Arrest the Excuses, Not Just the Criminals

Society’s willingness to rationalise crime has become a greater menace than crime itself. By tolerating excuses rather than enforcing accountability, we have inadvertently dismantled the very safeguards essential to civil order. When criminals know their actions can be explained away by pseudo psychological trauma, economic hardship, or systemic oppression, they perceive minimal risk. The predictable consequence is more crime, not less.

Historically, communities with strong moral clarity about wrongdoing have managed crime effectively, not by psychological indulgence or endless compassion, but by holding individuals directly accountable for their decisions. When standards are clear, criminal actions diminish, when ambiguity reigns, criminality thrives. This simple truth, recognised across centuries, is now largely neglected in favour of subjective explanations that obscure responsibility and detest accountability.

Experts in criminal psychology have long understood that crime is seldom driven purely by desperation or ignorance. Rather, criminality more often results from calculated decisions, made easier when the offender senses little social or legal resistance. The idea that poverty or a harsh upbringing invariably leads to crime ignores the majority of people from similar backgrounds who live decent, law-abiding lives. Such assumptions dishonour the moral agency and dignity of individuals by treating them as helpless products of their environments rather than responsible actors.

Effective justice is rooted in holding each individual personally accountable. The weakening of criminal penalties, paired with ideological narratives that relieve criminals of moral responsibility, erodes deterrence. It signals to potential offenders that their actions carry no meaningful consequences. This approach doesn't protect communities, it exposes them to increasing harm, victimising precisely those most vulnerable and least able to bear the social and economic costs of crime.

Data consistently demonstrate that communities adopting firm accountability standards experience reductions in crime. Conversely, regions where officials prefer therapeutic explanations over moral accountability suffer increased rates of violence and lawlessness. This is not coincidence, it is the direct outcome of policies that replace clear standards with ambiguous excuses. Until we collectively recognise and correct this foundational flaw, crime will persist, unaffected by the empty platitudes of social theorists and detached policymakers.

Centuries of renowned philosophers of justice and economics remind us that clarity and certainty in law and consequence strengthen social cohesion and protect individual freedom. A functioning society demands that we punish harmful acts rather than rationalise them. Genuine compassion lies in providing clear consequences that deter further criminality, thereby safeguarding both potential victims and offenders themselves from further harm.

We must reject the corrosive narrative that criminals are mere victims of circumstance. Every human being faces hardship, yet most navigate life without resorting to violence or theft. By refusing to indulge excuses and returning to clear standards of moral accountability, we can restore social trust and reduce crime. This approach recognises the dignity and autonomy of each individual, affirming their capacity for moral choice. Justice, therefore, must arrest excuses as readily as it arrests criminals, for only then can society regain the safety and order necessary for genuine human flourishing. From the author.

The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security and Risk Consultant with 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. Sam has trained over 1,000 entry level security personnel, taught defensive tactics, weapons training and handcuffs to policing personnel and the public. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organisations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.