Does poverty cause crime?

[Solly]

To say poverty has nothing to do with crime is completely retarded... and "criminally" stupid.

I think the argument is whether poverty causes crime, not over the simple and obvious fact that the two are related.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Guynemer
"ethnics"?

You know, Brits and other types of strange folk. There are whole countries full of ethnics over there.

[chequita guevara]

People with cars are more likely to speed. Obviously middle class life styles cause crime.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
It is an obvious fact in Britain and US Laz. Prove me wrong.

No it isn't.

Try conducting a straw poll here of everyone here who has broken the law.

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Sava

And the whole "white collar" thing is bull****. I've heard that lame argument before. How many CEO's are robbing liquor stores?

All you need to do is look at demographic charts and crime charts. Higher crime is always in poorer areas.

I disagree.

You think some unemployed guy ripping off a liquor store for a $20 bottle of booze is on the same scale to the corruption that occurs in big business?

The ramifications of contracts not honored, broken promises, theft from pension funds, tax evasion, "good ole boy" network of deal making doesn't have vast ramifications to many people?

So I return to my question. What is crime? If you want to define it as the local liquour store being knocked over once in awhile, then you are right. If you want to define crime by the negative impact to quality of life, then you are wrong.

[Solly]

Most people here haven't. I haven't.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
Most people here haven't. I haven't.

Underage drinking is a crime.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

When was the last time you practised your archery?

[Solly]

"Underage drinking is a crime."

I have never committed a crime.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Park Avenue


I think the argument is whether poverty causes crime, not over the simple and obvious fact that the two are related.

Poverty is A cause of crime... not the sole cause. That's my position.

Shogun: It's a simple question of demographics. Even though white collar crime costs us much more than small crime, it is not as prevelant. Furthermore, look at rich suburbs. They have less crime... and often times, less police presence.

Crime is A cause... not the sole cause of crime. To say poverty has no bearing on crime is stupid.

[Imran Siddiqui]

There's a study in a recent issue of Scientific American which shows that crime is only partially linked to poverty. The biggest factor in the rise and fall of crime in the 80s and 90s was the emergence and then lessening demand for crack cocaine.

That's very interesting. I've never heard of a crack cocaine hypothesis for the crime rate.

[Solly]

Yes but Sava, is it really a causing factor, or just one related to it?

[Shogun Gunner]

Sava, I will agree that poverty (a relative wealth imbalance assessment made by the criminal) is a factor because humans experience jealousy.

So poverty will contribute to two types of crime
1. Crimes of jealousy (poor person stealing due to coveting/political reasons/etc)
2. Crimes of true need (starving family)

However, crime occurs for a lot of reasons. Although difficult to quantify, I suspect "crimes of jealousy" is not the largest driver of the crime rate -- both in frequency and true societal cost.

[Lorizael]

What about crimes other than murder? Murder is much less likely to happen in an affluent suburb than in an inner-city ghetto. Why is violent crime more prevalent in poorer areas? Very few rich people go around commiting murder and rape.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp


Prove it.

How's this?

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nypost-profiling_myth.htm