Crime and Punishment

This is such an economically polarizing time to be alive. The percentage of poor Americans who dwell in extreme poverty has reached a 32-year high as nearly 16 million Americans live in “deep or severe poverty.” This drastic rise in the level of poverty extends beyond the traditional ghetto and reaches to suburban and rural communities. Poverty is no longer an issue addressed only in the media or in other people's backyards; it is a reality that shapes entire communities and commands

solutions in our own Flathead Valley.

But what impact does this have on crime rates? The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that "Poverty is the parent of crime." His implication was that people living in a constant state of need, with no hope for improvement, might be prone to act in ways contrary with their true ethical values if they believe their survival is dependent on such behavior.

 

Basically... people who think they have no other way to survive will do things and commit acts they normally would never consider doing because they feel they have no other recourse to live. Poverty induces different responses from different people. It is a gross and unfair generalization to say that most poor people are prone to commit crimes. But it is also worthwhile to look at the correlation between poverty and crime because to suggest there is no relationship is simply not true.

 

The relationship between poverty and crime has been a controversial subject over the years. Some scholars argue poverty does not have a causal relationship to crime because there are many countries in which poverty is very high but the crime rate is relatively low, especially in Europe. Here, a conclusion can be drawn supporting criminal behavior as a psychological or non-economically driven activity. Some people commit crimes for reasons not driven by economic hardship.

 

But it also would be hard to argue there is not a relationship between crime and poverty. In the United States, 53% of those in prison earned less than $10,000 per year before incarceration. Let that sink in for a minute. More than half of the people in prison came from backgrounds of extreme poverty.

 

Sociologist and criminal justice scholars have found a direct correlation between poverty and crime. One economic theory of crime assumes that people weigh the consequences of committing crime.They resort to crime only if the cost or consequences are outweighed by the potential benefits to be gained. It becomes an issue of risk/reward and some people are in situations where they feel the risk of getting caught breaking the law is a necessary reality in order to secure a future. It doesn't make it legally right, but it does provide context for why some people choose to break the law.

 

Ironically, as the numbers of those in extreme poverty has increased so has the number of those who experiencing substantial financial growth. Bridges need to be formed between those in cities and other impoverished areas with meager resources and those who possess significant financial resources. Those who are interested in helping must adopt the attitude of teaching people how to fish instead of passing out fish sandwiches if persistent problems such as crime and poverty are to be effectively addressed.If there is a connection between poverty and crime, then there needs to be a correlation between prosperity and communal success.