Basil Jarrett | Marriage: when the ball and chain prevents the ball and chain

JAMAICA’S INFATUATION with its gangsters is as confounding as it is legendary. Immortalised in folklore and popular culture, the names Dennis ‘Copper’ Barth, Wayne ‘Sandokan’ Smith and Nathaniel ‘Natty’ Morgan, are just a few of the names that have sent shivers down the collective spines of many a law enforcement officer and private law-abiding citizen alike. That is, of course, until they meet their ultimate demise at the business end of a policeman’s pistol. To this infamous list, we can now add Sheldon ‘Termite’ Walters, reputed gang leader and Top Bank area don, who was killed by the Spanish Town police last week.

Walters’ death sparked something we haven’t seen in some time – blocked roads, sporadic gunfire and violent community protests, leading to a total lockdown of the Old Capital. The killing also sparked the obligatory flood of social media commentary, complete with videos and civilian-journalist reports, as Termite took up his position in the great hereafter, among the pantheon of Jamaica’s elite gangster class.

‘TIL DEATH DO US PART

Among the torrent of social media activity, however, I found one piece of information particularly intriguing. Just days before his death, Mr Walters had apparently tied the knot, as photos of him and his blushing bride went viral.

Which led me to start rummaging through some research that I had first encountered a few years ago during a debate with a colleague about the relevance of marriage today. Essentially, if true, Termite’s nuptials would represent a sharp departure from that of his gangster stablemates.

You see, in the labyrinth of studies on crime and criminals, the “marriage effect” has been one of the most researched topics in criminology, as criminologists seek to unravel the intricate threads that lead individuals down a path of crime. Among the myriad of factors influencing criminal propensity, marriage, they say, emerges as a possible solution for societal harmony and crime prevention.

And no, the irony of those two words – marriage and harmony – being in the same sentence has not escaped me, but that’s another story for another time.

MARRIAGE AND CRIME

Based on numerous longitudinal studies on the association between marriage and crime, the common belief is that marriage promotes avoidance of crime. Drawing from over two decades of research and empirical evidence, coupled with fairly recent studies on the subject, it appears that marriage serves as a formidable deterrent against criminal behaviour, particularly among men. Marriage, with its vows of commitment and mutual support, seems to be a cornerstone of stable, progressive societies. Beyond its significance in fostering emotional fulfilment and companionship, marriage appears to exert a profound influence on individual behaviour, notably in deterring criminality. Statistical analyses consistently reveal a stark contrast in crime rates between married and unmarried individuals, with the former exhibiting significantly lower rates of involvement in criminal activity.

At the heart of this “marriage effect” lies the transformative impact of marriage on young men where a strong correlation seems to exist between marital status and criminal behaviour. Coincidence? Perhaps. Which is why I’ve deliberately punctuated my sentences with a lot of “it appears”, “it seems” and “it suggests”.

MARRIAGE MAKES SOCIAL SENSE

Correlation doesn’t always equal causality, but clearly, there seems to be a profound relationship between marriage, male behaviour and social integration. For example, one of the pivotal mechanisms through which marriage mitigates criminality among men, could be the cultivation of social bonds and social responsibilities. Marriage entails a web of obligations and commitments, ranging from financial support to emotional nurturing, all of which foster a sense of accountability and stability. It also serves as a moral compass, pointing towards adherence to societal norms and desistance from deviant conduct.

Marriage therefore instils a sense of purpose and direction in men’s lives and channels their energies towards more constructive pursuits such as raising a family and nurturing children. It gives a sense of meaning and belonging and diminishes the allure of criminal behaviour as a means of validation or self-gratification. Studies have shown too that married men are also more likely to be gainfully employed and exhibit greater levels of stability in comparison to their unmarried counterparts – factors that are inversely correlated with criminal involvement.

Moreover, marriage can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and emotional maturity, equipping men with the requisite tools and skills to navigate life’s challenges without resorting to crime. Naturally, these benefits extend beyond the individual, as stable marriages are a major contributor to the formation of cohesive communities and societies.

In contrast, the erosion of marital bonds and family structures, especially here in Jamaica, has been heavily implicated in the proliferation of crime and social disorder. And with marriage rates falling and divorce cases at sky-high levels, there’s no reason to expect this to change anytime soon.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

Now hold on a second. Before we start firing our police officers and hiring more pastors and marriage counsellors, let’s remember, correlation doesn’t equal causality and while marriage may exert a significant influence on reducing criminal behaviour among men, it is by no means a panacea for our runaway crime rate.

On closer inspection, the claims about the restraining influence of marriage appear a bit overstated. For one, none of the studies demonstrate evidence of direct causality between marriage and crime. Furthermore, in studies looking at the effect of marriage on recidivism, the results showed that marriage reduced recidivism only when neither spouse had a prior criminal record. In other words, marriage was only a deterrent or mitigating factor when neither partner had committed a crime previously.

Which sort of settles the question around Mr Walters’ marriage a week before his demise. If his life of crime had started before he said “I do”, then this would be consistent with existing research.

The conclusion I’ve drawn from all of this is that addressing the root causes of crime requires a comprehensive approach, encompassing social, economic, and psychological factors, aided now by the promotion of healthy marital relationships. But buyer beware. Marriage may reduce crime and violence at the national level, but it won’t prevent you from getting hit over your head with a rolling pin after staying out late drinking with the boys. You have been warned.

Major Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communications consulting firm specialising in crisis communications and reputation management. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Threads @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett. Send feedback to coumns@gleanerjm.com