CRIME and CANCER ? Verita Magazine: News, views & human ...

Charlie Daniels comments...

CRIME and CANCER ? there is a link
This week?s news suggests that women with a high genetic risk of breast cancer might be given drugs such as Tamoxifen in advance, in order to actually prevent cancer. Makes perfect sense doesn?t it? Avoid all the destruction, misery and pain in the first place? My own foster mother had breast cancer leading to a double mastectomy so the idea this could be prevented for other women is uplifting. But imagine if the politicians decided they were not going to do this. Imagine they felt the public would be more impressed and likely to vote for them if they could show the figures of those allowed to actually develop the cancer and then subsequently be treated rather than preventing the cancer in the first place. Just doesn?t make sense does it?

Now consider the buzz phrase ?reducing re-offending? ? constantly talked about by those in the Justice sector and the media. Figures are frequently shown about how many times those in prison have already been there and questions raised about breaking the seemingly impossible cycle.
You might assume preventing people falling into a life of crime a difficult task, yet there are groups in our society who are easily identifiable as ?at risk of offending? including young people in care, ex forces and those with addictions.

Once someone has had cancer even after treatment, there?s always the chance it can return. It?s the same reality for prisoners. According to the Ministry Of Justice, 26% re-offend within just 12 months and over 50% within a decade. Hardly surprising when you consider the odds against prisoners such as a lack of rehabilitation, little or no post prison support and the issue of finding employment once you have a criminal record. Naturally there is also more sympathy and support for cancer sufferers and there are even those who will even taken offence at my comparisons, however preventing crime doesn?t just positively affect the offender -
it affects all of us.

Here is just one example: we have spent decades arguing about which laws to change in order to prevent the deaths of vulnerable women brutally murdered by serial killers whilst selling sex on our streets.
Statistics suggest 90% of outdoor sex workers have spent some time in care ? a clear window of opportunity for positive intervention to prevent the slide into vice and addiction and possibly even deaths.

Sadly any positive intervention to prevent offending behaviour, requires a long term financial commitment. The problem with this politically speaking, is this doesn?t yield as many statistical results for the ?rescued? within a vote cycle as reducing re-offending.
It?s time for society to prioritise prevention rather than cure -
not just for cancer, but for crime as well?

Charlie Daniels is a bestselling author who campaigns for Positive Intervention with Young People in care: www.preventingoffending.co.uk

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Source: http://www.veritamag.com/2013/01/15/crime-and-cancer/

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