Does Crime Pay?

 There are two significant views about crime: first, those who believe crime is wrong say, “Crime doesn’t pay.” That is because the negative consequences of being caught are not worth any benefit the crime brings to the perpetrator.

The second view: “Crime does pay.” Those who believe that crime does pay. Few really think there is nothing to be gained from criminal activity. If that were true, criminals would have learned the lesson by now. However, all over the world, crime continues to happen. Those who break the law believe they will benefit.

One of the reasons criminals believe today that crime pays is because it does. Many of our laws have enabled them to continue their criminal behavior and not be punished. An example is California’s infamous law allowing a person to steal up to $1000 without punishment. Doing away with the cash bail system in many cities has allowed criminals to be turned back on the street as fast as they are arrested. There are those in our society who love the criminal and want to excuse lawless behavior because the perpetrator has not had an equal chance in life. Therefore, for the most part, we do not have severe enough consequences to deter criminal behavior. Today, there is a lack of moral clarity, which effectively enables criminals to continue their lifestyles. There’s a fear that overly strict punishments disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

This view of not punishing criminals because they haven’t had a fair shake in life would be what Solomon wrote about: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25). Also Solomon spoke about what happens when we fail to swiftly punish the criminal we only encourage others to do the same: “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong” Ecclesiastes 8:11). The lack of a strong deterrent is a strong reason for others to join the criminal in his illegal and immoral behavior: “You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you” Deuteronomy 19:19-20). Consequently, crime continues the world over because crime can pay.

Christians believe in reform and rehabilitation, which the Gospel does. However, this does not mean that we ignore what criminals perpetrate on society.

However, it would be wrong of us to believe that evil criminals are the only ones who do wrong. We should not overlook the wrong we all do—a small lie, rude behavior, a broken promise, a lousy attitude, good we could have done but didn’t.  We do these things because we think we can gain something of benefit, some advantage, power, or even revenge. Our only hope for ourselves is to place our faith and confidence in the one who can save us and rehabilitate us—Jesus Christ.