Contemplations of a Budding Criminologist

The following blog post is from a student of mine (Marlon King)
but truth be told I struggle to refer to him as my student. From where I sit he could easily be my professor. He was part of a trio who played a tremendous part in the starting of this blog. In this, his maiden entry he intuitively raised some of the issues that my interview with Ken Pryce revealed. (just so you know he wrote this prior to me writing the interview blog) I understand this post to be part of a duo entry. This being just the appetizer before he serves us the entree. I hope it teases you. I have aptly titled it the “Contemplations of a Budding Criminologist.” I don’t know how he would feel of my categorization of him. Here we go! 


"For some time now I have been contemplating what should be the focus of my first contribution to this blog. Considering that crime and criminality are the main focus of this blog, what should be discussed? 

Should it be the myriad attempts by various governments to stem the tide of crime? The lack of a proper academic discussion on what are the root causes of crime? Or maybe the scarcity of any real statistics outside of the police service on the effects of crime on industry. 

Should it be the effect of crime on the national psyche? The truth of the matter is crime is something that has been discussed at all levels of society, yet it remains just that; a discussion.

In contemplating a research proposal, the astute scientist will ask himself certain questions as to the viability of the research, its assistance to mankind to make life better and the most effective methodology to be employed in achieving the desired outcomes. Most importantly, has it been done before and what were the results and if improvements can be made. All these questions are necessary because if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. 

Similarly, if we fail to ask the appropriate questions, then we may not find the appropriate responses to the problem of crime. Taken from a national perspective, then can we as a people comment that we have been asking the appropriate questions as politicians, academics, law enforcement agents, judges, teachers, citizens and so on. 

Crime is considered a normal part of a normal society. Rampant criminality is not. We need to start asking the right questions. The right questions begin with identyfying the issue, its scope, parameters, changing and constant variables involved and the environment in which it operates. From there, we can begin to encapsulate ideas that work for ‘US' and not imported wholesale from a foreign jurisdiction. Trinbago is a funny place and all the crime TV shows in the world will not help us. We need to develop our own domestic theorists and strategies on crime. Enough with the short term solutions.


-Marlon King-"


Thank you Marlon for this post and we eagerly await the entree. I am excited to see if you would  serve us an examination of the various attempts to curb crime for example the 21st Century Policing, what exactly is it? Or our heavy reliance on joint army-police patrol, is that a betrayal of the original intent of policing advocated by its father Sir Robert Peel? Or would you poke a critique to us academics for our deafening silence on this crime issue? Or would you dish up a conversation on the fear of crime and how the present crime rate has truly messed with our psyche? I guess we will just have to wait and see.