyberbullying on mental health.
• The role of community-based organizations in crime prevention.
• The relationship between mental health and probation outcomes.
• The effectiveness of drug courts for veterans.
• The impact of police militarization on community relations.
• The role of restorative justice in addressing campus sexual assault.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child custody.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in prisons.
• The impact of racial bias in sentencing decisions.
• The role of neighborhood characteristics in crime rates.
• The relationship between mental health and solitary confinement.
• The effectiveness of drug prevention programs in prisons.
• The impact of human rights violations on international relations.
• The role of victim advocacy in the criminal justice system.
• The relationship between substance abuse and intimate partner violence.
• The effectiveness of drug testing for welfare recipients.
• The impact of environmental crime on ecosystems.
• The role of reentry programs for female offenders.
• The relationship between mental health and police response to crises.
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing recidivism.
• The impact of police use of force on community trust.
• The role of drug courts in addressing the opioid crisis.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child delinquency.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in workplace conflicts.
• The impact of wrongful convictions on the justice system.
• The role of restorative justice in addressing hate crimes.
• The relationship between mental health and police officer well-being.
• The effectiveness of drug prevention programs in rural communities.
• The impact of wildlife trafficking on biodiversity.
• The role of reentry programs for older offenders.
• The relationship between mental health and school discipline.
• The effectiveness of therapeutic communities in prisons.
• The impact of racial profiling on immigration enforcement.
• The role of victim impact statements in sentencing decisions.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child protection.
• The effectiveness of drug courts for military veterans.
• The impact of cyber espionage on national security.
• The role of restorative justice in addressing workplace harassment.
• The relationship between mental health and juvenile justice involvement.
• The effectiveness of school-based prevention programs in reducing violence.
• The impact of police corruption on public trust.
• The role of reentry programs for individuals with disabilities.
• The relationship between mental health and police officer use of force.
• The effectiveness of harm reduction strategies in combating drug addiction.
• The impact of racial profiling on traffic stops.
• The role of victim compensation programs in addressing the aftermath of crime.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child welfare involvement.
• The effectiveness of drug courts for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• The impact of cyber warfare on international relations.
• The role of restorative justice in addressing workplace discrimination.

These 123 crime and punishment essay topic ideas provide a wide range of possibilities to explore and analyze various aspects of criminal behavior, punishment, and societal responses. Choose a topic that interests you and aligns with your research goals, and delve into the fascinating world of crime and its consequences.

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45 Crime and Punishment Essay Topics

Understanding the depth and breadth of “Crime and Punishment” is essential to effectively approach related essay topics. The text touches upon various aspects – the themes the author explores, the book’s characters and their influence on the plot, the literary techniques employed, and the story’s settings, to name a few. An essay on the subject should be thorough, and missing out on any aspect could signify a lack of dedication.

Choosing a topic can be a daunting task. But when given the freedom to choose, it also offers an opportunity to delve into an area that genuinely interests you.

Tips to Choose the Right Essay Topic:

Begin Broadly : Start with a general subject and then narrow it down. Eliminate topics that don’t resonate with you, leaving 3-to 5 you feel confident about.

Topic Characteristics : The topic should be interesting, relevant, and something you can thoroughly discuss.

Suggested Topics for Crime and Punishment Essays:

• Author’s perspective on crime.
• Svidrigailov’s dignified end: An in-depth analysis.
• Portrayal of women in the narrative.
• Evaluating freedom’s concept in “Crime and Punishment”.
• Interpretation of law within the book.
• Representation of Christianity.
• Contrasting characters: Svidrigailov and Raskolnikov.
• Theme of crime and its repercussions.
• Relationship between law enforcement and justice.
• Analyzing motives behind murders in the book.
• Role of suffering in character development.
• Exploration of poverty and its effects.
• Mental torment faced by Raskolnikov post-crime.
• Significance of dreams in the novel.
• Examination of family bonds.
• Symbolism of blood in the storyline.
• Exploration of Raskolnikov’s theory of extraordinary men.
• Influence of urban settings on the story’s mood.
• The theme of resurrection and renewal.
• Role of fate and free will in the narrative.
• Analysis of secondary characters and their significance.
• Social commentary and criticism in the book.
• Exploration of the moral dilemma faced by characters.
• The journey of redemption in the storyline.
• The importance of confession in the narrative.
• Exploration of the duality of human nature.
• Examination of love as a redeeming force.
• The philosophical underpinnings in the storyline.
• Mental illness and its portrayal in the book.
• Influence of the author’s personal life on the narrative.
• Examination of despair and hope in the story.
• The role of sacrifice in “Crime and Punishment”.
• Analysis of the prison setting and its significance.
• Exploration of the concept of justice in the book.
• The juxtaposition of youth and age in the narrative.
• Raskolnikov’s philosophical conflicts.
• The underlying theme of existentialism.
• Exploration of pride and its consequences.
• Analysis of friendship dynamics in the story.
• Examination of the power dynamics in the narrative.
• Discussion on moral judgments and their implications.
• The theme of alienation in “Crime and Punishment”.
• Analysis of the epilog and its significance.

Practical Essay Ideas :

• Dive into the historical setting of “Crime and Punishment”.
• Explore the primary themes addressed by Dostoevsky.
• Analyze the characters’ roles in the development of the plot.
• Assess how the narrative impacts readers’ perceptions of crime.
• Evaluate the language and its efficacy in delivering the intended message.
• Reasons “Crime and Punishment” is deemed a classic.
• Dostoevsky’s take on the legal system.

Need Assistance with Your Essay?

Crafting an insightful essay on “Crime and Punishment” requires a deep understanding of the book. If you’re finding it challenging, our experienced essay writers are here to help. With their expertise on the subject, no topic is too challenging. Reach out today and let an expert assist you.

Crime and Punishment Essay Topics

Crime and punishment essay topics: 55 approved ideas.

The purpose of writing the essay is to understand the subject better and to remember useful information. In addition, when we work on a paper, we develop organizational and goal-oriented skills that are useful in the study and common life.

As a rule, students are offered a fairly wide range of essay topics about Crime and Punishment. Choosing the right theme that will meet the future author’s cognitive interests is very important. In addition, the topic should not be too general, global since a relatively small amount of work will not allow it to reveal it at 100%.

How to Select the Best Crime and Punishment Essay Topic?

Let’s formulate a topic for the essay. Sometimes the teacher gives it to you specifically. Sometimes he asks you to choose from a long list of topics. Sometimes he leaves you with complete freedom of choice, as long as the paper is a part of the course. When choosing a topic, it is important to be guided by one’s interest too. If the theme is close and interesting to you, writing a paper will be quick and enjoyable. This works even on Dostoevsky topics which are inherently deeper and more complicated than others.

The availability of literature should also be taken into account. If you have time to think, it is better to mark two or three topics for yourself (no more) and to search for already existing research. Choose a theme on which there will be a lot of quality material.

When writing an essay, remember these things:

• The essay does not copy books and articles word for word and is not an outline.
• The literature essay is not written by one source, and it is not a report.
• The essay cannot be a literature review.
• In the essay, the material collected on the topic is systematized and synthesized.

Below we have prepared for you a list of “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky themes that are most suitable for the US study establishments.

List of Crime and Punishment Essay Topics: TOP-15

• The main characters of the novel.
• The deep analysis of the novel .
• Heroes of the novel.
• Doubles of Raskolnikov in the novel.
• The kindness of Sonya Marmeladova.
• Dunya Raskolnikova.
• Female images in the novel.
• Raskolnikov’s cruelty.
• Raskolnikov’s idea.
• History of the novel’s creation.
• Rodion’s room.
• Rodion’s mother.
• Kindness and Cruelty in “Crime and Punishment.”
• Revenge and Generosity in “Crime and Punishment.”
• Dream and Reality in “Crime and Punishment.”

15 Good Essay Topics for Crime and Punishment

• Raskolnikov’s dream.
• The motive for the murder of Raskolnikov.
• Raskolnikov’s punishment.
• The life of St. Petersburg in the novel.
• The image and thoughts of Rodion.
• The image and thoughts of Svidrigailov.
• The comparison of images and thoughts of Svidrigailov and Luzhin.
• The image and thoughts of Sonya.
• Description of Marmeladov.
• Raskolnikov’s truth and Sonya’s truth.
• The truth of Sonya Marmeladova.
• The reasons for the crime of Raskolnikov.
• The main problems of the novel .
• The Marmeladov family.
• Raskolnikov’s family.

10 Popular Crime and Punishment Essay Topics in 2023

• Role of rehabilitation in criminal justice systems.
• Exploring the effectiveness of restorative justice practices.
• Analyzing the relationship between poverty and crime rates.
• Impact of technology on modern-day crime prevention.
• Juvenile delinquency. Understanding causes and solutions.
• Examining the ethics of capital punishment in contemporary society.
• Influence of media portrayal on public perception of criminals.
• Addressing cybercrime. Challenges and strategies for prevention.
• Influence of social media on crime reporting and public perceptions.
• Relationship between mental health and criminal behavior.

5 Crime and Punishment Essay Questions

• Why did Rodion confess?
• Why did Rodion kill the old money-lender?
• What is the meaning of comparing Luzhin and Raskolnikov?
• Why does Rodion suffer and is tormented after the crime?
• Why did Rodion commit a crime?

10 Crime and Punishment Essay Ideas

• The meaning of the title of the novel.
• The meaning of Raskolnikov’s theory.
• Rodion’s dreams and their meaning.
• Rodion’s dream about hard labor.
• Rodion’s dream of a horse.
• Sonya and Rodion – they were resurrected by love.
• Raskolnikov’s theory in the novel.
• Raskolnikov’s theory and its collapse.
• The murder of the old woman-pawnbroker by Raskolnikov.
• Luzhin’s or Porfiry Petrovich, Svidrigailov, Sonya Marmeladova, Raskolnikov and Sonya characteristics.

Can’t Find One Good Topic? No Worries!

To create a high-quality paper on literature, you need to love this specialty very much. Unfortunately, a few students are well versed in this subject, although it is relatively easy. Some students find it difficult to correctly express their thoughts and draw competent conclusions regarding any theme, so they order a literature paper.

If you also have problems with the topic, you can place an order on our write my paper help website. Our company employs good literature specialists. They will be engaged in the creation of a professional paper. Our authors are responsible for their work. Therefore, if necessary, they will certainly correct the material and make the required revisions. A literature paper will allow you to save your time and prepare well for defense. We wish you every success!

I have always wanted to combine my passion for writing with a desire to help people. Now, I have a perfect job where I can express myself through my imagination and assist students with their assignments as well.

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Crime and Punishment

68 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Raskolnikov’s punishment for murders consists of psychological torment he puts himself through and the prison sentence imposed by the state. Which is more punitive? Why?

Dunia is intelligent, strong-willed, and moral. How does Dunia’s force of personality manifest in the novel?

Compare and contrast Svidrigailov and Luzhin, both of whom represent a different social class from the other characters.

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Crime and Punishment

Fyodor dostoevsky, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Crime and Punishment: Introduction

Crime and punishment: plot summary, crime and punishment: detailed summary & analysis, crime and punishment: themes, crime and punishment: quotes, crime and punishment: characters, crime and punishment: symbols, crime and punishment: theme wheel, brief biography of fyodor dostoevsky.

Historical Context of Crime and Punishment

Other books related to crime and punishment.

• Full Title: Crime and Punishment (In Russian: Prestuplenie i nakazanie )
• When Written: 1865-1866
• Where Written: St. Petersburg
• When Published: 1866 (serially, in twelve installments)
• Literary Period: Realism
• Genre: Psychological realism
• Setting: St. Petersburg, Russia; 1860s
• Climax: Raskolnikov confesses to Sonya his murder of the pawnbroker and Lizaveta
• Antagonist: Porfiry Petrovich
• Point of View: Third-person omniscient

Extra Credit for Crime and Punishment

The Problem of Translation. The Russian language is filled with prefixes, suffixes, and forms of words that allow for numerous shades of meaning, depending on circumstances, and which allow certain ideas to recur throughout a text. For example, the Russian word for crime used often in the novel can be translated as “stepping over”—and the idea of “overstepping” the bounds of civilized society becomes a fixation of Raskolnikov’s throughout the work. Dostoevsky has been translated into English many times over the past one hundred-odd years, with the most recent version (the version used as the basis for this guide) being Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky’s 1992 translation. This latter version, in the words of the translator, attempts to capture both the “roughness” of Dostoevsky’s language and the repetitions and echoes that are a hallmark of his prose.

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Crime and Punishment [IELTS Topics]

Posted by David S. Wills | Nov 20, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 0

If you have practised for IELTS writing, then you have more than likely encountered the IELTS topic of crime and punishment . I am not talking about the book by Russian novelist , Fyodor Dostoevsky. Instead, I mean the general topic that covers issues relating to crime, criminals, police, the law, and methods of punishing lawbreakers.

This is a pretty common topic in IELTS writing and also in the speaking test, so today I would like to show you some useful vocabulary and also to run through some crime and punishment IELTS essays so that you can better understand this topic.

IELTS Vocabulary for Crime and Punishment

If you want to prepare for the topic of crime and punishment, then you should learn some vocabulary to help you discuss it with ease. A great way to start is to read some news articles about crime. You can try searching your favourite English-language news source. I recommend the BBC , but any high-quality news outlet is fine. You might also find it useful to search Wikipedia for crime-related topics, such as “ capital punishment .” These will invariably contain many useful words. For example:

Of course, I usually stress that you should not just learn words in isolation. Try to learn groups of words that commonly go together or longer phrases that might help you. For example, you could learn some adjectives and nouns that go together:

• law-abiding citizens
• hardened criminals

It is also worth noting that the word “criminal” can be a noun or an adjective:

• criminal behaviour (adjective)
• an unrepentant criminal (noun)

Notice that I am mixing adjectives and nouns to provide more accurate and also colourful language. This is a good way to improve your writing skills – but of course it only helps when the language is used accurately.

Here is a video that I recently made covering the topic of crime and punishment as it relates to IELTS. This includes some useful vocabulary to talk about the court system:

• attorney vs solicitor
• capital punishment and its synonyms
• jail vs prison

More Vocabulary: Types of Crime and Criminals

If you want to talk about crime, then it would be useful to know the name of various crimes and also the criminal associated with them. Here’s a list of crime words I made for you:

IELTS Speaking: Crime and Punishment

The topic of crime and punishment could be considered quite controversial in some ways. Think about the issues that arise: imprisonment, violence, reforming criminals. These are serious issues that cannot be summed up in short sentences without further justification. As such, this is not a common topic for part one of the speaking test.

Likewise, you probably would not be asked to talk about this for part two. Can you imagine if the cue card said, “Describe a criminal you know?” 🤨 That would not really be appropriate. It has the potential to make people feel embarrassed or ashamed or even to completely draw a blank.

Therefore, crime and punishment mostly arises in part three of the IELTS speaking test. This is where you are asked about bigger issues that require more thought and explanation. These can be viewed as similar to the sorts of question you see in task two of the writing exam.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions: Crime

Here are some example questions and answers from part three of the speaking test:

Q: Do you think that young criminals should be sent to prison for serious crimes?

A: No, I do not think that it is right to send young offenders to prison. In fact, that seems to be the worst way to deal with them. In any advanced society, juvenile delinquents should be dealt with through education, with the intention of reforming them into law-abiding adults. Sending them to jail or prison simply puts them in contact with other criminals and makes them more likely to commit further offenses.

Q: What do you think makes people commit acts of violent crime?

A: Well, crimes have different motivations. Some are committed out of desperation and others are crimes of passion. In other words, they are spur-of-the-moment offenses that had no forethought. Then there are other crimes that are definitely pre-meditated. These are the worst ones and probably the hardest to pin down in terms of motivation. In any case, it is hard to say what makes people do these things, except that it depends entirely upon the individual case.

Q: Do you think that video games encourage young people to commit crimes?

A: No, absolutely not, and the scientific consensus nowadays appears to back that stance. The idea that video games encourage people to commit crimes is laughable. If this was true, we would have to go and censor TV and books, and even change how we report the news. People who are going to commit crimes do so for a variety of reasons, but to suggest that they do it to imitate a game is quite absurd. If someone really did claim that their crime was inspired by a computer game, they would probably be lying or else they had underlying mental issues that made them particularly susceptible to outside influences.

Crime and Punishment IELTS Essay Topics

This topic is much more common in the writing exam than other parts because it requires the expression of complex ideas. As such, you will see many IELTS writing task 2 questions about crime and punishment.

Common sub-topics include:

• young people and crime
• capital punishment
• reasons for criminal behaviour
• reforming offenders

Crime and Punishment IELTS Essay

Here is a quite representative task 2 essay question:

Some people think that offenders should be put in prison. Others, however, believe that providing offenders with education and training is more effective than putting them in prison. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Sample Band 9 Answer

For thousands of years, people have discussed the different ways of dealing with criminals, and even in the modern era there is a great degree of disagreement on this subject. Some believe that prison is an effective measure, but others argue that education and training would be better. This essay will look at both sides of the argument and then argue in favour of a balanced approach.

For centuries, prisons have been used as a way of both punishing criminals and keeping them away from law-abiding citizens. Although it works as a deterrent and also as a practical means of keeping society safe, it is not without its controversy. For one thing, prisons are notorious hubs of gang activity, and impressionable young lawbreakers can easily be moulded into hardened criminals during a short stint behind bars. Moreover, prisons are violent places where young offenders can be raped, beaten, or even killed during their sentence, and when they are released they carry with them the stigma of their incarceration. This means that they will struggle to return to normal society and, for this reason, recidivism rates can be quite high in some places. Thus, although prisons are an effective means of punishing people and keeping society safe, they are not without substantial problems.

On the other hand, educating and training criminals is controversial because people tend to think of it as overly lenient. Many law-abiding citizens believe that those who break the law should be punished harshly or else there is little reason to adhere to the rules. However, this approach should not be seen as rewarding criminals but rather rehabilitating people who were pushed to extreme actions by their unfortunate circumstances. Statistically, most prison inmates come from backgrounds of poverty and abuse, so giving them a helping hand can be more beneficial than punishing them and then hoping that they do not return to a life of crime.

In conclusion, this is an extremely complex issue that requires serious scrutiny, but it appears as though prison should be reserved only for violent and habitual offenders while the majority of petty criminals should be dealt with through education and training.

Notes on the Answer

There was a lot of great vocabulary in this answer for the purposes of a descriptive and thoughtful essay:

• impressionable young lawbreakers
• a short stint behind bars
• the stigma of their incarceration
• recidivism rates
• rehabilitating
• requires serious scrutiny
• petty criminals

Task 1 – Crime-related Essays

For IELTS writing task 1, it is also possible that you could have to describe data about crime. This is harder to predict because it really could be about almost anything, but here is an example of a line graph about various types of criminal activity:

The line graph shows changes in crime rates over a ten-year period in the city centre of Newport. Three types of crimes are listed, two of which ended the period at roughly similar levels to where they began, and one experienced a major drop.

In 2003, which was the beginning of the recorded period, burglary was the most common type of crime in Newport, with just under 3,500 cases reported. This rose slightly the following year, before entering into a long downward trend, reaching a low of about 1,200 in 2008. After this, the number of burglaries reported fluctuated until 2012.

The number of car thefts was about 2,800 in 2003, and ended the period slightly lower, at 2,700. During the decade-long period, it fluctuated, reaching low points in 2006 and 2008. Car theft was the second most common type of crime in 2003, but the fall in burglaries meant that from 2008 onwards, they were the most common crime in Newport.

Robberies were the least common crime and followed a somewhat similar trend to that of car thefts, starting and ending the period with around 700 incidents. It fluctuated only slightly during the ten-year period.

This essay originally appeared here .

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Crime & Punishment Essay Titles

IELTS Essay Questions for the Topic of Crime & Punishment. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and seem to have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the years the questions were reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below. This topic is more likely to appear in the Academic test than the GT writing test. However, all candidates should prepare for all topics to be safe.

Crime & Punishment Essay Questions for IELTS Writing Task 2

The crime rate nowadays is decreasing compared to the past due to advance technology which can prevent and solve crime. Do you agree or disagree? (Reported 2017, 2021 Academic Test)

Many criminals commit further crimes as soon as they released from prison. What do you think are the causes of this? What possible solutions can you suggest? (Reported 2015, 2017, 2022 Academic Test)

It is often thought that the increase in juvenile crime can be attributed to violence in the media. Do you agree that this is the main cause of juvenile crime? What solutions can you offer to deal with this situation? (common question)

In some societies, the number of crimes committed by teenagers is growing. Some people think that regardless of age, teenagers who commit major crimes should receive adult punishment. To what extent do you agree? (2020, 2023)

Some countries are struggling with an increase in the rate of crime. Many people think that having more police on the streets is the only way to reduce crime. To what extent do you agree? (2018, 2020)

Some people think that women should not be allowed to work in the police force. Do you agree or disagree?

Many crimes are often related to the consumption of alcohol. Some people think that the best way to reduce the crime rate is to ban alcohol. Do you think this is an effective measure against crime? What other solutions can you suggest?

Some people think certain prisoners should be made to do unpaid community work instead of being put behind bars. To what extent do you agree? (Reported 2017, 2020, GT Test)

Many people believe that having a fixed punishment for all crimes is more efficient. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a fixed punishment? (common question)

Some people think that the government should be responsible for crime prevention, while others believe that it is the responsibility of the individual to protect themselves. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

The death penalty is the best way to control and reduce serious crime. To what extent do you agree? (2018, 2020)

While it is sometimes thought that prison is the best place for criminals, others believe that there are better ways to deal with them. What is your opinion? (common question – this is often reworded with a focus on the best ways to deal with criminals)

Crime rate, in most countries, is often higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Why do you think that is? What can be done to reduce the crime rate?

Some people think that poverty is the reason behind most crimes. Do you agree or disagree?

Internet crime is increasing rapidly as more and more people are using the internet to make financial transactions. What can be done to tackle this problem ?

Some people think that the parents of children who commit crime should also receive a punishment. Do you agree or disagree? (2020)

Reported essay questions are from students who have taken their IELTS test. That means questions may have appeared more frequently than have been reported. These questions may vary slightly in wording and focus from the original question. Also note that these questions could also appear in IELTS speaking part 3 which is another good reason to prepare all topics thoroughly.

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Fresh Writing Prompts for a Killer Crime Essay (2023)

If you are a newbie or curious first-time reader, you may be asking yourself, “What is crime essay?” As the name suggests, it is a coherent set of ideas on an illegal act for which the government punishes someone.

Wait a minute,

“What does that have to do with me? I am only but a high school or college student.” Bottom-line is that you will have to write a crime essay at one point of your academic progress. It is, therefore, crucial for you to be ready. First of all, why don’t we take a look at the sample essay on the crime and punishment?

Crime And Punishment Essay Sample Under classical theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes when there is a lack of proper or sufficient punishments or deterrents in place (Rawlins, 2005). These theories place a heavy reliance on the notions of free will and self-pleasure, essentially arguing that people commit crime because they have the chance or opportunity to, and that by doing so they are gaining some sort of pleasure or enjoyment out of it (Samaha, ). On the other hand, sociological theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes due to a lack of proper ways and means of rehabilitating criminal behavior (Rawlins, 2005). Yet interestingly enough, when it comes to why people commit crimes, a lack of rehabilitation is not the only reason these theories offer as an explanation. Instead, sociological theories sometimes claim that criminal activity is often the result of the relationship individuals build with other people, or the environment that is surrounding them, and that the only way to fix this is to change their behaviors by changing the relationships that they have or improving the quality of the environments in which they live (Rawlins, 2005). Some of the sociological theories of crime commission take these notions even further and offer more specific explanations for why people commit crimes. One example of this comes from social conflict theory, which explains that the reason why people commit crimes is because the law is controlled by the rich and powerful and that these people are simply defining their behaviors as illegal (Rawlins, 2005). Another example takes this even further and comes in the form of the labeling theory, which essentially argues that people commit crimes because they are given labels as criminals at a point in their lives, and then these individuals end up having to organize their lives around such a label and in turn, end up continuing to commit crimes because it is what they believe they are supposed to be doing (Rawlins, 2005). On the other hand, I think that people really commit crimes due to a combination of different reasons, and that the best explanations for their behaviors comes from the mixed perspectives offered by biological and psychological theories. With that being said, each of these theories for why people commit crime on their own, are also a bit of a stretch. For one, biological theory blames people committing crimes solely on the genetic, biochemical, or neurological problems that they inherited in their gene pool through birth (Rawlins, 2005). Likewise, psychological theory says that personality imbalances that arise through problems that occur during childhood (Rawlins, 2005). Although each of these seems to offer valid explanations for criminal behavior, often times when they are used just by themselves they appear to be offering more of an excuse for why most people commit crimes rather than explaining the full picture of why they take place. Under these positivist theories, all of the blame is basically take off of the individual who commits the crime and placed either on society or biology (Samaha, ). Instead, I strongly believe that people commit crimes for a whole host of different reasons and that each of these theories comes into play in some way, shape or form. Ultimately, biology and psychology may certainly play a big role in leading people towards a life of crime, and the sociological environment of people can put them in situations where they are even more likely to act on those biological and psychological roots that they possess. However, there still is the action itself, which in many ways is still best explained through classical theories on why people commit crimes.

Essays about crime are sensitive, and thus we have come up with professionally handpicked prompts to set the ball rolling for you.

Are you ready? Let’s get right into it then!

Latest Causes of Crime Essay Writing Prompts

• How do people decide to commit crimes? Are there any pre-meditations?
• Do people commit a crime to think about the benefits and the risks?
• Why do some criminals go ahead with their actions regardless of their consequences?
• Write on why some people never commit a crime regardless of the situation.
• What are the biological, social, psychological, and economic factors for crime?

Impressive Crime and Punishment Essay Prompts

• What is the relationship between punishment and opportunities in crime?
• Should social conditions fuelling crime be addressed first before punishment?
• Why most individuals fail to accept responsibility for their actions
• Are the current laws addressing punishment for offences effectively?
• Address the Biblical interpretation of crime and punishment
• Is murder a rational punishment for crime? Why?

Hate Crime Essay Writing Ideas for College Students

• Why do factors such as race, religion, and sexual orientation act as a catalyst for hate?
• Give examples of traumatic national events that sparked hate crimes
• Are hate crime laws effectively mitigating this menace?
• Do hate crime laws violate a fundamental democratic principle? Explain
• Political values and attitudes that spread hate crimes during campaigns and elections

Hot Cyber Crime Essay Ideas

• Why is hacking of financial accounts the most prevalent type of cyber-crime?
• How has modern-day cyber terrorism evolved over the last five years?
• How the fast pace of internet growth has opened a world of information
• What is the performance of cyber cells in police stations?
• How cyber-crime violates not only the law but also human rights

Inspiring Poverty Causes Crime Essay Prompts

• Is poverty still in America, one of the most developed countries in the world? Why?
• How has crime contributed to poverty?
• Why impoverished urban areas are the salt for crime
• Why tossing cash at poor populaces does not help end crime.
• Why the shortage of fundamental necessities stirs up crime

Juvenile Crime Essay Ideas

• Why youthful crimes are rampant in modern society
• The dynamic role of the Juvenile Justice System
• Personality and juvenile crime offenders
• Practical strategies to curb juvenile delinquency
• How middle and high school contribute to minor offences

Why Do People Commit Crimes Essay Prompts

• Peer pressure as a cause of crime
• The role of poor parenting in crimes
• Addictions to alcohol and drugs and how they trigger crimes
• Discuss how education is a big part of committing crimes
• Do serial killers find it a pleasure killing people or they are slaves to this habit?

When tasked with a crime essay, do not get yourself all worked up. Instead, use our guru writing prompts or better still, ask for our professional custom writing help . We will be glad to help you come up with a top-grade paper!

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Crime Commitment and Punishment Essay (Critical Writing)

Crime commitment is a history-long and complicated social issue that has been addressed by many nations in a different way. Regardless of the variations between the views on the characteristic features of a crime and proper ways for punishment, one idea remains commonly relevant; namely, crimes are the results of delinquent behavior. Consequently, crime is committed by delinquents or people who have a desire, a need, or a psychological inclination to break the law. In my opinion, crimes are commonly committed by individuals whose judgment is impaired due to the strong adverse social influence. I believe that criminal activity is the result of social learning, which is why individuals who are raised in underprivileged communities or observe law-breaking since their youth are more likely to engage in unlawful behavior.

As for the crimes that our country should focus on, they should include the ones that have the most significant damage as the outcome. For example, murder, serial murders, and rape should be addressed with a particular level of precision since they result in the loss of human lives or significant psychological trauma. On the other hand, the crimes that the law enforcing system should concentrate on should include not only the most serious offenses but also those prevailing in contemporary society but not sufficiently addressed. For example, assault, bullying, and discrimination are some of the issues that require special attention.

Finally, the punishment that is required for crimes should be aligned with a general perspective of the corrective system on the interplay between delinquency and its outcomes for an offender. Indeed, I think that the law-enforcing system should work toward shifting from punishing to correcting the behavior of the individuals who commit crimes. While imprisonment is a valid punishment for severe crimes, it is important to implement correctional activities. They should be aimed at restructuring the psyche of the criminals and helping them learn new behaviors that would allow them to become law-abiding citizens in the future.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, October 9). Crime Commitment and Punishment. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-commitment-and-punishment/

"Crime Commitment and Punishment." IvyPanda , 9 Oct. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/crime-commitment-and-punishment/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Crime Commitment and Punishment'. 9 October.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Crime Commitment and Punishment." October 9, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-commitment-and-punishment/.

1. IvyPanda . "Crime Commitment and Punishment." October 9, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-commitment-and-punishment/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Crime Commitment and Punishment." October 9, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/crime-commitment-and-punishment/.

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