Richard T. Wright and Scott Decker attempt to explain the motivations and decision-making processes of residential burglars. Their research is focused on current burglars in the St. Louis area. This study attempted to do what had not been done before, which is to study the criminal in his/her own environment. By using a snowball sampling method they were able to gather 105 residential burglars (henceforth referred to as “hustlers” as they preferred to be called) that encompassed different races, genders, arrest history, and ages. Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Break-ins is a compilation of their findings and theories on the matters.
When assessing the findings in this book, the correlations to Robert Merton’s anomie theory …show more content…
It is considerably obvious that these individuals are committed to the street life and street culture. Elijah Anderson gives us much insight on street culture and its dedication to impulsivity, command for respect, commitment to illicit lifestyle and denial of those who do not adhere to the code of the street. The hustler’s major purpose for using the money they obtained from burglaries was to fund a lifestyle that was centered on illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity and expensive clothing, cars and jewelry. All of which they felt was necessary to command respect on the street. “Simply put, much of their offending was directed toward obtaining the funds necessary to sustain activities that constituted the essence of street life.” (Wright and Decker 1994 pg. 195) It is obvious throughout the reading (although it is never straightforwardly expressed) that these individuals were socialized into this lifestyle. As Wright and Decker put it, “The offenders were not born with these abilities; it is likely that they acquired them through contact with criminally experienced streetcorner peers and co-offenders.” This is made clear when the offenders were questioned about their peers. The majority of the offenders responded that their social circles were made up in large part of other offenders. Some even went so far as to say that they could not or would not commit offenses without someone with them. Karen Green states “Like I told you, I know it sounds strange, but I be scared when I do [a residential burglary]. Then if I have somebody with me and they say, “Ah, you can do it,” they boost me up and I go on and do it.” This shows that social groups play a large part in the offender’s decisions to offend. Street culture praises illicit activities and those who commit them. Richard Jackson makes a comment about the social group in
When assessing the findings in this book, the correlations to Robert Merton’s anomie theory …show more content…
It is considerably obvious that these individuals are committed to the street life and street culture. Elijah Anderson gives us much insight on street culture and its dedication to impulsivity, command for respect, commitment to illicit lifestyle and denial of those who do not adhere to the code of the street. The hustler’s major purpose for using the money they obtained from burglaries was to fund a lifestyle that was centered on illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity and expensive clothing, cars and jewelry. All of which they felt was necessary to command respect on the street. “Simply put, much of their offending was directed toward obtaining the funds necessary to sustain activities that constituted the essence of street life.” (Wright and Decker 1994 pg. 195) It is obvious throughout the reading (although it is never straightforwardly expressed) that these individuals were socialized into this lifestyle. As Wright and Decker put it, “The offenders were not born with these abilities; it is likely that they acquired them through contact with criminally experienced streetcorner peers and co-offenders.” This is made clear when the offenders were questioned about their peers. The majority of the offenders responded that their social circles were made up in large part of other offenders. Some even went so far as to say that they could not or would not commit offenses without someone with them. Karen Green states “Like I told you, I know it sounds strange, but I be scared when I do [a residential burglary]. Then if I have somebody with me and they say, “Ah, you can do it,” they boost me up and I go on and do it.” This shows that social groups play a large part in the offender’s decisions to offend. Street culture praises illicit activities and those who commit them. Richard Jackson makes a comment about the social group in