Criminals. The word itself threatens the stability and security of the individual and society at large. Since the 1760s, our understanding of the nature of crime and our ability to manage it has generated much discussion. We often see the words “senseless acts” scattered throughout newspaper reports. However, as suggested by early rational choice theorist Becarria, crime is the result of choice; a calculated process of weighing costs versus benefits in order to maximize pleasure and minimize pain (Bernard et al. 2010). Since specific crimes are committed with specific purposes, it makes little sense to construct broad crime categories (Pateboster 2001). Each crime is so intricate and distinct that we must consider the perspective of the offender, to understand the state of mind and game that underlies each particular crime. Rape and drunk driving are profound examples of how different crimes within and between each other have very different motivations. Important in this regard is the background of the offender and the different perception of costs and benefits. Tuning into these differences between crimes and offenders allows us to implement effective policies, as they focus on the direct causes of how and why people commit crime. To fully understand criminal decisions, we must capture both sides of the equation; costs as well as benefits (Ward et al. 2006). Comparing rape, non-consensual sexual intercourse committed with physical force, threat of injury or other coercion, with driving while intoxicated, with driving over the legal blood alcohol limit, their definitions highlight the different nature of each... half of the document ...... creative shortcuts and fail to recognize the full extent of costs and benefits (Pateboster 2001). It is therefore wise to conclude that crime cannot be effectively managed without an in-depth study of the dynamic nature of individual crimes from individual perspectives. A comparison between rape and drunk driving illustrates how perceptions of costs and benefits, certainty and severity, and legal and extralegal consequences will vary across crimes and offenders. Crime is therefore multifactorial and complex. Building broad programs and policies would be ill-informed and ineffective. It is clear that one size does not fit all. If we, as a society, wish to understand crime, we must continue to understand it from the offender's perspective. To a large extent this understanding is everything. The safety, security and cohesion of our society depend on it.