Across the United States poverty has become an epidemic in many communities. Towns that were once a booming industry for jobs and economic status has failed drastically over the past five years. Crime in poverty stricken towns has increased due to lack of jobs, and resources to help people survive. Communities that have fallen on hard times are more likely to have a higher crime rate than places of higher economic development.
Kids who grow up in a high crime rate town that has few jobs and little hope for achievement are more likely to end up in a life of crime. The reason for this is due to lack of stability in the community and the environment that the children are being raised in. If a child grows up experiencing crime, has friends who commit crime, and little supervision from parents then he will likely commit criminal acts. A child who commits crime will likely grow up to become experienced criminals and end up incarcerated as an adult.
Children who grow up in a higher class environment with low crime rate will less likely commit crime. The reason for this child to not commit crime is because it is not a part of his development and environment. A child who has a better economic chance in life will not see the need to commit crime to survive. A child who only sees crime as a way of living will more likely follow in those footsteps of his fellow neighbors and friends. “Criminologists have generally concluded that poverty and slum conditions are positively associated with criminality” .
Families who are forced to move to a community with less jobs, and higher crime rate may be due to divorce or loss of a parent. When kids are forced to reside in a neighborhood that has crime and violence there future may involve criminal activity as well. “The end result is that individuals, families, and communities are rendered systematically more vulnerable to future, deeper involvement in crime” . Kids may not have a parent home to guide them in the proper direction, and the child will commit crime with other kids who lack stability. Children that have nothing to do in the neighborhood are more likely to be involved in criminal acts.
Children who reside in decent homes, good neighborhoods, and have extra-curricular activities to entertain them have less time to get into trouble and commit crime. These types of neighborhoods are more likely to have more successful families with better job opportunities. Kids who live in the better economic communities have less reason to commit crime because the need for survival is not present. Kids who live in these types of towns are less likely to be involved in crime activities because there friends are less likely to be involved either.
Kids who are raised around working class environments that are not in a high crime rate are less likely to participate in crime. The environment that surround us also influences our behaviors and actions as we grow. Our social group is also an influence in the type of persons we become. If our friends are not committing crime, and crime is not presented as an after school activity then it is less likely someone would join this type of violence.
“But most importantly, what reveals the unmistakable connection between poverty and crime is that they’re both geographically concentrated” . Crime and poverty go hand in hand in towns that have a lower status. The kids who grow up in these areas have less of a chance of getting out of the hometown and evolving into a better career structured environment.
The higher class neighborhoods often have kids who go to college and end up with a wonderful career. The difference is the chance that was offered to them from the community they called home. The children who lived in the higher level communities with less crime, more jobs, and a chance at opportunities were more likely to succeed further in life. Kids who had less opportunities for advancement in the community had a greater chance of becoming a part of the criminal justice system into adulthood. Economic status and environment has great power on whether a child grows into crime and poverty or college and careers.
Reference
Bobo, L. D. (2013). Crime Urban Poverty and Social Science. State of Discolusre, 1-6.
Keown, J. E. (2011). Poverty Race and Crime. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 1-6.
Lang, D. (2013). Poverty and Crime Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Poverty, 1-8.