IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution — Crime: Idea Bank, Examples, and Collocations

Master IELTS Writing Task 2 crime essays with this comprehensive idea bank featuring expert examples, advanced collocations, and Band 8-9 strategies for criminal justice topics.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem/Solution — Crime: Idea Bank, Examples, and Collocations

Crime topics in IELTS Writing Task 2 demand sophisticated understanding of criminal justice systems, crime prevention strategies, law enforcement approaches, and social factors affecting criminal behavior. This comprehensive idea bank provides essential concepts, expert examples, and advanced collocations to help you achieve Band 8-9 scores in crime and criminal justice essays.

Understanding Crime Topics in IELTS Context

Crime essays examine various aspects including juvenile delinquency, white-collar crime, violent crime, cybercrime, drug-related offenses, crime prevention, rehabilitation versus punishment, community policing, and restorative justice while addressing underlying causes such as social inequality, education gaps, unemployment, and family dysfunction.

Core Crime Concepts and Ideas

Crime Causation Factors

Individual Level Factors:

  • Psychological disorders and mental health issues
  • Substance abuse and addiction problems
  • Poor impulse control and decision-making abilities
  • History of trauma and adverse childhood experiences
  • Lack of education and limited employment skills

Family and Social Factors:

  • Family dysfunction and domestic violence exposure
  • Peer pressure and negative social influences
  • Community disorganization and social fragmentation
  • Poverty and economic deprivation
  • Cultural values and normative conflicts

Institutional and Structural Factors:

  • Educational system failures and school dropout rates
  • Economic inequality and limited opportunity structures
  • Criminal justice system effectiveness and fairness
  • Social service availability and accessibility
  • Media influence and glorification of violence

Crime Prevention Approaches

Primary Prevention (Before Crime Occurs):

  • Community development and social investment programs
  • Education and skill development initiatives
  • Family support and parenting programs
  • Mental health services and early intervention
  • Economic opportunity creation and job training

Secondary Prevention (Early Intervention):

  • At-risk youth identification and support services
  • School-based prevention programs and mentoring
  • Community policing and neighborhood watch programs
  • Drug education and substance abuse prevention
  • Conflict resolution and violence prevention training

Tertiary Prevention (After Crime Response):

  • Effective law enforcement and criminal investigation
  • Fair and swift judicial processes
  • Rehabilitation and treatment programs
  • Reintegration support and aftercare services
  • Victim support and restorative justice approaches

Advanced Vocabulary and Collocations

Crime-Related Collocations

Crime Types and Characteristics:

  • "violent crimes and serious felonies"
  • "property crimes and theft-related offenses"
  • "white-collar crimes and financial fraud"
  • "cyber crimes and digital security breaches"
  • "organized crime and criminal enterprises"

Criminal Justice System:

  • "law enforcement agencies and police departments"
  • "judicial proceedings and court systems"
  • "correctional institutions and penal facilities"
  • "rehabilitation programs and treatment services"
  • "community supervision and parole systems"

Crime Prevention and Response:

  • "crime prevention strategies and intervention programs"
  • "community policing and neighborhood engagement"
  • "restorative justice approaches and victim-offender mediation"
  • "recidivism reduction and reintegration support"
  • "evidence-based practices and data-driven policing"

Sophisticated Crime Analysis Language

Causation and Contributing Factors:

  • "multifactorial crime causation and risk assessment"
  • "socioeconomic determinants and structural inequalities"
  • "psychological predispositions and behavioral patterns"
  • "environmental influences and situational crime factors"
  • "intergenerational transmission of criminal behavior"

Policy and Intervention Approaches:

  • "comprehensive crime reduction strategies"
  • "evidence-based intervention methodologies"
  • "multi-agency coordination and collaborative approaches"
  • "prevention-focused and proactive policing"
  • "community-centered and problem-solving initiatives"

Detailed Idea Development

Idea 1: Juvenile Crime Prevention Through Education

Core Concept: Educational investment and youth development programs effectively prevent juvenile delinquency by addressing root causes and providing positive alternatives.

Supporting Arguments:

  • Quality education provides knowledge, skills, and future opportunities that reduce criminal motivation
  • School-based programs create structured environments with positive role models and peer influences
  • Educational achievement builds self-esteem and social capital that support law-abiding behavior
  • Early intervention in educational settings identifies at-risk youth before criminal involvement begins

Expert Example: "Comprehensive juvenile crime prevention requires educational investment including after-school programs, mentorship initiatives, and alternative education approaches that address learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and family dysfunction while providing supportive environments where young people develop academic skills, social competencies, and positive future orientations that reduce criminal risk factors."

Advanced Collocations:

  • "comprehensive educational intervention and youth development"
  • "structured learning environments and positive peer influence"
  • "academic achievement and social capital formation"
  • "early identification and preventive intervention"

Idea 2: Community Policing and Neighborhood Engagement

Core Concept: Community-oriented policing approaches that build relationships between law enforcement and communities create more effective crime prevention and public safety outcomes.

Supporting Arguments:

  • Community trust enables better information sharing and cooperation in crime prevention
  • Local knowledge helps police understand specific neighborhood problems and appropriate responses
  • Collaborative approaches address underlying social conditions that contribute to crime
  • Problem-solving orientation prevents crime rather than simply responding to incidents

Expert Example: "Community policing strategies emphasize relationship building, problem-solving, and collaborative partnerships between law enforcement and community members that enable proactive crime prevention through neighborhood engagement, local problem identification, and coordinated responses that address both immediate safety concerns and underlying social conditions."

Advanced Collocations:

  • "community-oriented policing and neighborhood partnership"
  • "collaborative problem-solving and proactive intervention"
  • "trust-based relationships and information sharing"
  • "local knowledge and context-specific responses"

Idea 3: Rehabilitation Versus Punishment in Criminal Justice

Core Concept: Evidence-based rehabilitation programs that address underlying causes of criminal behavior achieve better long-term public safety outcomes than purely punitive approaches.

Supporting Arguments:

  • Rehabilitation programs address root causes including addiction, mental health issues, and skill deficits
  • Treatment and education reduce recidivism rates more effectively than imprisonment alone
  • Restorative approaches repair harm while helping offenders develop accountability and empathy
  • Investment in rehabilitation programs proves more cost-effective than repeated incarceration

Expert Example: "Effective criminal justice systems balance accountability with rehabilitation through evidence-based programs including substance abuse treatment, mental health services, education and job training, and restorative justice approaches that address underlying causes of criminal behavior while helping offenders develop skills and support systems needed for successful community reintegration."

Advanced Collocations:

  • "evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment programs"
  • "restorative justice approaches and victim-offender mediation"
  • "recidivism reduction and successful reintegration"
  • "comprehensive support services and aftercare programs"

Idea 4: Economic Inequality and Crime Correlation

Core Concept: Addressing economic inequality and providing legitimate economic opportunities reduces crime by eliminating desperation and providing alternatives to illegal activities.

Supporting Arguments:

  • Poverty and income inequality create desperation that motivates property crime and drug trade participation
  • Lack of legitimate economic opportunities makes illegal activities relatively attractive
  • Economic development and job creation provide pathways out of criminal involvement
  • Social investment in disadvantaged communities addresses structural factors underlying crime

Expert Example: "Crime reduction requires comprehensive economic development including job creation, skills training, microenterprise development, and community investment that provide legitimate economic opportunities while addressing structural inequalities, neighborhood disinvestment, and limited access to quality education and employment that contribute to criminal behavior in disadvantaged communities."

Advanced Collocations:

  • "economic inequality and legitimate opportunity structures"
  • "community development and social investment"
  • "structural factors and neighborhood disinvestment"
  • "economic incentives and alternative pathways"

Idea 5: Technology in Crime Prevention and Investigation

Core Concept: Modern technology enhances crime prevention and law enforcement effectiveness while raising important privacy and civil liberties considerations that require careful balance.

Supporting Arguments:

  • Surveillance systems and data analysis help prevent crime and identify suspects more efficiently
  • Communication technology enables faster emergency response and coordination
  • Forensic advances improve case clearance rates and reduce wrongful convictions
  • Predictive policing algorithms help allocate resources more effectively

Expert Example: "Technology integration in criminal justice includes surveillance systems, data analytics, forensic advances, and predictive policing that enhance crime prevention and investigation capabilities while requiring careful attention to privacy rights, civil liberties protection, and algorithmic bias prevention to ensure technology serves justice rather than creating new forms of discrimination or oppression."

Advanced Collocations:

  • "surveillance technology and data analytics"
  • "predictive policing and resource allocation"
  • "forensic advances and evidence analysis"
  • "privacy protection and civil liberties considerations"

Crime Topic Categorization

Violent Crime Issues

Key Concepts: Domestic violence, gang violence, assault, homicide prevention Policy Approaches: Violence interruption programs, domestic violence services, conflict resolution Examples: Hospital-based violence intervention, intimate partner violence prevention, gang mediation

Property Crime Solutions

Key Concepts: Burglary, theft, vandalism prevention Policy Approaches: Target hardening, neighborhood watch, economic opportunity Examples: Business district revitalization, community surveillance, youth employment

Drug-Related Crime Prevention

Key Concepts: Substance abuse treatment, harm reduction, drug court programs Policy Approaches: Treatment over incarceration, prevention education, law enforcement cooperation Examples: Drug treatment courts, needle exchange, prescription monitoring

Cybercrime and Digital Security

Key Concepts: Online fraud, identity theft, cyberbullying prevention Policy Approaches: Digital literacy education, cybersecurity investment, international cooperation Examples: Digital citizenship programs, corporate cybersecurity standards, cross-border investigation

Sample Essay Structures

Structure 1: Causes and Solutions Essay

Introduction: Hook + Background + Thesis with causes and solutions preview Body 1: Primary causes (social/economic factors with examples) Body 2: Secondary causes (individual/family factors with examples) Body 3: Prevention solutions (education/community programs) Body 4: Response solutions (justice system reforms) Conclusion: Summary + balanced perspective + future outlook

Structure 2: Problem-Solution Focus

Introduction: Crime problem statement + thesis with solution categories Body 1: Problem analysis with specific examples and impacts Body 2: Prevention-based solutions with implementation details Body 3: Response-based solutions with effectiveness evidence Conclusion: Integrated approach necessity + implementation challenges

Structure 3: Comparative Approach

Introduction: Different crime prevention philosophies + thesis comparing approaches Body 1: Punishment-focused approaches with pros/cons Body 2: Rehabilitation-focused approaches with evidence Body 3: Community-based approaches with examples Conclusion: Balanced approach recommendation with implementation guidance

Common Crime Essay Questions

Question Type 1: Juvenile Crime

"Many countries are experiencing increasing juvenile crime rates. What are the main causes of this problem and what solutions would you suggest?"

Key Ideas: Education system failures, family breakdown, peer pressure, media influence, economic inequality Solutions: Educational investment, family support programs, mentorship, community activities, early intervention

Question Type 2: Prison vs. Rehabilitation

"Some people believe that criminals should be imprisoned, while others think they should receive rehabilitation. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Key Ideas: Deterrence effect, public safety, recidivism rates, cost-effectiveness, victim satisfaction Balanced Approach: Proportional sentencing with rehabilitation components, restorative justice options

Question Type 3: Crime Prevention

"The best way to reduce crime is to prevent it from happening in the first place. To what extent do you agree with this statement?"

Key Ideas: Prevention cost-effectiveness, community investment, early intervention, addressing root causes Examples: Educational programs, economic development, family support, mental health services

Assessment Criteria Application

Task Achievement Excellence

  • Complete Response: Address all parts of the question with specific crime examples
  • Clear Position: Present well-developed stance on crime prevention/response approaches
  • Relevant Ideas: Use crime-specific examples and evidence to support arguments
  • Appropriate Length: Develop ideas thoroughly within word limits

Coherence and Cohesion Mastery

  • Logical Progression: Organize from causes to solutions or by crime type/approach
  • Effective Paragraphing: One main idea per paragraph with clear development
  • Cohesive Devices: Use appropriate transitions for crime topic flow
  • Clear Referencing: Maintain consistent terminology and avoid confusion

Vocabulary Enhancement

  • Crime Terminology: Use appropriate criminal justice and criminology vocabulary
  • Precision: Select exact words for different crime types and prevention approaches
  • Sophistication: Employ academic vocabulary for policy analysis
  • Variety: Demonstrate range through synonyms and varied expressions

Grammar Sophistication

  • Complex Structures: Use conditional statements, causative verbs, and passive voice
  • Accurate Usage: Maintain grammatical accuracy in complex crime analysis
  • Sentence Variety: Combine simple and complex structures effectively
  • Appropriate Tone: Use formal academic tone for policy discussion

Expert Writing Tips

Tip 1: Balance Individual and Structural Factors

Acknowledge both personal responsibility and social conditions in crime causation analysis.

Tip 2: Use Specific Examples

Reference real-world crime prevention programs and their documented outcomes.

Tip 3: Avoid Stereotyping

Discuss crime factors without making broad generalizations about demographic groups.

Tip 4: Consider Multiple Perspectives

Address victim needs, offender circumstances, and community safety concerns.

Tip 5: Show Policy Understanding

Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based practices and implementation challenges.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Collocations Practice

Match crime-related collocations with appropriate contexts and create original sentences using advanced vocabulary.

Exercise 2: Cause-Effect Analysis

Practice analyzing complex relationships between social factors and crime rates using sophisticated grammar structures.

Exercise 3: Solution Development

Develop comprehensive crime prevention proposals that address multiple causation levels.

Exercise 4: Evidence Integration

Practice incorporating statistical evidence and research findings into crime essays.

Conclusion

Crime essays require sophisticated understanding of criminal justice complexity, evidence-based policy analysis, and balanced consideration of individual accountability with social responsibility. Success demands comprehensive knowledge of crime causation, prevention strategies, and justice system effectiveness while demonstrating awareness that crime reduction requires coordinated approaches involving law enforcement, community organizations, social services, and policy reform.

Effective crime writing balances public safety concerns with human dignity, victim needs with offender rehabilitation, and immediate responses with long-term prevention while acknowledging that sustainable crime reduction requires addressing underlying social inequalities, improving educational and economic opportunities, and building stronger communities that support positive behavioral choices.

Remember that crime topics require sensitivity to victims, evidence-based reasoning, and balanced analysis that avoids both punitive extremes and naive idealism while recognizing that effective crime policy requires sustained investment, community collaboration, and evidence-based approaches that serve both justice and public safety goals.

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