Topic > Persuasive Essay on Electronic Surveillance - 1040

When a criminal is able to capture a victim in privacy where no one can see, he or she is likely to commit a crime. However, if he knew that there were surveillance cameras everywhere he went, he would be much less likely to commit the crime. He may begin to think, “If I commit this crime, I will be caught, so I shouldn't commit it.” A Connecticut city installed several security cameras in a neighborhood that had begun experiencing large numbers of crimes and homicides. They were able to pay for all the cameras with the grant money. A policeman in the area was quick to express his opinion. “Cameras have the psychological effect of making people feel safer.” Many citizens of the city supported the idea of ​​surveillance cameras, knowing that it would decrease crime in the areas. According to Jason Roche “the feeling of being watched has a profound effect on human psychology”. Roche, a writer for the Manhattan Daily Collegian, argues that the feeling of being watched can only improve human behavior. A feeling of tension and nervousness proliferates, causing citizens to be on their best behavior for fear of being caught doing something wrong. Gregory Suhr, a California police officer, said crime in San Francisco dropped 30 percent after the cameras were installed. He also helped solve many criminal cases. It addresses the issue of privacy and states that the cameras are all placed in public places and are never used outdoors