The problem that will be discussed is how low income status affects the crime of theft. Theft is a crime that is an enormous problem for the less fortunate. There have been several studies pertaining to how low income status and race have a negative effect on the tendency to commit theft. This paper will discuss how these statistics relate to the poorer demographic and how theft is perpetuated by their cycle of poverty.
The first article to be discussed conducts a study of how the rate of poverty is the independent variable in urban areas, (Poverty and Crime, 2016). The article states that the dependent variable that transpires as a result of poverty in urban areas is an increase in theft, (Poverty and Crime, 2016). Additionally, the article elaborates on the correlation between increased mental disease that goes untreated in poorer urban areas that also is an independent variable that leads to the crime of theft being committed as the dependent variable, (Poverty and Crime, 2016). Another independent variable that is mentioned is the tendency of poor education in inner-city schools that causes many more students to participate in gangs that encourage such crimes. This is particularly seen in teenage children who are just trying to be socially accepted in a difficult situation. Furthermore, these children are trying to satisfy the longing for the material goods that they are denied access to because of their poverty.
The second article focuses more on the aspect of how crime perpetuates more crime. An example is provided of the African American community in the urban areas that may have committed a crime or been incarcerated when they were younger. This example allows many of these individuals to have difficulty finding employment afterwards, which serves as an independent variable to their return to committing the dependent variable of a theft crime once again, (McLaughlin, L., 2011). This is an interesting take on the issue of poverty in that it almost makes the argument that the African Americans are doomed from the start to be subject to committing crimes to survive in the expensive American society. While many would challenge this perspective, there are many studies that do show a link that demonstrates a strong possibility of an individual repeating theft who has been incarcerated due to having a felony on their record. This article makes a very strong comparison of these aspects and greatly allows the reader to ponder if such a correlation truly exists between these poorer groups of American society and the potential to commit theft than groups who have access to more economic resources.
The third article focuses on the independent variables of age and poverty and how they can predict the propensity of an individual to commit crime, (Brown, E. & Males, M., 2011). The article adds another independent variable by focusing on the aspect of age and its correlation to the poorer demographics’ likelihood of committing theft. The article particularly focuses on the African American community in the urban centers of the United States and how they are more likely to commit theft than other age groups, (Brown, E. & Males, M., 2011). This is due to the lack of resources that they have and their tendency to not receive a proper education due to the fact that their parents may not have finished high school.
The other aspect that the third article focuses on is the high instance of theft as a dependent variable from those who are both young and old as the independent variables, (Brown, E. & Males, M., 2011). The article discusses how the elderly who are impoverished tend to have mental disease and do not have families to properly care for them. This has caused an increase in theft because these elderly people usually frequent homeless shelters and do not have the proper access to medication to treat their medical conditions. The third article does a great job linking two independent variables of age and poverty level to the dependent variable of committing the crime of theft.
References
Brown, E. & Males, M. (2011). Does Age or Poverty Level Best Predict Criminal Arrest and Homicide Rates? A Preliminary Investigation. Justice Policy Journal. Retrieved from: http://www.cjcj.org/uploads/cjcj/documents/Does_age.pdf
McLaughlin, L. (2011). The Poverty-Crime Connection. Jackson Free Press. Retrieved from: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/19/the-poverty-crime-connection/
Poverty and Crime. (2016). Economics Fundamental Finance. Retrieved from: http://economics.fundamentalfinance.com/povertycrime.php
