Crime generation is impacted by several factors, such as broken homes, systemic poverty, ethical relativism, and religious decline. These factors weaken the internal moral compass required to avoid participating in activities like rape, robbery, or murder. Poverty is considered a predisposing state that may lead to criminal behavior, akin to how pornography can contribute to sex crimes and television violence can provoke aggression in children. By strengthening family dynamics, improving living conditions, and instilling values of character, it might be possible to potentially decrease the occurrence of crime.
According to my research, I anticipate that individuals residing in urban areas will encounter a significantly elevated crime rate compared to those in suburban areas. In the United States, poverty is recognized as the primary factor contributing to crime. A study conducted by a group from Ohio State University examined data from neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio and revealed that poverty, rather than race, is accountable for higher crime rates in urban communities (Michigan Chronicle, 1997).
The study revealed that the rates of violent crime in extremely impoverished white neighborhoods were comparable to those in similar minority neighborhoods. Urban poverty encompasses various aspects, including restricted employment and income opportunities, insufficient and insecure housing and services, violent and unhealthy environments, limited social protection mechanisms, as well as inadequate access to sufficient health and education opportunities. Numerous studies have investigated the reasons behind crime in urban areas, emphasizing factors like unemployment, lack of education, and poverty. These issues are interconnected and cannot be addressed separately. Insufficient education increases the probability of unemployment which ultimately leads to poverty. Declining neighborhoods in Michigan and across the United States have become hubs for criminal activities.
Crime stems from discrimination, especially against impoverished individuals who face socioeconomic challenges. In our country, urban crime is closely connected to the prevailing economic conditions. When people are unemployed and have limited opportunities, they may turn to criminal activities as a means of survival. It is crucial to acknowledge that this does not excuse these actions; instead, it underscores the link between crime, lack of education, unemployment, and poverty. Impoverished communities occupy the lowest tier in the economic hierarchy.
Many individuals in service-related jobs, which are often the most affected by negative economic changes, face the brunt of layoffs when business activity decreases. These jobs are typically non-unionized and therefore more vulnerable to such circumstances. Sadly, this group frequently experiences a “last hired, first fired” scenario, leaving those living at or below the poverty level with little hope for employment.
The environment has a significant effect on an individual’s life opportunities, especially in terms of employment, education, and income. When comparing the poverty population to those in the middle and upper classes, there is a clear disadvantage in these aspects. It is important to recognize that these factors are interconnected and should be considered within this context. Limited job prospects and low income often result from inadequate education. Unemployment becomes prevalent among individuals living below the poverty line. Therefore, it is essential to examine the connection between crime and economic conditions.
In a study conducted by Petersilla (1983:75), it was found that black and white offenders had different motivations for engaging in criminal activities. Black respondents expressed that factors such as unemployment, inability to find work, or the need for financial support played a significant role in driving them towards crime. Conversely, white offenders were more likely to attribute their crimes to substance abuse or the need for money to sustain their drug habits. It is common for individuals to resort to desperate actions when they perceive their circumstances as desperate.
Those who live in poverty struggle to find jobs and improve their financial situation due to limited education, often not having completed high school. This restricts them to entry-level positions, if any are even available. Even during economic downturns, it is difficult for them to secure these jobs. The chart below shows the FBI’s 2006 final crime statistics, indicating a consecutive two-year increase in violent crime rates – something that hadn’t occurred in over ten years. Prior to 2005, there had been a consistent decline in violent crime for fifteen years.
Law enforcement agencies are worried about the steady rise in violence, which though not a tsunami, is still concerning. According to an article published on Sunday, August 15, 2004 in the Detroit News, gun violence in Detroit has increased by 70% from January to August of that same year. Experts and police believe this increase can be attributed to various factors such as turmoil and limited resources within the police department, high unemployment rates among young males, and a hip-hop culture that promotes resolving conflicts through firearms.According to the “National Crime Victimization Survey” (October 2000) conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, urban areas had higher rates of various crimes compared to suburban or rural areas in 1998. These crimes included violent crime, rape and sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and personal theft. In addition, urban households faced higher rates of property crime such as burglary, motor vehicle theft, and theft compared to suburban or rural households.
A trend report conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice from 1976 to 2005 revealed that cities with a population of 100,000 or more accounted for over half of homicides during this period. Cities with over 1 million residents were responsible for nearly one-quarter of all homicides. The report also observed that different types of homicides varied depending on the size of the location. Large cities were more likely to have drug-related and gang-related killings while being relatively less likely to have family-related and work-related homicides.
Traditionally, poverty has been considered a cause of crime. Therefore efforts aimed at combating crime can also be viewed as addressing poverty along with inadequate housing and unemployment.
According to the Wikipedia encyclopedia, the War on Poverty was legislation introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 8, 1964, during his State of the Union address. This legislation aimed to address poverty and neighborhood deterioration caused by criminal activities, resulting in complete desolation in affected areas which become unrecognizable. The urban population is growing rapidly due to increased immigration and migration rates, leading to a widening gap between the wealthy and economically disadvantaged individuals as well as a higher concentration of poverty.
The negative consequences of the changes are especially harmful to children and young people, resulting in increased rates of unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, and crime. This has significantly impacted safety and security in multiple cities and countries, with these issues expected to persist. There is a growing awareness about the link between poverty and social disadvantage, crime, and victimization. The factors that make children and families vulnerable to crime (or protect them) are now well-known.
Collaboration among agencies is crucial in the effort to prevent crime and victimization. In high-crime communities, residents often lack the resources and opportunities to improve their circumstances. These individuals are typically faced with poverty, limited education, and often have single-parent responsibilities that hinder them from fulfilling their family obligations. As a result, they encounter difficulties in imparting values of law-abiding behavior to their children and equipping them with the necessary skills for academic success or access to job networks.
People without homes have lower community involvement and may desire to relocate to a more favorable location, thereby reducing their participation in neighborhood affairs such as monitoring residents’ conduct and addressing crime. It is important to recognize that while those inclined towards criminal behavior generally commit more offenses, it must be noted that even the most predisposed individuals do not constantly engage in illegal activities.
The majority of individuals typically abide by the law, although certain theories propose that specific circumstances may lead some people to commit criminal acts. These theories pinpoint situations that strongly encourage criminal behavior and emphasize that crime becomes more probable when its advantages outweigh the potential repercussions. This perspective aligns with social learning theory. Therefore, my research substantiated my initial hypothesis.
The rate of crime is higher in urban areas compared to suburban areas, particularly in financially disadvantaged, populous, and less educated communities. References: Poverty is considered the main factor that contributes to crime in the United States (Michigan Chronicle, June 24, 1997). The U.S. Department of Justice provides data on homicide trends based on city size, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/city.htm. Joan Petersilia has conducted studies on racial disparities within the criminal justice system.
In 1983, a book titled “Santa Monica, CA: Rand” was published with 75 pages. According to the Detroit News on August 15, 2004, there was a significant increase in shootings in Detroit in 2004. The report on Urban, Suburban, and Rural Victimization from 1993-98 can be accessed at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/usrv98.pdf. The Federal Bureau of Investigations has provided online statistics on Crime in the U.S. for 2006 at http://www.fbi.gov/page2/sept07/cius092407.htm. Information about the War on Poverty is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Poverty.
