Usually, there is a simple solution to problems concerning human affairs, neat, simple and wrong.

Solutions to problems involving people are often complex and so one must be on guard that a proposed solution to a problem does not cause other problems, equally to or greater than the original difficulty.

How are we to proceed when a problem presents itself that needs a quick response? Take for example the case of a separated mother of four children facing charges of serious assault on another mother. The defendant is in court, pleads guilty, and awaits a verdict. She claims she was drunk and remembers little of what happened. The judge or jury is faced with prioritising the needs of the various parties involved as well as the greater good of society when deciding a penalty. No matter what the outcome is, it seems that other problems will arise after the verdict is handed down. What will become of the defendant’s children if their mother goes to jail? If the defendant is released can the woman she harmed feel safe? Might the children of the defendant wreck revenge on society for taking away their mother if she does go to jail? And what of the casual observer, how does he or she feel if the guilty are not punished? Is there not a huge risk to the very concept of Justice if the guilty go unpunished?

In such situations we try to find a way forward that offers fairness while at the same time causes the least amount of harm to the well being of society. The Criminal Justice System in Western Civilisation has found a novel way of handling such issues. The investigating authorities bring forward for trial controversial cases like the above example, only if they are compelled to do so. Usually they refuse to follow through with detecting crimes once they discover that the results of a trial will cause other problems for society, equal to or greater than the original crime itself. Therefore in the above example the case will be listed as unsolved unless the evidence is overwhelming as to the identity of the assailant. In such a case the authorities have no choice but to proceed to trial. Care is taken to give the appearance that all cases of a similar nature are handled equally.

Not all unsolved crime is intentionally unsolved. Within the figures of The Crime Statistics released to the press each quarter lies a genuine inability to detect reported crimes.