When we say that crime is a social phenomenon, we are reviewing the various interpretations that have been passed down to us ever since the Bible. Some “moralists” contend that crime is the result of an individual’s “immorality” – that is, the criminal’s disdain of the Commandments, which are seen as an encapsulation of Man’s weaknesses – envy, sloth, avarice, anger, etc. Another approach is the psychological stance – individuals are mentally deficient, and lack the mental capacity to weigh the rightness or wrongness of their actions.
But the sociological approach contends that criminals are simply seeking what we all seek – sustenance, acceptance, status, comfort, relief from pain (especially hunger), etc. -- and, as such, society is to blame more than the individual, because society does not provide adequately for everyone, and consequently some individual must step outside the boundaries of the law to satisfy their needs, and these people are then called “criminals.” A ready example is the book and play and movie Les Miserables, in which Jean Valjean becomes a “criminal” by stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family. Modern sociological causes of criminality are drug addiction, unemployment, gang membership, etc. So as long as Society is not allowing everyone to flourish, there will be crime and criminals.
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