They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contrbuts to crime in thefirst place.
四级词汇讲解:
该句的难点在于理解contribute to和in the first place的意思。动词短语contribute to意为“有助于，促成，造就”，根据上下文，在此应为“导致，造成”之意。要注意的是，该短语中的to是介词，因此后接名词或动名词短语。如:Her parents' spoiling contributes to forming her bad habits.父母的溺爱导致了她养成坏习惯。固定短语in the first place意为“首先，第一点”，强调首要性。如:Why did you choose basketballin the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢?
From:https://www.zgghmh.com/CET-4/20003648.asp