Does Poverty Cause Crime
- Submitted by: babyboonicole
- Views: 1334
- Category: Other
- Date Submitted: 07/29/2012 03:17 PM
- Pages: 3
- Report this Essay
Does Poverty Cause Crime?
History has proven that there is in fact a direct link between poverty and crime. America, although full of good-hearted citizens, has yet to recognize the importance of balancing the economic makeup of its inner-city and urban areas with that of the money spent on imprisoning those who commit crimes.
History
o A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in 2007 showed that those who are in areas where poverty is abundant had fewer options in life. People living in poverty-stricken areas were more likely to have adverse health issues due to unaffordable health care, risky behavior and the lack of proper education. Those who experience poverty are more likely to suffer from health conditions due to being closer to freeways and industrial buildings that are not usually welcome in higher-income areas. There is also a notable historical rise in property damage that parallels the unemployment rate throughout American history (see Resources below).
Considerations
o The severity of poverty often goes hand in hand with the amount of crimes committed. Money is often reinvested from the open market to the black market to bring about high yet risky return in urban areas. Risks such as these are even higher when this activity is controlled by violent mob-type organizations and gangs, whose existences are structured around capitalizing on the poverty of others. Realistic and reachable role models are far and few between, if any exist at all, which causes the children of those who live in these areas to look up to more unsavory figures who are living the high life through low living.
Theories/Speculation
Some theories suggest that those who are in poverty got that way merely of their own accord. It is true that drug- and gang-infested neighborhoods of today often do invest in their own downfall through discouraging new growth and an infusion of economic and social relief through unsavory acts of crime. However, many of the...
History has proven that there is in fact a direct link between poverty and crime. America, although full of good-hearted citizens, has yet to recognize the importance of balancing the economic makeup of its inner-city and urban areas with that of the money spent on imprisoning those who commit crimes.
History
o A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in 2007 showed that those who are in areas where poverty is abundant had fewer options in life. People living in poverty-stricken areas were more likely to have adverse health issues due to unaffordable health care, risky behavior and the lack of proper education. Those who experience poverty are more likely to suffer from health conditions due to being closer to freeways and industrial buildings that are not usually welcome in higher-income areas. There is also a notable historical rise in property damage that parallels the unemployment rate throughout American history (see Resources below).
Considerations
o The severity of poverty often goes hand in hand with the amount of crimes committed. Money is often reinvested from the open market to the black market to bring about high yet risky return in urban areas. Risks such as these are even higher when this activity is controlled by violent mob-type organizations and gangs, whose existences are structured around capitalizing on the poverty of others. Realistic and reachable role models are far and few between, if any exist at all, which causes the children of those who live in these areas to look up to more unsavory figures who are living the high life through low living.
Theories/Speculation
Some theories suggest that those who are in poverty got that way merely of their own accord. It is true that drug- and gang-infested neighborhoods of today often do invest in their own downfall through discouraging new growth and an infusion of economic and social relief through unsavory acts of crime. However, many of the...