Track 20

Track 20

Examiner: Why do you think people become criminals?

Student: Errr… because life can be difficult for some people. Crime can present an easy way to get things they want in life. Even though people know they shouldn’t do it, the temptation could be very strong, especially if they are in a desperate situation. Although they ought to work hard or get help, sometimes they just can’t.

Examiner: What do you think the role of prisons should be: punishment or rehabilitation?

Student: I think prisons should focus on rehabilitation more. This is because those prisoners will one day be back on the streets, and so education might make them better in society. Prisons ought to help solve the problem of crime. I think being in prison is punishment enough and so while people are in prisons, there should be some kind of constructive effort to change their behaviour.

Examiner: What do you think is the best way to deal with juvenile crime?

Student: Young people must have role models. This might prevent some young people getting involved in crime in the first place. Parents have to take responsibility for their children too. In fact, I think parents should be fined if their children commit a crime. I think this might be quite a good answer, as children can’t always know right or wrong without their parents telling them.

Examiner: Do you think people commit crimes because of violence on TV or in video games?

Student: No, I don’t. People don’t have to do what they see on a screen. People have their own minds and can tell the difference between reality or fiction. People can see violence on the news. It doesn’t make everyone who watches the news a potential criminal. People who are influenced by games and TV in this way probably have an underlying problem.

Examiner: Is crime always linked to poverty?

Student: Not always. Although I think that some crime is because of poverty, there are other factors which we ought to consider. For example, plain greed, laziness, mental illness and personal problems could also contribute to some crimes. We can look at things like crimes of passion or fraud which are not always committed due to poverty as examples.