The Problem: Crime by poverty
Connections
Starting from the 1970s, studies in the US pointed more and more at the link between unemployment, poverty and crime as stated in “Poverty and Crime by National Dialogue Network”
This relates to the income level, time spent at school, along with quality of neighborhood, and education. Poverty can make teenagers and adults become seduced by crime. As Author Sarah Lawrence explains of crime during the Great Depression in 1930, “Crime in Seattle represented the desperation of some individuals as well as people’s attempts to prosper through illegal channels. Crime could pay, and when it did, it paid fairly well.” In other words, crime as indicated by “illegal channels” was thought to be a good way to make money in times of hardship like the Great Depression. Thus, showing that when people are not making money they turn to crime.
Teenagers and adults are introduced to crime created by poverty. If their needs are not met at an early stage they will fall apart. For example, teens might join gangs, deal drugs, and commit horrendous crimes because they just don’t care anymore. It has been discovered that “over recent years has found some factors that are likely to increase the chance of youths becoming involved in offending...low family income” (Teen Risk Factors). Adults can influence teens badly by getting themselves into crime because they need money, or other. The impact of crime will most likely show in families that are involved with poverty.
This crime caused by poverty is an impact across the globe and also in our community. The impact is on people and their families. Parents get connected to stealing for feeding their family, individuals are at such a low income that they do things against the law. This is not safe for themselves and people around them. As described in the article "Crime and the Great Recession” the “neighborhoods with elevated crime rates tend to be those where poverty and unemployment are high as well.”
This crime caused by poverty is an impact across the globe and also in our community. The impact is on people and their families. Parents get connected to stealing for feeding their family, individuals are at such a low income that they do things against the law. This is not safe for themselves and people around them. As described in the article "Crime and the Great Recession” the “neighborhoods with elevated crime rates tend to be those where poverty and unemployment are high as well.”
SAFETY is priority
Safety and education is what we all want for our children. The National Center for Biotechnology Information has a statistic that shows that homeless people made up “15.3% of the US jail population.” This research was conducted in 2008 febuary, and can be related to the studies in the 1970’s. This is important because it shows the connection that poverty has been creating the same problem in the 9070’s as now shown in 2008. This problem has a chain reaction effect. We need to stop this reaction and reverse it at an early stage. Educate the teen’s and kids so that they get their needs met in time. People need to start to care about this situation. When someones resources are limited people take control of the matter into their own hands. Whether that's getting t involved in criminal activity,or self-medicating with drugs. Also gang activity has grown, because of the influx coming in from Santa Barbara, and the need for money.
Consequences in the past are shown in the Great Depression. The argument was that if less legitimate work was unavailable, then more illegal work would take place. Statistics from Murders, Gambling, and Suicides show that in Seattle during the GD the total crime came to 190 suicides. Suicides are classified as a crime. Illegal gambling grew as more people needed money, also increasing robbery. Crimes of passion found a growing popularity during the great depression. Police records, at the end of 1932, indicated that their was an “average of at least 1 suicide attempt a day over love affairs,” but love affairs also caused murders. This is quite a serious matter.
Poverty is a problem that has high needs. Crime is a an outcome of poverty, an aspect that we can fix in order to help get rid of poverty. We need to make sure that people in poverty don't dig a bigger hole for themselves and take other people down with them. The problem of crime related to poverty is best solved by meeting the needs early (Education) because by educating the families of what to do ,and what resources that are available for them so they aren't pressured to commit crime.
Sources: "Crime and the Great Recession by James Q. Wilson, City Journal Summer 2011." Crime and the Great Recession by James Q. Wilson, City Journal Summer 2011. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. (http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_3_crime-decline.html)
Lawrence, Sarah. "Murders, Gambling, and Suicides: Crime in Seattle during the Depression." Crime in Seattle. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
(http://depts.washington.edu/depress/crime_seattle_great_depression.shtml)
“Poverty and crime by National Dialogue network”
(http://www.nationaldialoguenetwork.org/poverty-and-crime/)
TEEN CRIME RISK FACTORS. ACS Distance Education. (http://www.acs.edu.au/info/psychology/child-development/crime-risk.aspx)
"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245159)
Lawrence, Sarah. "Murders, Gambling, and Suicides: Crime in Seattle during the Depression." Crime in Seattle. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
(http://depts.washington.edu/depress/crime_seattle_great_depression.shtml)
“Poverty and crime by National Dialogue network”
(http://www.nationaldialoguenetwork.org/poverty-and-crime/)
TEEN CRIME RISK FACTORS. ACS Distance Education. (http://www.acs.edu.au/info/psychology/child-development/crime-risk.aspx)
"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245159)