As part of preparing for University, new students were encouraged to engage in a number of different activities. For CRI1009 Imagining Crime, students were invited to contribute a blog on the above topic. These blog entries mark the first piece of degree level writing that students engaged with as they started reading for their BA (Hons) Criminology. With the students’ agreement these thought provoking blogs have been brought together in a series which we will release over the next few weeks.

Does a good society need morality? A successful criminal justice system? A strong economic system?

What are the requirements for a good society? Personally, I believe the answer to that question depends on the person it is being proposed to, so in this entry you will hear about my own opinion on what a society truly needs to be regarded as “good” and several other outlooks.

Some would argue including myself that a good society must depend on virtues to provide its foundations. Underpinning all values is a firm belief in being respected, regardless of background, age, ethnicity, or gender. Thus, tolerability is a key moral in modern day as the world is constantly progressing into a more diverse, expressible place therefore it is essential people tolerate the qualities that make everyone unique. For society to improve it is vital people listen and reflect on what they have heard, as conflicting opinions do not essentially mean either one is right- a concept that has been lost in today’s society but is a key requirement of a good one.

Respect promotes mutual understanding and contributes to effective communication. It also builds trust between individuals which is imperative to society, a good society must include elements of trust. Trust is found in relationships, friendships and within the work/education setting. It is the key to social harmony as people who trust one another are more willing to cooperate and work productively. Furthermore, research has linked trust with economic growth, democracy, tolerance, charity, community, health, and happiness therefore showing the widespread effects a simple belief can have. With trust comes honesty. In a world that thrives on trust, honesty serves as the ethical foundation upon which a trustworthy society is built. It is through honesty that we establish a social fabric of integrity, reliability, and transparency which are all key values needed for a good society to flourish.

I personally believe along with many others these virtues have the ability to at the very least improve society as they pave the way for cooperation, teamwork and a happier life.

Other people may focus on an effective criminal justice system when they view the requirements of a good society. Why is the Criminal Justice System Important? The criminal justice system is designed to deliver justice for all which means protecting the innocent, convicting criminals, and providing a fair justice process to help keep order across the country. In other words, it keeps our citizens safe. In order for justice to be served the police, the courts, the CPS and probation services all must work together to achieve the common goal, building a better society.

A stable economy may also be seen as a requirement for a good society due to the widespread positive effects it has such as how it improves peoples living standards and contributes to economic growth and development. It also provides people with more employment opportunities and increases public expenditure.

In conclusion, a good society cannot be determined by just one factor but by many.

As part of preparing for University, new students were encouraged to engage in a number of different activities. For CRI1009 Imagining Crime, students were invited to contribute a blog on the above topic. These blog entries mark the first piece of degree level writing that students engaged with as they started reading for their BA (Hons) Criminology. With the students’ agreement these thought provoking blogs have been brought together in a series which we will release over the next few weeks.

I will start off by saying it is difficult to say whether we live in a good society or not because there are a lot of factors to take into consideration before making such a claim.

I believe the justice system, despite what anyone says is still as racist and sexist as ever.

In 2022, out of police officers whose ethnicity was known, white people made up 91.9% of the police force. (gov.uk, 2023), this number shows that the police force is predominantly white, which does not represent diversity, especially because currently society are trying to change to become more diverse and represent equality, that is why we see movements like Black Lives Matter blowing up.

In 2023, 36.8% of police officers were females, (statista, 2023), making the overall police force predominantly, white males. This does not represent the general population at all. It is easy to understand why people often have negative views on the police force and why people feel as though the police are working against them rather than for them, This can reduce the authority people believe the police have over them, thus increasing the rates of crimes.

Another take could be that because of the rise in social media and video games, kids and young adults who have accessed these materials for most of their lives start to forget real life consequences. The aims of some of the most popular video games, such as (Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite and Call of Duty) involve the killing of other characters, whilst some are worse than others, they all present one thing in common, when you kill a character, they come back to life. From when we are young, we understand that when someone passes it is irreversible, However, what the younger generation lack now is the knowledge that consequences have actions. In a video game and on social media people are constantly faced with death, real or not, it is desensitising us and numbing our understanding of how delicate human life is.

I also think that the fact that there is a consequence to every action needs to be taught to the kids of our generation, as more and more kids are being manipulated into selling drugs, by the idea that they will get money out of it, but also that they will be protected and wouldn’t get into trouble for it, also raising the crime rates.

I believe that the society we live in now is corrupted, with people lacking humanity and authority. I believe the world could be better if we gained these things back. It is important for us as humans to feel safe and secure, and with the raising crime rates, I certainly do not feel safe.