Discussion Of The Effect Of Poverty On Crime

Improved Essays
In Discussions of the effect poverty has on a person that makes them capable of committing a crime, starvation is one of the many ways that lead people to a life of crime. On the one hand, Hossain, Naomi, Michael D. M. Bader, Marnie Purciel, Paulette Yousefzadeh, and Kathryn M. Neckerman and Ng, Isabella F. S., et al. argue that poverty has a major effect on human behavior, especially in adolescents. On the other hand, Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne, and Greg J. Duncan and Raleigh, Erica, and George Galster argued that through the lack of studies on income and its effect on adolescence makes it troublesome to prove that poverty has any true effects on childhood and if children complete school. Papachristos, Andrew V., et al fluctuates on both sides of …show more content…
Hossain brings forth the idea that the economic crisis can have a last and continuous effect on society/security. Hossain even brings up an example, “Crucially, both crime, and social cohesion impacts have immediate consequences. (Hossain, 2009)” Hossain even continues on to state that young females in Nairobi had a high rise in pregnancies attributed to the exchange of sex for food and snacks (2009). Through Hossain’s studies, it had shown that crimes had risen exponentially in the time frame of three months and more so after certain seasons. Hossain’s studies prove that the struggle to be the hierarchy instead of poverty has always been statistically …show more content…
In other words, like Raleigh et. Al. had stated about not having sufficient information I believe efforts should be made to work on this ever-progressing problem. The truth is that it isn’t the fault of the people, but the economy when it fluctuates. For people with not so stable jobs, this can put a damper on their lives. People shouldn’t have to get more than two jobs to support a family. It is important to look at these key values when looking to bring out the best of your country and your future. It is because of children having to go into the labor force or use other unfortunate means to get money for food, shelter, etc. that I have concluded that it is now an issue of severity that must be taken up and look at. The best means to eliminate this problem would be to start helping our community members. People should rise to the challenge and focus on building a foundation of impending success for a community. Ultimately, my goal is to demonstrate that the best way to potentially do this would be to fund more adolescent help programs, work with adolescents to aim for higher education, make sure the community is being up kept, and the list could go on. There are many things that you as a person can do to

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    The correlation between poverty and the rate of juvenile offending which you have outlined seem to align with the broken windows theory. The broken windows theory states that if a community appears to be dilapidated and neglected due to poverty, as well as minor crimes such as vandalism and littering, there will be a perceived lack of social control that will encourage offenders to target these areas over areas that appear to be maintained and monitored (Caudill, Getty, Smith, Patten & Trulson, 2009). This means that a juvenile living within an impoverished community would be more likely to commit acts of delinquency due to their background in an area of limited resources. These juveniles are socialized into believing that their communities…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    When youth grow up in poverty, needing to provide for themselves or their family, and not with a good educational background, they often resort to criminal activities. They are not afraid of the consequences because going into the system is seen as a “rite of passage” and gives them more credit on the street (Conover,…

    • 1735 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Create Change Esther Dyson once said, “Change Means That What Was Before Wasn’t Perfect People Want Things To Be Better”. Even if one person creates changes in his or her society at a global, national, or community level in a positive way, will make this world a better place. Each individual can create changes in his or her society, unless he/she feels that it is important to society, that an action must be needed and the action that they going to propose in order for changes to happen. The changes that I want it to happen are; to have free schooling for students from kindergarten to twelve grade all over the world, along with women’s right to an education, offer free health care and helping homeless…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first theory that will be used to understand the crime discrepancy between Crimeville and Peaceville is Social Disorganization Theory. This theory assumes that most people agree on basic norms and values (Exam 3, S 63). It also suggests that individuals would commit more crime if there were lower amounts of social control and if the individual was inadequately socialized (Exam 3, S 63). This theory continues by stating the locus of criminality deals with how well a neighborhood can come together to prevent crime (Exam 3, S 64). Per this theory, crime is a natural occurrence in the absence of neighborhood institutions and it is more prevalent as a group behavior (Exam 3, S 64).…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In his article “How It Became a Crime to be Poor in America”, by Dr. Peter Edelman focuses on what is arguably a serious problem plaguing America’s poor; chronic, unjustified persecution, criminalization and incarceration. The issue of poverty and crime have, seemingly, gone hand in hand for millennia. A critical question arises then, as to whether one creates the other, or if there has been a conscious, orchestrated effort by the criminal justice system to perpetuate this circumstance. Unless all aspects of an issue are considered, a reasonable conclusion cannot be reached.…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the study conducted by Merlo and Wolpin (2015), the researchers sought out to understand how young adult males’ behaviors as well as family history are related to being incarcerated as adults, crime, arrests, and high school graduation. Furthermore, this study is attempting to address how and why different variables have a huge impact on young adult males’ lives and inevitably lead to prison at an astonishing rate. Merlo and Wolpin conducted this study to see how social factors and life decisions have become key elements in African-American male incarceration. Moreover, for their hypothesis, the researchers believe that lack of education and employment are the reasons why young adult males are more susceptible to committing crimes and entering…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Even though the author points the issue with the phrase “working poor,” the society that America has fostered does not lend itself to agree with this sentiment. This paper will discuss this along with the cause, demographics and magnitude of the problem. In many ways the author describes the working poor as living on the edge. Meaning that no matter if they are working, there is always another hardship waiting to happen.…

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    I’m writing to you, as a concerned citizen of the United States, about the alarming rate of juvenile incarceration in the United States and the problems associated with these rates. Countless young children, especially those living below the poverty line or in poverty, notably Black and Hispanic children are more likely to commit crimes than those living in the middle class or upper class and who are White. It’s simple; children with a lower social economic status are more likely to find themselves committing crimes and then being sentenced than children with higher social economic status’s. According to The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology “People in lower classes are often more visible, less powerful, and more likely to be apprehended…

    • 1754 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sherm Community Analysis

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Reading the articles (especially Sherman) was a little odd for me. I mentioned last week that I grew up in a small rural town. A good portion of the town is what you would consider poor, and even families that are doing well aren’t wealthy. The town is very much like Golden Valley, there is a strong sense of community and everyone knows everyone else. A big difference is that, as long as the offense was minor and non-violent, criminal activity doesn’t really limit employment opportunities.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some people who have trouble finding jobs may look to crime to solve their family’s issues with poverty. Not all poverty stricken families look to criminal activities to provide for their family though. I find that the families who fall into this group of people who aren’t involved in crime are barely able to get…

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Incarceration And Poverty

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the United States, the criminal justice system has become an industry that profits off of criminalizing the poor; a practice that perpetuates and worsens the cycle of poverty rather than promote justice as it is meant to do. With the highest Gini rate of inequality compared to all western countries and a record of income inequality last seen a year before The Great Depression, it is apparent that the United States is facing a critical problem with poverty. However, rather than fortify the economic safety net with higher taxes and increased spending to social welfare programs, the U.S. has turned to mass incarceration not only as a method of funding government programs, but also as a way to temporarily solve its severe problem with poverty.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Controversy has surrounded the topic of wealthy children receiving light jail sentences because they might be affluent. Being affluent means that you don’t understand that certain actions will lead to consequences being of your wealthy background. Some psychologists say that these children tend to suffer from anxiety and depression resulting in their tendency to make bad choices. The controversy starts when they are not punished the same way as others because of this claim. Where a regular person might receive life in prison for a murder, a person suffering from affluenza will get help and only probation.…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine sitting in a courtroom on trial for a crime. The death penalty is a possible sentence for the offense. Watch as the public defense lawyer ruins any chance of a lesser punishment … because he or she is drunk. This is exactly what happened to Robert Hosley. The article "This Man 's Alcoholic Lawyer Botched His Case” states that Hosley went to trial for committing a capital offense, murdering a police officer.…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    More than one in five U.S. children live in official poverty today, with an even higher rate for Black and Hispanic children and for those in families headed by a single parent. Among the world’s 35 richest countries, the United States holds the distinction of ranking second highest in child poverty. A large body of research continues to document the negative effects of poverty on children and their later life outcomes. Children growing up in poverty complete less schooling, work and earn less as adults, are more likely to receive public assistance, and have poorer health. Boys growing up in poverty are more likely to be arrested as adults and their female peers are more likely to give birth outside of marriage.…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Article 2 Review For my second article review I choose the topic of poverty in the United States. In the article entitled “Poverty in the United States,” the author discusses many facts and important information on how society affects the country, and its individual cities as well. In fact, as of 2011, 49 million people lived in poverty; and this number increases each year. That is roughly 15% of the United States current population.…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays

Related Topics