The Correlation Between Crime And Poverty Research Paper

The Correlation Between Crime And Poverty - Research Paper Example Poverty and crime have been given widespread attention in literature and almost all philosophers have dwelt on this twin subjects. Poverty and crime have become major social issues pervading all countries and entire continents. The one issue which will be omnipresent among the countries is about the correlation between crime and poverty. The debate about whether the poverty is the primary cause for the eruption of crime or crime breeds the poverty is going on. The poverty, inequality, unequal distribution of wealth, unemployment, lack of opportunities and exclusion from the mainstream of the society increases the incidence of crime, and at the same time crime restricts and inhibits the growth and economic development of the geographical area where the crime is prevalent. The perpetrator of the crime face exclusion from society and are denied the economical benefits with its association which in turn leads to poverty. Studies say that people from poor areas often resort to crime. Statistics taken about inmates of prisons reveal that 53 percent of inmates were earning less than $10000 per year before they were sent to jail. People say crime does not pay, but crime pays for the poor. For a given level of crime if the punishment or sentence is less deterrent then, the committing of crime becomes profitable. For people from poor areas where there is a lack of opportunities for gainful employment committing gives them more economic benefits than any measly paid jobs available to them. Crimes against people for gain as well as against property are associated with poverty. Many studies and researches on this subject reveal that social, economic inequality and poverty increases the rate of crime and they are best understood in economic more than cultural terms. Almost all studies have observed that crime rates were comparatively higher in poor slum than any other urban environment. Analysis should be done on what social conditions make the many people to commit crime rather than on what type of individual tend to do it. Background Crime is defined s an act committed or omitted in violation of law. Crime is invariably identified with violence, harm to individuals, theft or destruction of property etc. Definitions of crime vary from country to country and it differs across the cross section of culture. Poverty is defined as lack of resources and inability to have basic goods and services necessary for survival. The definitions of poverty vary with society, race and geographical area. The approach to define poverty is about the consumption need of individual like food, cloth and shelter etc. Criminologist point out that there is a link between unemployment, income level, education and living condition. The economic level and concentration of wealth in certain geographical areas contribute the condition towards unrest and crime. In equalities in social science creates aggressive attitud e towards the people who are better off which results in violent crimes of social tension. In equalities in social sense means divide and segregation on racial, color and ethnic