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

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

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

Gangs are an ongoing threat to urban youth.

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 reasons why America's downtrodden got that way has to do more with its historical dealings with the impoverished immediately after the Civil War than any other factor. Speculation among some communities suggests that after the Civil War, slaves were turned loose without education and fair opportunity to provide for themselves or their families. This, along with the already lowered perception of these freed slaves, caused a longtime rift in social and economic standards in equality, education and opportunity.

Misconceptions

Society on a whole has a general misconception of the link between poverty and crime. Although crime is often committed by those who are impoverished, all those who are poor do not commit crimes. Other misconceptions include the assumption that people of color are automatically more likely to commit crime because of the color of their skin rather than their surroundings and upbringing. Many of these misconceptions may lead to adverse effects of racism and bigotry in real-life meetings between those with and those without. Understanding and solving the root of the link between poverty and crime will inevitably cause citizens to take pride in their neighborhoods and become productive participants in the labor force.

Time Frame

Obliterating poverty has been the goal of many politicians throughout history, but nothing of this magnitude will be solved overnight. Improved means of wealth distribution, better economic policies and a society-wide commitment to solving the problem, eradicating poverty--and therefore some of the crime that goes with it--may take decades or longer, but it is certainly a worthy and noble cause.

Resources

• U.S. Government Accountabily Office: Poverty and Crime article