POVERTY AND CRIME
Introduction to background study
Crime and poverty are some of the challenges that different societies face, and they have the effect of hindering attainment of a country's economic development. Through the development of practical policy issues, different governments struggle to eradicate crime and poverty, with the aim of achieving economic growth (Saunders, 2015). Crime has adverse effects on business performance due to instability and uncertainty issues. Different bodies are concerned that crime has put various governments at stake from achieving economic development, especially in the developing countries. Crime, as a setback to economic growth in the society, contributes to increased rates of unemployment, economic challenges, and instability issues that lead to inflation. Increased cases of crime in the society often leave people with a choice to either turn to criminal activities or other sources of legal operations that can help them get income. The above paper seeks to explain how poverty is considered as a social problem and how it is linked to crime in different societies.
Main Body
Research conducted in the U.S indicates that the country is facing poverty as one of the social problems, and the trend has increased in the recent past. Statistics suggest that over 15.3 million U.S citizens are considered to live below the poverty line. Additionally, such people experience different challenges in the society (Rose & Baumgartner, 2013). Poverty has attracted concerns from various stakeholders in the country due to its adverse effect on the society, especially the youths. Most young people are desperate to get food and shelter among other basics needs as such people lack the opportunity to get educated, making them turn to crime as a source of income.
Different scholars in the recent past have concluded that poverty has a correlation with crime, and the concepts employed claim that it is due to unemployment, lack of adequate education and other opportunities that contribute to the development of the situation. It is considered that the key reason why poor individuals in the society may decide to turn to criminal activities is that they seek to be financially stable.
Social problems of poverty
It is understood that people who are financially challenged are expected to involve themselves in criminal activities for various reasons. However, on the other hand, crime and poverty impact negatively on economic development hence they are vices that ought to be eliminated at all costs, so as to experience growth. Some of the significant findings as to why people engage in criminal activities such as robbery is to gain financial gain so as to be well of like others in the society (Pressman, 2011). However, in other areas, people engage in criminal activities because of the lack of proper enforcement of laws to curb the vice in the society.
Apparently, it is worth appreciating hat no one wishes to live in poverty for the rest of their lives and in most cases, crime is considered as an ideal strategy through which people can evade the condition. People use the money obtained from illegal business to establish legal businesses premises, which act as the source of livelihood. However, with proper establishment of the business, the poor people often stop engaging in poverty although others will engage in the practice for the rest of their lives. Poor parents often experience emotional distress, an aspect that makes them lack the opportunity to guide the children effectively in the right way. The situation contributes to a weak bond amid the children and the parents, an aspect that contributes to increased chances of the children to engage in criminal activities. Living in poverty may incapacitate children from unleashing their potential as they often lack the opportunity to get educated.
Poverty is further classified into different classes, and it is important to note that poor people are often isolated in societies. Moreover, such isolated neighborhoods contribute to increased cases of economic segregation, an aspect that deprives the people of an opportunity to obtain basic needs to prevent the occurrence of violence activities in societies. Solomon, (2012) explains that existence of good schools, health facilities, and churches often contributes to the existence of good morals in different societies.
Apparently, people who live outside the poverty lines have a chance to obtain almost all of their needs without much struggle, and this is an opportunity to engage in economic development. Such individuals understand the various norms and moral justification of the needs to lead an upright life. Moreover, their exposure to different opportunities in life such as a chance to engage in education enables them to impact positively to economic development prospects. Further studies indicate that the main reason as to why poor people remain poor is because they engage themselves with other needy individuals and are intimidated to associate themselves with others. Other than depending on the government welfare programs to obtain their basic needs, crime is another option that is often considered for them (JavedIqbal, 2009).
Policy implication
It is important to appreciate that fostering of equal opportunity for the society members is one way through which the society can eliminate poverty. The policy recommendations to reduce the vice should focus on long-term objectives as one approach of engaging in economic and social development prospects.
Some of the policy proposal to solve the social problem includes;
Government consideration to reduce inequality by engaging in programs that offer everyone equal opportunities in societies
Having a common economic space
Infrastructure development
Effort to increase diverse programs to support enhanced living standards
Equitable development in the various schemes that involve regional development
Improved security in the different parts of the country
Fiscal and monetary policies
It is common sense that it is easy to prevent poverty other than dealing with the various consequences resulting from the vice. It is for this reason that different governments have to take action so as to devise effective measures that deal with the problem. This includes active policy development, supporting programs that impact well to societies and enacting laws to curb crime in the regions.
Apparently, one of the virtues that money has deprived the society is the moral sense of engaging in the right activities to gain financial stability. Different people are exposed to diverse opportunities; hence, through the exploitation of the various opportunities, people access different benefits. Due to poverty incidents, people are therefore forced to engage in criminal activities as one way of gaining financial stability. However, presenting populace with equal opportunities will contribute to economic development especially in the current global setting.
However, Leo & Goff (2008) are concerned that psychological advice helps people living in poor situations by advising them on how to overcome difficult experiences in societies. The support further makes it clear to people that engaging in crime does not solve the challenge of poverty in communities, but makes it worse. Therefore, it is imperative to understand that development of effective policy tools in countries is a certain approach to solving the problem. People belong to a government and have to abide by the set rules, with more opportunities and effective social conditions, poverty will be managed.
The government has the mandate to engage in the provision of basic needs such as shelter, food and sanitation among others to poor people as one way of discouraging criminal activities. The fiscal policy, as an effective concept of alleviating poverty, supports the government effort to equitably distribute resources to everyone, an aspect that offers people a chance to engage in development activities. Moreover, the concept considers the use of effective taxation system that makes rich people pay more taxes so as to support the welfare programs in countries. On the other hand, the monetary policy, as an approach, helps enhance economic development in a country, a feature that creates more employment opportunities for the people. Moreover, it is worth appreciating the importance of opening counseling centers that will help engage people in reasonable activities other than crime. This initiative will make people understand the need for engaging in legal business or in productive jobs other than turning to illegal activities that might put them into troubles.
Conclusion
References
JavedIqbal, S. (2009). Poverty Alleviation or Poverty Elevation: Critical Review of Public Policies and Administrative Measures. Journal of Managerial Sciences, 3(2), 144-165.
Leo, C., & Goff, C. (2008).Inner City Decay, Poverty, Social Isolation and Crime: A Research Design.
Pressman, S. (2011). Policies to Reduce Child Poverty: Child Allowances Versus Tax Exemptions for Children. Journal of Economic Issues (M.E. Sharpe Inc.), 45(2), 323-332.
Rose, M., & Baumgartner, F. R. (2013).Framing the Poor: Media Coverage and U.S. Poverty Policy, 1960-2008. Policy Studies Journal, 41(1), 22-53.
Saunders, P. (2015). Closing the gap: the growing divide between poverty research and policy in Australia. Australian Journal of Social Issues (Australian Social Policy Association), 50(1), 13-35.
Solomon, L. D. (2012). Cycles of Poverty and Crime in America's Inner Cities. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
