Illegal sports gambling will continue to grow unless there is a strong effort to enforce state and Federal laws prohibiting such activity (Saum pp). Even legal gambling of any kind divides many communities because some individuals often perceive it as socially destructive and morally wrong (Peck pp)
These subcultures discourage respect for property, encourage violence and revenge, and depress the economy of the areas in which they operate (Consensual pp). Federal and state laws prohibit the placing of bets on professional and college sporting events in every state except Nevada, yet, illegal sports wagering continues to prosper (Saum pp)
The most pressing threats arise from drug use and trafficking, as these behaviors are a catalyst to gang activity, intimidation of law-abiding citizens, robberies, assaults, murders, and other forms of violence and community degredation. Indeed, drug users are disproportionately represented among the most active and dangerous offenders, and violence associated with the trade easily spreads to the general population (Moore & Kleiman)
The bulk of evidence on policing has shown that the community-oriented approach can lead to dramatic reductions in violent crime, as it involves coordinated efforts among police departments, community organizations, and local government and social service agencies. Effective community policing consists of aggressive, proactive strategies with both crime-fighting and order-maintenance goals, where police are deployed on an ongoing basis, engage in daily contact with neighborhood residents, and maintain direct connections within communities in order to prevent crime from occurring in the first place (Zimmer)
In addition most recently there has been a great deal of attention paid to the economic benefits of marijuana. According to Dubner (2009), the decriminalizing of marijuana "a legally taxed and regulated marijuana market could generate upwards of $200 billion annually in excise tax revenues for the federal government & #8230; [which] would be enough to fund Medicaid (Dubner, 2009)
C. Prostitution Laws Some social scientists believe that the soliciting of prostitutes by men is natural (Farley 2004)
In states such as Alaska, California and Massachusetts, the possession of Marijuana for personal us has been decriminalized. However, some people have been prosecuted Federally even though marijuana was legal in the state in which they were found in possession of marijuana (Newbern, 2000)
However, many of these laws are rooted in the customs of religion (Victimless pp). Bookmaking and illegal betting are not victimless crimes and many of those involved often stray into other areas of crime, such as avoiding taxation (Keisser pp)
Most areas of the country, such as Long Beach, California, try to make open gaming as unfriendly as possible, and though it still may be a misdemeanor arrest, it does allow law enforcement to seize assets and recoup revenue for the state (Keisser pp). As of 2000, all but three states had some form of legal gambling, and 68% of American adults gambled during the previous year, losing well over $50 billion, which constitutes an astonishing yearly revenue for the gambling industry (Kelly pp)
Yet, bookies are available throughout the country and on college campuses, and are increasingly inked with organized crime (Kelly pp). In fact, it is safe to say that student bookies are present at every college and university, and there is no dispute that the impact of sports gambling is being felt on campuses across the country (Saum pp)
The victimless crimes are those crimes that do not have a direct or apparent target or victim and there is no direct pain inflicted or injury sustained in the crime. In most instances, the victimless crimes have been viewed as acts of consent between adults like sodomy, prostitution, gaming among others where there are no complainants and no harm is sustained in the process of such activities (Ward D.S., 2003)