effects of crime essay

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The impact of crime on communities.

This article delves into the multifaceted impact of crime on communities within the United States, employing a comprehensive exploration grounded in the criminal justice process . The introduction elucidates the pivotal role of understanding crime’s ramifications on communities, establishing the foundation for subsequent in-depth analysis. The first body section scrutinizes the social and economic consequences, illuminating the intricate ways crime influences individuals’ psychological well-being, alters community dynamics, and precipitates economic downturns. The second section focuses on the implications for community safety and well-being, unraveling the intricate relationships between crime, public safety, and the overall health and resilience of communities. The third body part scrutinizes the legal and criminal justice system aspects, unveiling the strain on law enforcement agencies, the consequential impact on the criminal justice process, and the repercussions of overcrowded prisons. The conclusion synthesizes the key findings, emphasizing the urgency of holistic approaches and community involvement in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by crime.

Introduction

Crime, in the context of this article, is broadly defined as any act or omission that violates established laws and regulations within the United States. Its manifestations range from property crimes to violent offenses, collectively impacting communities in profound ways. Understanding the impact of crime on communities is crucial for developing effective strategies in criminal justice and community development. As communities grapple with the aftermath of criminal activities, it becomes imperative to explore the multifaceted consequences that reverberate through the social fabric, economic stability, and overall well-being of residents. This article aims to comprehensively examine the intricacies of crime’s influence on communities within the United States, utilizing a lens grounded in the criminal justice process. By delving into the nuanced dimensions of crime, we aim to shed light on the importance of fostering an informed discourse surrounding crime’s impact and to contribute to the development of strategies that foster resilient, safe, and healthy communities.

Part 1: Social and Economic Impact

Crime exerts a profound influence on communities, precipitating a cascade of social and economic consequences that permeate the fabric of society. The social fallout of criminal activities is marked by a myriad of psychological effects on individuals. Victims may experience trauma, anxiety, and a pervasive sense of insecurity, altering their perceptions of safety and trust. Moreover, the communal repercussions extend to changes in community dynamics, as the fear of crime can lead to isolation, eroding social cohesion, and fostering a climate of suspicion. Economically, the impact of crime is manifest in several dimensions. Property values, often reflective of the perceived safety of a neighborhood, may plummet in the wake of criminal incidents, adversely affecting homeowners and exacerbating economic disparities. Additionally, businesses within crime-affected areas face heightened challenges, with increased security costs and a decline in patronage, resulting in tangible job losses. This intricate interplay of social and economic consequences underscores the imperative for a holistic understanding of crime’s ramifications on communities.

In examining the social and economic impact of crime, researchers have found consistent patterns of psychological distress among victims (Smith, 2018). This distress often extends beyond immediate victims to encompass broader community populations, contributing to a heightened sense of vulnerability and fear (Jones & Brown, 2020). Moreover, economic studies (Johnson et al., 2017) highlight the tangible economic consequences of crime, particularly in terms of property devaluation and the ripple effect on local businesses and employment. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the far-reaching effects of crime on communities.

Part 2: Community Safety and Well-being

The repercussions of crime extend beyond immediate incidents, permeating the fundamental aspects of community safety and well-being. One of the primary consequences is the palpable threat to public safety, where criminal activities breed an environment of insecurity and apprehension. Increased fear of crime becomes a pervasive issue, influencing the daily lives of community members as they navigate public spaces with heightened vigilance. This heightened fear not only alters individual behaviors but also contributes to a broader societal impact by reshaping community norms and interactions. The erosion of community trust is another significant facet, as residents may become wary of their neighbors and institutions, hindering collective efforts for safety and shared well-being.

Moreover, the impact of crime on community well-being extends to physical and mental health. Victims of crime often endure not only physical injuries but also long-lasting psychological trauma, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and potential mental health disorders. Additionally, the cumulative stress and fear within a community can manifest in various health issues, affecting the overall well-being of residents. Despite these challenges, communities also demonstrate a remarkable capacity for resilience in the face of adversity. Understanding the dynamics of community resilience becomes paramount in mitigating the negative effects of crime, as resilient communities can better withstand and recover from the social and psychological toll inflicted by criminal activities.

Research has consistently highlighted the pervasive impact of crime on community safety and well-being. Studies by Garcia and Martinez (2019) emphasize the correlation between crime rates and increased fear of crime within communities, shedding light on the complex interplay between actual criminal incidents and perceived threats to safety. Furthermore, the work of Turner et al. (2021) underscores the importance of community resilience in mitigating the adverse health effects of crime, suggesting that fostering resilience can be a key component of community-based interventions.

Part 3: Legal and Criminal Justice System Implications

The impact of crime on communities reverberates through the intricate workings of the legal and criminal justice systems, presenting multifaceted challenges that extend beyond the immediate aftermath of criminal activities. One prominent consequence is the strain imposed on law enforcement agencies. The increased prevalence of crime places a substantial burden on these agencies, demanding heightened workload and resource allocation. This strain not only affects the efficacy of crime prevention efforts but also influences the overall functioning of law enforcement in maintaining public order and safety.

Challenges in crime prevention emerge as a direct consequence of the strain on law enforcement. The increased demand for proactive measures and investigations can overwhelm existing resources, leading to gaps in crime prevention strategies. The repercussions extend to the broader criminal justice process, impacting the efficiency of the legal system itself. Court congestion and delays become pervasive issues, hindering the timely resolution of cases and potentially compromising the quality of justice delivered. The backlog of cases not only frustrates victims and defendants but also strains the resources of the entire legal apparatus.

Moreover, the impact of crime extends to the correctional system, contributing to the phenomenon of overcrowded prisons. The influx of individuals into correctional facilities outpaces the system’s capacity, resulting in myriad consequences for both inmates and the larger community. Overcrowded prisons strain the resources available for inmate rehabilitation and support programs, exacerbating issues related to recidivism. The consequences extend beyond the prison walls, affecting the communities to which individuals will eventually return, potentially perpetuating a cycle of crime.

Understanding these legal and criminal justice system implications is crucial for developing comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of crime and enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice process. Efforts to alleviate strain on law enforcement, improve crime prevention measures, and streamline the legal system are paramount in fostering a more resilient and just society.

In the realm of law enforcement strain, Smith and Johnson (2020) highlight the increased workload on police agencies due to rising crime rates, emphasizing the need for strategic resource allocation. Additionally, studies by Brown et al. (2018) shed light on the challenges in crime prevention and the subsequent impact on the criminal justice process, offering insights into potential areas for intervention.

In conclusion, this exploration of the impact of crime on communities within the United States has illuminated the intricate and pervasive consequences that reverberate through the social, economic, and legal fabric of society. The social fallout of crime encompasses profound psychological effects on individuals, altering community dynamics and fostering an environment of fear. Economically, crime precipitates property devaluation, business losses, and job displacement, contributing to broader economic disparities. Beyond these social and economic ramifications, crime poses a significant threat to community safety, fostering increased fear and eroding trust. The implications for community well-being extend to physical and mental health, emphasizing the importance of understanding and fostering community resilience.

Moreover, the legal and criminal justice system faces substantial challenges, from the strain on law enforcement agencies dealing with increased workloads to the challenges in effective crime prevention. The impact on the criminal justice process manifests in court congestion, delays, and the overarching issue of overcrowded prisons. Recognizing these complexities is imperative for informed policymaking and strategic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of crime.

As we reflect on these significant points, it becomes evident that mitigating the impact of crime requires a concerted effort from various stakeholders. A call to action for community involvement is paramount. Engaging communities in crime prevention initiatives, fostering community resilience, and promoting collaboration between law enforcement, government agencies, and residents are pivotal steps towards building safer and more secure environments.

Furthermore, the importance of holistic approaches in addressing crime’s impact cannot be overstated. Efforts should extend beyond punitive measures to encompass proactive strategies that address the root causes of criminal behavior. Holistic approaches involve community-based interventions, social support programs, and educational initiatives that empower individuals and communities to break the cycle of crime. This comprehensive perspective acknowledges the interconnected nature of the issues at hand and underscores the need for collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts.

In closing, understanding and addressing the impact of crime on communities is not only a societal imperative but also a moral obligation. By fostering resilient communities, engaging in preventative measures, and adopting holistic approaches, we can work towards creating a society where the impact of crime is minimized, and communities thrive in safety, well-being, and unity.

Bibliography

• Brown, L. K., et al. (2018). Challenges in crime prevention: A comprehensive analysis of the criminal justice process. Criminal Justice Studies, 25(2), 189-205.
• Bursik, R. J., Jr., & Grasmick, H. G. (1993). Neighborhoods and crime: The dimensions of effective community control. Lexington Books.
• Clear, T. R., & Rose, D. R. (1999). When neighbors view disorder differently: Community cohesion and the social ecology of neighborhoods. Criminology, 37(4), 827-858.
• Garcia, M. A., & Martinez, R. (2019). Fear of crime in urban neighborhoods: Implications for neighborhood cohesion and social organization. Crime & Delinquency, 65(2), 135-157.
• Johnson, R., et al. (2017). Economic consequences of crime in urban areas. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(4), 23-40.
• Jones, A. B., & Brown, C. D. (2020). Community responses to crime: An interdisciplinary perspective. Journal of Social Issues, 45(2), 112-128.
• LaFree, G., & Tseloni, A. (2006). Democracy and crime: A multilevel analysis of homicide trends in forty-four countries, 1950–2000. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 605(1), 25-49.
• National Institute of Justice. (2019). Crime and Community Well-being: A Synthesis of Findings from the Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women. Retrieved from https://nij.ojp.gov
• Rosenbaum, D. P., & Lurigio, A. J. (1994). Disorder, crime, and community decline: An examination of alternative macrolevel explanations. Criminology, 32(4), 519-551.
• Sampson, R. J., & Raudenbush, S. W. (2004). Seeing disorder: Neighborhood stigma and the social construction of “broken windows”. Social Psychology Quarterly, 67(4), 319-342.
• Sampson, R. J., Morenoff, J. D., & Gannon-Rowley, T. (2002). Assessing “neighborhood effects”: Social processes and new directions in research. Annual Review of Sociology, 28, 443-478.
• Sampson, R. J., Raudenbush, S. W., & Earls, F. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277(5328), 918-924.
• Sherman, L. W., & Weisburd, D. (1995). General deterrent effects of police patrol in crime “hot spots”: A randomized, controlled trial. Justice Quarterly, 12(4), 625-648.
• Skogan, W. G. (1990). Disorder and decline: Crime and the spiral of decay in American neighborhoods. University of California Press.
• Skogan, W. G., & Maxfield, M. G. (1981). Coping with crime: Individual and neighborhood reactions. Sage Publications.
• Smith, C. R., & Johnson, M. A. (2020). Law enforcement strain and its impact on crime prevention. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35(4), 421-438.
• Smith, J. K. (2018). The psychological impact of crime: A comprehensive analysis. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(1), 45-62.
• Turner, L. A., et al. (2021). Community resilience in the face of crime and violence: A longitudinal study. Journal of Community Psychology, 40(3), 312-328.
• Visher, C. A., & Weisburd, D. (Eds.). (2017). Research on the prevention of prisoner reentry. Springer.
• Wilson, J. Q., & Kelling, G. L. (1982). Broken windows: The police and neighborhood safety. The Atlantic Monthly, 29-38.

Essay on Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Crime

Understanding crime.

Crime refers to acts that violate the law. They are considered harmful and punishable by a governing authority. Crimes can range from theft to murder.

Types of Crimes

There are various types of crimes. Violent crimes include actions like assault, while theft falls under property crimes. White-collar crimes involve fraud or embezzlement.

Consequences of Crime

Crimes have severe consequences. They can lead to imprisonment, fines, or even death penalties. Moreover, they harm communities and individuals, causing fear and damage.

Preventing Crime

Preventing crime involves law enforcement, education, and community programs. Everyone can contribute to a safer society by obeying laws and reporting suspicious activities.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Crime
• Speech on Crime

250 Words Essay on Crime

Introduction.

Crime, a pervasive aspect of society, is an act that violates a law and is punishable by the state. It disruptively breaches societal norms, creating a sense of insecurity and fear. This essay delves into the nature of crime, its causes, and the role of law enforcement.

The Nature of Crime

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across cultures and societies. It ranges from minor offences like theft to severe ones like homicide. The nature of crime reflects societal values, as what is considered criminal is determined by the prevailing legal and moral code.

Causes of Crime

The causes of crime are multifaceted, involving biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Biological theories suggest genetic predispositions towards criminal behaviour. Psychological theories focus on the individual’s mental processes and their interaction with the environment. Sociological theories, on the other hand, emphasize societal structures and inequalities as major crime contributors.

Law Enforcement and Crime

Law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in maintaining order, preventing crime, and ensuring justice. They function as a deterrent, keeping potential criminals in check. However, their effectiveness is contingent upon their ability to adapt to evolving criminal tactics.

In conclusion, crime is a societal issue with deep roots in individual and social structures. Understanding its nature and causes is key to formulating effective strategies for prevention and control. As society evolves, so too must our approach to understanding and combating crime.

500 Words Essay on Crime

Crime, a social and legal concept, has been a part of human society since its inception. It refers to the actions that violate the norms and laws of a society, leading to harm or potential harm to individuals or the community. The study of crime, its causes, effects, and prevention, is a crucial aspect of sociology, psychology, and criminology.

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across societies and times. It is not static but evolves with societal norms and legal frameworks. What may be considered a crime in one society may not be in another, and similarly, what was a crime in the past might not be so today. For instance, homosexuality was once criminalized in many societies, but it is now widely accepted and decriminalized.

Types of Crime

Crimes are generally categorized into personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes, and financial crimes. Personal crimes involve direct harm or threat to an individual, such as assault or robbery. Property crimes involve interfering with another person’s property, like burglary or theft. Inchoate crimes are those that were started but not completed, while statutory crimes are violations of specific statutes. Financial crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, involve the illegal conversion of property ownership.

The causes of crime are multifaceted, often interwoven with societal, psychological, and economic factors. Poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, and family violence are some common societal factors leading to crime. Psychological factors include personality disorders, low self-control, and aggression. Economic factors, such as unemployment or income inequality, also contribute significantly to crime rates.

Effects of Crime

Crime affects society in numerous ways, from creating fear and insecurity to damaging social cohesion. It impacts the economy by diverting resources towards law enforcement and away from other sectors. On an individual level, crime can lead to physical harm, psychological trauma, and financial loss.

Crime prevention strategies are as diverse as the causes of crime. They include social strategies, such as improving education and employment opportunities, and legal strategies, such as effective law enforcement and fair judicial systems. Psychological interventions, like counseling and therapy, can also play a significant role in crime prevention.

Understanding crime is essential to creating a safe and harmonious society. By examining its nature, types, causes, effects, and prevention, we can develop effective strategies to reduce crime rates and mitigate its impact on individuals and communities. It is a collective responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of individuals, communities, and governments.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Crime Against Women
• Essay on How to Reduce Unemployment
• Essay on Conclusion for Unemployment

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Crime As A Social Problem: How To Write An Essay?

Table of Contents

Nevertheless, the key to solving the problem lays deeply in it and only through research of every aspect of the problem it can be found. That is exactly why this topic is so popular! You have endless scopes to discover, various information to collect, numerous questions to find answers to, and freedom to compose any personal topic dealing with crime.

But still, all essays on crime are similar to their aim – to discover and to help. You need to realize that any cause-effect connections you may find can indeed help to understand the problem better, develop new methods of preventing, reducing or dealing with crimes and criminals and reveal many other useful things.

How to write crime essay?

Writing an essay on crime is almost the same as writing any other essay. However, remember that you need to be extremely precise with the information you include in your essay – it’s better to check the trustworthiness and accuracy of everything you decided to take on the Internet. What’s more, it is a good idea to rely on statistics and numbers.

Moreover, it is better to choose a specific topic for your essay – that’s how you make it informative and newsworthy. Picking too broad topic will result in writing about everything and nothing. At the same time, choosing a narrow topic may be difficult to write due to the lack of available information.

So, analyze your topic and find the golden middle. These are the main differences in a crime essay.

Here are some basic recommendations:

• Come up with the topic – not too narrow, not too broad, most importantly – interesting for you.
• Write an outline and stick to it – any essay needs to be structured both for easier writing and for better perception.
• Be interested in what you write about.

The best structure for the essay on crime

Any essay should contain three parts – introduction, main body, and conclusion. They may also consist of paragraphs for better understanding while reading. So when you have finally decided on your topic, it is nice to make an outline – it is where all parts of your essay will be highlighted.

Here is a free example of an outline for the essay “Correlations of criminal behavior”:

1. Introduction – here you present all the background information needed to understand your ideas, it is the basis of your research. You may also give some definitions if needed.

2. The main body – to state all your ideas.

• Gender – discover who does more crimes, men or women. Try to explain or find explanations for the question “why”.
• Race and immigration – examine people of which race is more likely than others committing crimes. Also, explore how can the status of immigrant influence criminality.
• Early life – enumerate which factors in early life may be associated with committing crimes later. These may include trauma, family size and relations, alcohol and drug addiction in the family, bullying, low school performance, and many others.
• Religion – there are a few studies about how religiosity may influence criminality. Discover whether religion increase or decrease crime, how and why. Maybe, different religions have different effects.
• Political ideology – explore various political ideologies and how they encourage people to behave themselves. Are there any which obviously push people into committing a crime?
• Psychological traits – explain how psychological background may influence a person. Describe some mental illnesses which may make people aggressive and destructive. Find some statistics to prove your statements.
• Socioeconomic factors – examine people of which social or economic status are more prone to commit a crime, why? Explain also how the economic situation in family, city, and country may influence criminality. You may even write a poverty and crime essay.

3. Conclusion – make a derivation of everything you have stated. Keep in mind that no new ideas or statements are needed here.

4. References – add a list of the sources you have used in your essay (if needed).

Causes of crime essay

It is doubtless that the government and authorities try to prevent crimes (which is a great idea, by the way!).

Nevertheless, it is still occurring.

The problem with this is that the majority of people can’t understand where it all comes from. To cope with the problem we need to spread the awareness of why crime is done because “just insanity” isn’t usually the answer.

If you decided to write such an essay, here are some ideas for you to consider in your essay:

• Physical abnormalities – it is still believed that people who encounter some features of appearance are more likely to commit a crime. It is stated that these people have smaller heads, bigger jaws, and ears and are of a certain weight and height. Another determining factor is race.
• Mental illnesses and psychological disorders – there are some illnesses which make people generally more aggressive.
• Social and economic factors – it is a well-known fact that people of lower social status commit more crimes. The same is with the economy – the poorer the country is, the more crime is committed.
• Income and education – it was revealed that educated people are less likely to commit a crime compared to those who are uneducated. What is more, unemployment is regarded as one of the most widespread reasons for crime.
• White-collar crime – it is a prevalent crime among deputies and high officials. They include bribery, abuse of status, bureaucracy, and others.

Hate crime essay: what’s best to cover?

Hate crime is committed against a group of people or someone who belongs to it. As a rule, race and religion are the main factors. Hate crime itself is a violent act towards a person or a group of people due to their affiliation with a group or organization.

Thousands of people all around the world are suffering since they just profess the religion someone doesn’t like, have another color of skin or encounter some even less noticeable differences. Consider writing a does the death penalty deter crime essay in this context.

Thus this type of crime is indeed worth highlighting. Here is a free sample for you to pick some ideas.

Cybercrime essay: several hints

Cybercrime is a relatively new problem which develops with the Internet and technologies. Only fifteen years ago there wasn’t such a problem. However, it is expected that the global cost of cybercrime will surmount $6 trillion!

Most widespread types of cybercrime include fraud, hacking, identity theft, scamming, computer viruses, ransomware, DDoS attack, botnets, spamming, phishing, social engineering, malvertising, cyberstalking, software piracy, cyberbullying and many others.

This is why the topic is really up-to-date. So you may look through this free example to know where to begin this broad topic.

Final thoughts

All in all, crime is a newsworthy scope to explore and write essays on. Unfortunately, crimes are constantly occurring, and there are lots of information and statistics you may need to discover some specific questions.

Don’t hesitate to examine something you’re really interested in, no matter how “important” it is considered! Good luck!

Can’t wait to fight all the crime around the globe? We’ll help! Order your perfect essay on crime and cut yourself free for anything you have on your mind.

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The Effects of Violence on Communities: The Violence Matrix as a Tool for Advancing More Just Policies

Beth E. Richie is Head of the Department of Criminology, Law and Justice and Professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is the author of Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence, and America's Prison Nation (2012) and Compelled to Crime: The Gender Entrapment of Battered Black Women (1996) and editor of The Long Term: Resisting Life Sentences, Working toward Freedom (with Alice Kim, Erica Meiners, Jill Petty, et al., 2018).

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Beth E. Richie; The Effects of Violence on Communities: The Violence Matrix as a Tool for Advancing More Just Policies. Daedalus 2022; 151 (1): 84–96. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_01890

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In this essay, I illustrate how discussions of the effects of violence on communities are enhanced by the use of a critical framework that links various microvariables with macro-institutional processes. Drawing upon my work on the issue of violent victimization toward African American women and how conventional justice policies have failed to bring effective remedy in situations of extreme danger and degradation, I argue that a broader conceptual framework is required to fully understand the profound and persistent impact that violence has on individuals embedded in communities that are experiencing the most adverse social injustices. I use my work as a case in point to illustrate how complex community dynamics, ineffective institutional responses, and broader societal forces of systemic violence intersect to further the impact of individual victimization. In the end, I argue that understanding the impact of all forms of violence would be better served by a more intersectional and critical interdisciplinary framework.

Rigorous interdisciplinary scholarship, public policy analyses, and the most conscientious popular discourse on the impact of violence point to the deleterious effects that violence has on both individual health and safety and community well-being. Comprehensive justice policy research on topics ranging from gun violence to intimate abuse support the premise that the physical injury, psychological distress, and fear that are typically associated with individual victimization are directly linked to subsequent social isolation, economic instability, erosion of neighborhood networks, group alienation, and mistrust of justice and other institutions. This literature also points to the ways that structural inequality, persistent disadvantages, and structural abandonment are some of the root causes of microlevel violent interactions and at the same time influence how effective macro-level justice policies are at responding to or preventing violent victimization. 1

The most exciting of these analyses have emerged from the subfields of feminist criminology, critical race theory, critical criminology, sociolegal theory, and other social science research that take seriously questions of race and culture, gender and sexuality, ethnic identity and class position, exploring with great interest how these factors influence the prevailing questions upon which practitioners in our field base their practice; questions such as how to increase access to justice, the role of punishment in desistance, the factors that lead to a disproportionate impact of institutional practices, and the perceptions about, and possibilities for, violence prevention and abolitionist practices. 2 Discussions about the future of justice policy would be well served by attending to this growing literature and the critical frameworks that are advanced from within it.

In this essay, I will attempt to illustrate how discussions of the effects of violence on communities are enhanced by the use of a critical framework that links various microvariables with macro-institutional processes. Drawing upon my work on the issue of violent victimization toward African American women and how conventional justice policies have failed to bring effective remedy in situations of extreme danger and degradation, I argue that a broader conceptual framework is required to fully understand the profound and persistent impact that violence has on individuals embedded in communities that are experiencing the most adverse social injustices. I use my work as a case in point to illustrate how complex community dynamics, ineffective institutional responses, and broader societal forces of systemic violence intersect to further the impact of individual victimization. In the end, I argue that understanding the impact of all forms of violence would be better served by a more intersectional and critical interdisciplinary framework.

Following a review of the data on violent victimization against African American women, I describe the violence matrix , a conceptual framework that I developed from analyzing data from several research projects on the topic. 3 I do so as a way to make concrete my earlier claim: that the effect of violence on communities must be understood from a critical intersectional framework. That is, my central argument here is an epistemological one, suggesting that in the future, the most effective and indeed “just” policies in response to violence necessitate the development of critical far-reaching systemic analysis and social change at multiple levels.

Violent victimization has been established as a major problem in contemporary society, resulting in long-term physical, social, emotional, and economic consequences for people of different racial/ethnic, class, religious, regional, and age groups and identities. 4 However, like most social problems, the impact is not equally felt across all subgroups, and even though the rates may be similar, the consequences of violent victimization follow other patterns of social inequality and disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minority groups. 5 When impact and consequences are taken into account, it becomes clear that African American women fare among the worst, in part because of the ways that individual experiences are impacted by negative institutional processes. 6

While qualitative data suggest that there is a link between social position in a racial hierarchy and Black women's subsequent vulnerability to violence, the specific mechanism of that relationship has yet to be described or tested. 7 However, despite new research that examines the effects of race/ethnicity and gender in combination, there has been a lack of systematic analysis of the intersection of race and gender with a specific focus on the situational factors, cultural dynamics, and neighborhood variables that lead to higher rates and/or more problematic outcomes of violent victimization in the lives of African American women. 8

These unanswered questions led to the years of fieldwork that informed the development of the violence matrix. I was interested in broadening the understanding of violence by analyzing the contextual and situational factors that correlate with multiple forms of violent victimization for African American women, incorporating the racial and community dynamics that influence their experiences. I was also concerned about the ways that state-sanctioned violence and systemic oppression contributed to the experience and impact of intimate partner abuse and looked for a way to incorporate “ordinary violence” and “the injustices of everyday life” into an analytic model. I offer this conceptual approach as a potential epistemological model because it proposes to enhance the scientific understanding of violent victimization of African American women by looking at gender and race, micro and macro, individual, community, and societal issues in the same analysis, whereas in most other research, rates of victimization are described either by gender or race, and typically not from within the contexts of household, neighborhood, and society.

More specifically, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other forms of violence typically understood to be associated with household or familiar relationships are usually studied as a separate phenomenon constituting a gender violence subfield distinct from other forms of victimization that are captured in more general crime statistics. 9 The more general research that documents crimes of assault, homicide, and so on does not typically isolate analyses of the nature of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, even if it is noted. As a result, gender violence and other forms of violent victimization against women are studied separately, and their causes and consequences, the intervention and prevention strategies, and the needs for policy change are not linked analytically to each other. This leaves unexamined the significant influence of situational factors (such as intimacy) or contextual factors (such as negative images of African American women) on victimization, and on violence more generally.

Prior to describing the violence matrix, readers may benefit from a brief overview of the problems that it was designed to account for. African American women experience disproportionate impacts of violent victimization. 10 As the following review of the literature shows, the rates are high and the consequences are severe, firmly establishing the need to focus on this vulnerable group. The goal is not to suggest it is the only population group at risk or that racial/ethnic identity has a causal influence on victimization, but rather to look specifically at how race/ethnicity and gender interact to create significant disproportionality in rates of, perceptions about, and consequences of violence, and to develop an instrument to collect data that can be analyzed conceptually and discussed in terms of contextual particularities.

Assault . According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2005, Black women reported experiencing violent victimization at a rate of 25 per 1,000 persons aged twelve years or older. 11 In an earlier report, Black women reported experiencing simple assaults at 28.8 per 1,000 persons and serious violent crimes at 22.5 per 1,000 persons, twelve years or older. Black women are also more likely (53 percent) to report violent victimization to the police than their White or male counterparts. 12 Situational factors such as income, urban versus suburban residence, perception of street gang membership, and presence of a weapon influence Black women's violent victimization. Other variables are known to complicate this disproportionality, most notably income, age, neighborhood density, and other crimes in the community like gang-related events. However, few studies note or analyze their covariance. Additionally, reports after 2007 detail statistics on violent victimization for race or gender, but not race and gender; therefore, numbers regarding Black women's experiences are largely unknown.

Intimate partner violence . Intimate partner violence is a significant and persistent social problem with serious consequences for individual women, their families, and society as a whole. 13 The 1996 National Violence Against Women Survey suggested that 1.5 million women in the United States were physically assaulted by an intimate partner each year, while other studies provide much higher estimates. 14 For example, the Department of Justice estimates that 5.3 million incidents of violence against a current or former spouse or girlfriend occur annually. Estimates of violence against women in same sex partnerships indicate a similar rate of victimization. 15

According to most national studies, African American women are disproportionately represented in the data on physical violence against intimate partners. 16 In the Violence Against Women Survey, 25 percent of Black women had experienced abuse from their intimate partner, including “physical violence, sexual violence, threats of violence, economic exploitation, confinement and isolation from social activities, stalking, property destruction, burglary, theft, and homicide.” Rates of severe battering help to spotlight the disproportionate impact of direct physical assaults on Black women by intimate partners: homicide by an intimate partner is the second-leading cause of death for Black women between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. 17 Black women are killed by a spouse at a rate twice that of White women. However, when the intimate partner is a boyfriend or girlfriend, this statistic increases to four times the rate of their White counterparts. 18 While the numbers are convincing, they are typically not embedded in an understanding of how situational factors like relationship history, religiosity, or availability of services impact these rates. 19

Sexual victimization . When race is considered a variable in some community samples, 7 to 30 percent of all Black women report having been raped as adults, and 14 percent report sexual abuse during their childhood. 20 This unusually wide range results from differences in definitions and sampling methods. However, as is true in most research on sexual victimization, it is widely accepted that rape, when self-reported, is underreported, and that Black women tend to underutilize crisis intervention and other supportive services that collect data. 21 Even though Black women from all segments of the African American community experience sexual violence, the pattern of vulnerability to rape and sexual assault mirrors that of direct physical assault by intimate partners. The data show that Black women from low-income communities, those with substance abuse problems or mental health concerns, and those in otherwise compromised social positions are most vulnerable to sexual violence from their intimate partners. 22 Not only is the incidence of rape higher, but a review of the qualitative research on Black women's experiences of rape also suggests that Black women are assaulted in more brutal and degrading ways than other women. 23 Weapons or objects are more often used, so Black women's injuries are typically worse than those of other groups of women. Black women are more likely to be raped repeatedly and to experience assaults that involve multiple perpetrators. 24

Beyond the physical, and sometimes lethal, consequences, the psychological literature documents the very serious mental health impact of sexual assault by intimate partners. For instance, 31 percent of all rape victims develop rape-related post-traumatic stress disorder. 25 Rape victims are three times more likely than nonvictims to experience a major depressive episode in their lives, and they attempt suicide at a rate thirteen times higher than nonvictims. Women who have been raped by a member of their household are ten times more likely to abuse illegal substances or alcohol than women who have not been raped. Black women experience the trauma of sexual abuse and aggression from their intimate partners in particular ways, as studies conducted by psychologists Victoria Banyard, Sandra Graham-Bermann, Carolyn West, and others have discussed. 26 It is also important to note the extent to which Black women are exposed to or coerced into participating in sexually exploitative intimate relationships with older men and men who violate commitments of fidelity by having multiple sexual partners. 27 Far from infrequent or benign, it can be hypothesized that these experiences serve to socialize young women into relationships characterized by unequal power, and they normalize subservient gender roles for women, although very little empirical research has been done to make this analytical case.

Community harassment . In addition to direct physical and sexual assaults, Black women experience a disproportionate number of unwanted comments, uninvited physical advances, and undesired exposure to pornography in their communities. Almost 75 percent of Black women sampled report some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime, including being forced to live in, work in, attend school in, and even worship in degrading, dangerous, and hostile environments, where the threat of rape, public humiliation, and embarrassment is a defining aspect of their social environment. 28 They also experience trauma as a result of witnessing violence in their communities. 29

For some women, this sexual harassment escalates to rape. Even when it does not, community harassment creates an environment of fear, apprehension, shame, and anxiety that can be linked to women's vulnerability to violent victimization. It is important to understand this link because herein lie some of the most significant situational and contextual factors, like the diminished use of support services and reduced social capital on the part of African American women.

Social disenfranchisement . Less well-documented or quantified in the criminological data is the disproportionate harm caused to African American women because of the ways that violent victimization is linked to social disenfranchisement and the discrimination they face in the social sphere. Included here is what other researchers have called coercive control or structural violence. 30 The notion of social disenfranchisement goes beyond emotional abuse and psychological manipulation to include the regulation of emotional and social life in the private sphere in ways that are consistent with normative values about gender, race, and class. 31 These aspects of violence against African American women in particular are conceptualized in the violence matrix, and include being disrespected by microracial slurs from community members and agency officials, and having their experience of violent victimization denied by community leaders. 32 African American women are also disproportionately likely to be poor, rely on public services like welfare, and be under the control of state institutions like prisons, which means that they face discrimination and degradation in these settings at higher rates. 33 These situational and contextual factors that cause harm are indirectly related to violent victimization and must be considered part of the environment that disadvantages African American women. From this vantage point, it could be argued that when women experience disadvantages associated with racial and ethnic discrimination, dangerous and degrading situations, and social disenfranchisement, they are more at risk of victimization. 34

The violence matrix ( Table 1 ) is informed by the data reviewed above and by my interest in bringing a critical feminist criminological approach to the understanding of violent victimization of African American women. It asserts that intimate partner violence is worsened by some of the contextual variables and situational dynamics in their households, communities, and broader social sphere, and vice versa. The tool is not intended to infer causation, but rather to broaden the understanding of the factors that influence violence in order to create justice policy in the future.

The Violence Matrix

The violence matrix conceptualizes the forms of violent victimization that women experience as fitting into three overlapping categories, reflecting a sense that the forms are co-constituted and exist within a larger context and in multiple arenas: 35 1) direct physical assault against women; 2) sexual aggressions that range from harassment to rape; and 3) the emotional and structural dimensions of social disenfranchisement that characterize the lives of some African American women and leave them vulnerable to abuse. Embedded in the discussion of social disenfranchisement are issues related to social inequality, systemic abuse, and state violence.

Consistent with ecological models of other social problems, the violence matrix shows that various forms of violent victimization happen in several contexts and are influenced by several variables. 36 First, violence occurs within households, including abuse from intimate partners as well as other family members and co-residents. Dynamics associated with household composition, relationship history, and patterns of household functioning can be isolated for consideration in this context. The second sphere is the community in which women live: the neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and public spaces where women routinely interact with peers and other people. This context has both a geographic and a cultural meaning. Community, in this context, is where women share a sense of belonging and physical space. An analysis of the community context focuses attention on issues like neighborhood social class, degree of social cohesion, and presence or absence of social services. The third is the social sphere, where legal processes, institutional policies, ineffective justice policies, and the nature of social conditions (such as population density, neighborhood disorder, patterns of incarceration, and other macrovariables) create conditions that cause harm to women and other victims of violence. 37 The harm caused by victimization in this context happens either through passive victimization (as in the case of bystanders not responding to calls for help because of the low priority put on women's safety) or active aggression (as in police use of excessive force in certain neighborhoods) that create structural disadvantage. 38

The analytic advantage of using a tool like the violence matrix to explain violent victimization is that it offers a way to move beyond statistical analyses of disproportionality to focus on a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between contextual factors that disadvantage African American women and the situational variables leading to violent victimization. Two important features of this conceptual framework allow for this. First, the violence matrix theoretical model considers both the forms and the contexts as dialectical and reinforcing (as opposed to discrete) categories of experience. Boundaries overlap, relationships shift over time, and situations change. It helps to show how gender violence and other forms of violent victimization intersect and reinforce each other. For example, sexual abuse has a physical component, community members move in and become intimate partners, and sexual harassment is sometimes a part of how institutions respond to victims. This theoretical model examines the simultaneity of forms and contexts, a feature that most paradigms do not have. 39 The possibility that gender violence (like marital rape) could be correlated with violence at the community level (like assault by a neighbor) holds important potential for a deeper understanding of violent victimization of vulnerable groups and therefore informs the future of justice policy.

A second distinguishing feature of this conceptual model is that it broadens the discussion about violent victimization beyond direct assaults within the household (Table 1, cells 1 and 2) and sexual assaults by acquaintances and strangers (cells 5 and 8), which are the focus of the majority of the research on violence against women. It includes social disenfranchisement as a form of violence and social sphere as a context (cells 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9). In this way, the violence matrix focuses specific attention on contextual and situational vulnerabilities in addition to the physical ones. More generally, this advantages research and justice praxis. This approach responds to the entrenched problem of gender violence as it relates to issues of structural racism and other forms of systematic advantage. Models like this therefore hold the potential to inform justice policy that is more comprehensive, more effective, and, ultimately, more “just.”

My hope is that the violence matrix will deepen the understanding of the specific problem of violence in the lives of Black women and serve as a model for intersectional analyses of other groups and their experiences of violence. I hope it points to the utility of moving beyond quantitative studies and single-dimension qualitative analyses of the impact of violence and instead encourages designing conceptual models that consider root causes and the ways that systemic factors complicate its impact. This would offer an opportunity for a deeper discussion around violence policy, one that would include attention to individual harm, and how it is created by, reinforced by, or worsened by structural forms of violence. It would bring neighborhood dynamics into the analytical framework and engage issues of improving community efficacy and reversing structural abandonment in considerations of potential options. Questions about where strategies of community development and how the politics of prison abolition might appear would become relevant. And in the end, it would advance critical justice frameworks that answer questions about what 1) we might invest in to keep individuals safe; 2) how we might help neighborhoods thrive; and 3) how we might create structural changes that shift power in our society such that violence and victimization are minimized. More than rhetorical questions and naively optimistic strategies, these are real issues that must inform any discussion of the future of justice policy. A model like the violence matrix, modified and improved upon by discussions at convenings like those hosted by the Square One Project, offer some insights into both the what and the how of future justice policy. I hope that this essay is helpful in moving that discussion forward.

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Eva Broodman, “An Immanent Critique of the Prison Nation: The Contradictions of Carceral ‘Anti-Violence,'” Philosophy & Social Criticism 44 (5) (2018): 571–592; Angela Davis, The Meaning of Freedom, and Other Difficult Dialogues (San Francisco: City Lights Publisher, 2010); Shaun L. Gabbidon and Helen Taylor-Greene, Race and Crime , 3rd ed. (Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2012); and Paul Leighton, Gregg Barak, and Allison Cotton, Class, Race, Gender, and Crime: The Social Realities of Justice in America (Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).

Beth E. Richie, Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence, and America's Prison Nation (New York: New York University Press, 2012).

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Natalie J. Sokoloff and Ida Dupont, “Domestic Violence at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender: Challenges and Contributions to Understanding Violence against Marginalized Women in Diverse Communities,” Violence Against Women 11 (1) (2005): 38–64; Darrell Steffensmeier, Ben Feldmeyer, Casey T. Harris, and Jeffery T. Ulmer, “Reassessing Trends in Black Violent Crime, 1980–2008: Sorting Out the ‘Hispanic Effect’ in Uniform Crime Reports Arrests, National Crime Victimization Survey Offender Estimates, and U.S. Prisoner Counts,” Criminology 49 (1) (2011): 197–252; and James D. Unnever and Shaun L. Gabbidon, A Theory of African American Offending: Race, Racism, and Crime (New York: Taylor & Francis, 2011).

Danielle McGuire, At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance–A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power (New York: Vintage, 2010); R. L. McNeely and Jose B. Torres, “Reflections on Racial Differences in Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence: Black Women Have to Be Strong,” Social Justice in Context 4 (1) (2009): 129–136; Casey T. Taft, Thema Bryant-Davis, Halley E. Woodward, et al., “Intimate Partner Violence against African American Women: An Examination of the Socio-Cultural Context,” Aggression and Violent Behavior 14 (1) (2009): 50–58; Shatema Threadcraft, Intimate Justice: The Black Female Body and the Body Politic (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016); and Eve Waltermaurer, Carole-Ann Watson, and Louise-Anne McNutt, “Black Women's Health: The Effect of Perceived Racism and Intimate Partner Violence,” Violence Against Women 12 (12) (2006): 1214–1222.

Buttell and Carney, “A Large Sample Evaluation of a Court-Mandated Batterer Intervention Program”; Shannan Catalano, Erica Smith, Howard Snyder, and Michael Rand, “Female Victims of Violence” (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009); Michelle D. Mitchell, Gabrielle Hargrove, Marietta H. Collins, and Martie P. Thompson, “Coping Variables that Mediate the Relation between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes among Low-Income, African American Women,” Journal of Clinical Psychology 62 (12) (2006): 1503–1520; and Shondrah Tarrezz Nash, “Through Black Eyes: African American Women's Constructions of their Experiences with Intimate Male Partner Violence,” Violence Against Women 11 (11) (2005): 1420–1440.

Janette Y. Taylor, “No Resting Place: African American Women at the Crossroads of Violence,” Violence Against Women 11 (12) (2005): 1473–1489; Nikki Jones, Between Good and Ghetto: African American Girls and Inner-City Violence (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 2010); and Jody Miller, Getting Played: African American Girls, Urban Inequality, and Gendered Violence (New York: New York University Press, 2008).

Carole E. Jordon, “Advancing the Study of Violence against Women: Evolving Research Agendas into Science,” Violence Against Women 15 (4) (2009): 393–419.

Buttell and Carney, “A Large Sample Evaluation of a Court-Mandated Batterer Intervention Program.”

Harrell, “Black Victims of Violent Crime.”

Callie Rennison, “Violent Victimization and Race, 1993–98” (Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2001).

Shannon Catalano, “Intimate Partner Violence in the United States” (Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2006).

Tjaden and Thoennes, Full Report on Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence against Women .

Kim Fountain and Avy A. Skolnik, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Domestic Violence in the United States in 2006: A Report of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program (New York: National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2007), https://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2006_NCAVP_DV_Report.pdf; Valli Kanuha, “Compounding the Triple Jeopardy: Violence in Lesbian Relationships,” Women and Therapy 9 (2) (1990): 169–184; and Diane R. Dolan-Soto and Sara Kaplan, New York Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Domestic Violence Report (New York: New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, 2005), http://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2005_AVP_DV_Report.pdf .

Emiko Petrosky, Janet M. Blair, Carter J. Betz, et al., “Racial and Ethnic Differences in Homicides of Adult Women and the Role of Intimate Partner Violence–United States, 2003–2014,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 66 (28) (2017): 741–746.

Taft et al., “Intimate Partner Violence against African American Women.”

Catalano et al., “Female Victims of Violence.”

Tricia B. Bent-Goodley, “Perception of Domestic Violence: A Dialogue with African American Women,” Health and Social Work 29 (4) (2004): 307–316; Blanca Ramos, Bonnid E. Carlson, and Louise-Ann McNutt, “Life-Time Abuse, Mental Health and African American Women,” Journal of Family Violence 19 (3) (2004): 153–164; Christina G. Watlington and Christopher M. Murphy, “The Role of Religion and Spirituality among African American Survivors of Domestic Violence,” Journal of Clinical Psychology 62 (7) (2006): 837–857; and Carolyn West, “Black Women and Intimate Partner Violence: New Directions for Research,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 19 (12) (2004): 1487–1493.

Patricia Tjaden and Nancy Thoennes, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence (Washington, D.C: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2006).

Helen A. Neville and Jennifer Hamer, “'We Make Freedom': An Exploration of Revolutionary Black Feminism,” Journal of Black Studies 31 (4) (2001): 437–461.

Christina A. Byrne and David S. Riggs, “Gender Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Following Traumatic Stress,” in Gender and PTSD , ed. Rachel Kimerling, Paige Ouimette, and Jessica Wolfe (New York: The Guilford Press, 2002), 382–399; Jacquelyn Campbell, “Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence,” The Lancet 359 (9314) (2002): 1331–1336; Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, “Unlocking Options for Women: A Survey of Women in Cook County Jail” (Chicago: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, 2002), https://www.issuelab.org/resources/46/46.pdf ; Cheryl Sutherland, Chris Sullivan, and Deborah Bybee, “Effects of Intimate Partner Violence versus Poverty on Women's Health,” Violence Against Women 7 (10) (2001): 1122–1143; and Tjaden and Thoennes, Full Report on Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence against Women .

Samuel Perry and Cyrus Schleifer, “Race and Trends in Pornography Viewership, 1973–2016: Examining the Moderating Roles of Gender and Religion,” Journal of Sex Research 56 (1) (2019): 62–73; Charlotte Pierce-Baker, Surviving the Silence: Black Women's Stories of Rape (New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1998); and G. Erlick Robinson, “International Perspectives on Violence against Women,” Archives on Women's Mental Health 6 (3) (2003).

Pauline B. Bart and Patricia H. O'Brien, Stopping Rape: Successful Survival Strategies (Elmsford, N.Y.: Pergamon Press, 1985); and West, “Black Women and Intimate Partner Violence.”

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Victoria Banyard, “Measurement and Correlates of Prosocial Bystander Behavior: The Case of Interpersonal Violence,” Violence and Victims 23 (1) (2008): 83–97; Victoria L. Banyard and Sandra A. Graham-Bermann, “A Gender Analysis of Theories of Coping with Stress,” Psychology of Women Quarterly 17 (3) (1993): 303–318; and West, “Black Women and Intimate Partner Violence.”

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Crime and Violence

Neighborhood and Built Environment

About This Literature Summary

This summary of the literature on Crime and Violence as a social determinant of health is a narrowly defined examination that is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all dimensions of the issue. Please note, the terminology used in each summary is consistent with the respective references. For additional information on cross-cutting topics, please see the Incarceration literature summary. 

Related Objectives (5)

Here's a snapshot of the objectives related to topics covered in this literature summary. Browse all objectives .

• Reduce the rate of minors and young adults committing violent crimes — AH‑10
• Reduce nonfatal physical assault injuries — IVP‑10
• Reduce firearm-related deaths — IVP‑13
• Reduce adolescent sexual violence by anyone — IVP‑17
• Reduce sexual or physical adolescent dating violence — IVP‑18

Related Evidence-Based Resources (4)

Here's a snapshot of the evidence-based resources related to topics covered in this literature summary. Browse all evidence-based resources .

• Intimate Partner Violence, Elder Abuse, and Abuse of Vulnerable Adults: Screening
• Suicide and Violence Prevention
• Resources for Action for Violence Prevention
• Violence Prevention: School-Based Programs

Literature Summary

Any person can be affected by crime and violence either by experiencing it directly or indirectly, such as witnessing violence or property crimes in their community or hearing about crime and violence from other residents. 1 While crime and violence can affect anyone, certain groups of people are more likely to be exposed. For example, the national homicide rate is consistently higher for Black adolescents and young adults than their White counterparts. 2 Low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be affected by crime and property crime than high-income neighborhoods. 3 Types of violence include, but are not limited to, child abuse and neglect, firearm violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and elder abuse. 4 In addition to the potential for death, disability, and other injuries, people who survive violent crime endure physical pain and suffering and may also experience mental distress and reduced quality of life. 5 , 6 Specific examples of detrimental health effects from exposure to violence and crime include asthma, hypertension, cancer, stroke, and mental disorders. 7  

Individuals can experience different types of violence throughout the lifespan, and the negative health effects of violence can occur at any age. Decades of research has established a connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as violence or abuse and lifelong health outcomes, including chronic disease and mental disorders. 8 Children can be exposed to violence such as bullying or cyberbullying, abuse, or witnessing violence in a variety of settings, including at home or school, online, or in their neighborhoods. 9 Children and adolescents exposed to violence are at risk for poor long-term behavioral and mental health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, regardless of whether they are victims, direct witnesses, or hear about the crime. 10 , 11 Research has also shown an association between exposure to violence in childhood and an increased likelihood of experiencing intimate partner violence as an adult. 12 , 13  

In adulthood, exposure to violence can also lead to poor health outcomes. For example, women exposed to intimate partner violence have an increased risk of physical health issues such as injuries and mental disorders such as disordered eating, depression, and suicidal ideation. 14 Older adults can also experience violence, including elder abuse or intimate partner violence. 15 Evidence shows that older adults who experience elder abuse are more likely to experience increased stress and depression or develop fear and anxiety than those who do not experience elder abuse. 16

There are serious short- and long-term health effects from exposure to crime and violence in one’s community. For example, one study found an association between gun-related violent crime in a neighborhood and a reduction in park use and park-based physical activity. 17 Higher rates of neighborhood safety fears may lead to poorer self-rated physical and mental health. 18 One study also found that higher rates of neighborhood crime were associated with increased odds for adverse pregnancy outcomes in Chicago. 19 Community gun violence, which generally occurs in public spaces between non-related individuals, is a specific kind of violence that disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic/Latino communities. 20 One study conducted in 4 U.S. cities found that people who were exposed to gun violence fatalities experienced higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation than those who were not exposed. 21

Addressing exposure to crime and violence as a public health issue may help prevent and reduce the harms to individual and community health and well-being. Public health strategies to address crime and violence focus on building resilience and reducing susceptibility, building healthy gender norms, developing healthy relationships, and creating protective environments. 7 The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends universal school-based programs that focus on skill-building related to emotional self-awareness and control, social problem-solving, and teamwork to reduce or prevent violent behavior among school-aged children. Besides schools, other places where violence interventions occur are hospitals. Hospital-based violence intervention programs that involve screening and intensive case management have been shown to be successful and cost-effective in reducing violent injury recidivism. 22 , 23 Much of the evidence on strategies to prevent and reduce crime and violence focus on children and adolescents. Additional research and interventions are needed to address crime and violence throughout the entire life course.

Hartinger-Saunders, R. M., Rine, C. M., Nochajski, T., & Wieczorek, W. (2012). Neighborhood crime and perception of safety as predictors of victimization and offending among youth: A call for macro-level prevention and intervention models. Children and Youth Services Review, 34 (9), 1966–1973.

Sheats, K. J., Irving, S. M., Mercy, J. A., Simon, T. R., Crosby, A. E., Ford, D. C., Merrick, M. T., Annor, F. B., & Morgan, R. E. (2018). Violence-related disparities experienced by black youth and young adults: Opportunities for prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55 (4), 462–469. doi:  10.1016/j.amepre.2018.05.017

Kang, S. (2016). Inequality and crime revisited: Effects of local inequality and economic segregation on crime. Journal of Population Economics, 29 (2), 593–626. 

Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. (2021, September 28). Violence prevention . https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/

Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L., & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on violence and health. Lancet, 360 (9339), 1083–1088.

McCollister, K. E., French, M. T., & Fang, H. (2010). The cost of crime to society: New crime-specific estimates for policy and program evaluation. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 108 (1–2), 98–109. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.002

American Public Health Association. (2018, November 3). Violence is a public health issue: Public health is essential to understanding and treating violence in the U.S. https://apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2019/01/28/violence-is-a-public-health-issue

Metzler, M., Merrick, M. T., Klevens, J., Ports, K. A., & Ford, D. C. (2017). Adverse childhood experiences and life opportunities: Shifting the narrative. Children and Youth Services Review, 72 , 141–149.

Moffitt, T. E., & Klaus-Grawe 2012 Think Tank. (2013). Childhood exposure to violence and lifelong health: Clinical intervention science and stress-biology research join forces. Development and Psychopathology, 25 (4 Pt 2):1619–1634. doi:  10.1017/S0954579413000801

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The Consequences of a Crime

Introduction.

Crime is an act which exists in every culture, the news and newspaper articles all over the world tell stories of misdemeanors every day. People constantly demonstrate absurd behaviors and violate social norms and laws. Each criminal always has their own motives for committing a certain deed, and they are often not clear to other people. An individual’s aptitude for a crime is defined by their behavior patterns. In its turn, character is shaped due to a huge number of factors, such as the economic situation, the family background, and level of discipline in schools and other institutions. These elements affect the person’s behavior and may become a reason for them to be involved in criminal activities. Every committed felony has consequences that can be negative not only for the accused person, but also for their families.

Once a person is suspected of committing a crime, they are arrested and tested in the court which would return a guilty or not-guilty verdict. The primary consequences a criminal faces are the legal ones. Considering the existing justice system, those who violate the law have to be punished by the government. There are five main types of punishment, which can be used by courts: fines, probation, community services, imprisonment, and death penalty. The verdict is delivered after considering all the factors, including the criminal history of an alleged person, their psychological condition in the moment of the crime, inflicted injuries and damage, and the absence or presence of regret.

The most minor punishment which could be assigned to the alleged criminal is a fine. Most people sometimes pay fines as it is a general practice for penalizing the violation of traffic rules. Individuals convicted of more serious crimes can also face fines. The purposes of this punishment are compensating the damage inflicted by the offense and discouraging future illegal actions. Judges usually impose fines for minor crimes, though it is still a sentence, and the defendant will have a criminal history even if they are not ordered with imprisonment.

Instead of giving the defendant a prison term, the judge may choose probation as a way of punishment. In this case, the person is released into the community, but they do not have the same freedom as other people. Basically, in the process of breaking the law, some of the civil rights of the person are immediately lost. It can be noted in the cases of probation when alleged criminals can be ordered not to leave their town, not to drink alcohol, or stay away from indicated people. There are also rules which are applied to each probation order: showing good behavior, appearing in court when it is ordered, informing the probation officer about any change of name, job, or address. Other conditions may vary depending on the circumstances, although they cannot be vindictive and must be targeted at the protection of the society. Probation is a general practice for those who committed small misdemeanors or have served part of their jail sentence, but in any way, it is a serious legal charge. A trip to prison is guaranteed in case an individual disobeys the rules which were defined by the court.

Another popular measure for punishing criminals is courts ordering community service. It has a few purposes, such as help to charitable organizations, decrease of the load on jails, and a chance for defendants to compensate for their deeds. In this case, a judge orders to provide certain work for the society in exchange for a reduction of fines or incarceration terms. When court subscribes community service, it is usually accompanied by a fine, probation, or suspended sentence. Usually, this type of punishment is selected for non-violent offenders or people with no criminal history as they are considered to bring more use while performing community services than being in jail. It is beneficial for both the society and the convicted person as it allows the offender to avoid the cost of incarceration and rehabilitate through the performed work.

The most serious form of punishment for criminals is loss of freedom. In this situation, the person is removed from the society and imprisoned. Under the constitution, the governments of almost all the countries have the right to take away a citizen’s freedom in case of a serious violation of the law. In cases of aggravated crimes, the person loses not only freedom, but also many basic rights, such as the right to vote. The more criminal episodes an individual participates in, the more serious consequences they would face. In some cases, the rights, including basic freedom, can be eliminated for the lifetime. Crimes for which a life imprisonment can be order depend on the laws of the country and may include murder, terrorism, child abuse, rape, treason, drug dealing, human trafficking, serious financial crimes, and many others.

The last punishment is the death penalty, which is usually selected for those who commit first‐degree murders under aggravating circumstances. This type of sentence is not used in many countries; however, there are places where it is being practiced till the present time. In the United States, the sentence is discussed by the jury, and the decision must be taken unanimously and cannot be rejected by the judge. Among the offenses which can result in capital punishment, there are causing death by using chemical or mass-destruction weapons, explosives, illegal firearms, murders during kidnapping or hostage taking, murder of a juror, and others. The method of execution is chosen depending on the case, according to the laws of the state in which the procedure took place. If death penalty is restricted in the county, the judge must select another state for carrying out the sentence.

Facts of criminal conviction can seriously influence future life of the person and their close relatives. Even a minor criminal record can become an obstacle to employment, housing, and education. These consequences are relevant not only for the convicted individuals, but also for their children and their families. One parent’s criminal record can have an impact on all the relatives in terms of income and savings, education, and family stability. People with a criminal record have almost no access to higher education, and it is proven that parent’s education level influences the child’s studying prospects as well. The lack of stability in families where one parent has criminal also impacts psychological state of children, which, in its turn, influences their development, school performance, health condition, future employment, and earnings. The life of such families can result in multi-generational poverty, as people having criminal history have many obstacles on their way to be employed.

It is a common practice for various employers to conduct a general background and criminal record checks before recruiting an individual. This procedure is aimed at revealing convictions and findings of guilt. Certain professional spheres make inspections more often than other; among them, there are education facilities, healthcare, financial service, information and technology sectors, and government workers. Some jobs in these areas require direct contacts with vulnerable people, for example, children for the teacher. Others give much power to the individuals in positions, for instance, police officers. It is obvious that employers would need to know the background of their workers to be sure they do not have criminal history and, thus, would not cause problems to the organization and other people. In case a person had issues in the past, the path to work in the mentioned spheres is closed for them, and it is better to search for other career opportunities.

For millions of people, a criminal history check becomes a serious barrier to receiving a dream job. It is obvious that such checks are necessary for employers, though, in reality, it often presents an obstacle for individuals trying to return to work. In many cases, background checks are not accurate and can become a reason for missing a good job opportunity for a worthy candidate. A tricky fact is that companies providing checks to employers usually do not have any incentive for documents verification, this way, they cannot be sure they are giving correct information. However, it is important to remember that laws of the most countries protect people against criminal record discrimination. Even in cases when a person does not have a pardon, there are ways for receiving a job if the record is unrelated. The best solution is applying for a Record Suspension which would help to avoid the possibility the past would interfere with finding work.

Being charged with a crime is an intimidating experience for any person. To help convicted individuals, there is a special interference called the Alternative Measures Program. Its purpose is diverting accused people from the criminal court system without exonerating them from responsibility for their actions. A program is usually recommended by police or the attorney and requires accurate consideration of many factors, such as previous criminal records, the seriousness of the charge, and the attitude of the accused person. An individual must be willing to accept responsibility for the act, and, after that, they can enter into an Alternative Measures agreement which entails fulfilling certain conditions. Depending on the case, many different terms exist and may include writing a letter to make an apology to the victim, paying a fine, participating in community services, and showing good behavior.

From the personal experience, Alternative Measures program is a good opportunity for helping others. For me, volunteering at a food bank could become one of the most rewarding practices. It gives an opportunity to see how much use this help brings to others. Moreover, it allows establishing good relationships and making friends with those who regularly come to the program. Volunteering can assist in reducing the level of stress and keeps a person physically active. It is also a way of exploring one’s interests and finding new passions.

In conclusion, every crime has certain consequences, and the government of any country possesses a right to punish those who violate the law. The judge always has many options of penalties, which always depend on the seriousness of an offence, the previous criminal records of an accused individual, and their attitude toward the committed act. Any crime, even the smallest misdemeanor, has a huge impact on the future life of the convicted person, closing many roads and restricting them from achieving certain goals. Moreover, the criminals are not the only ones who experience negative influence of the conducted offense as their families and children suffer as well. Nevertheless, there are possibilities of finding a way out of the situation, and special programs for helping people who committed small crimes exist.

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Law and Crime

What are the "causes" of crime, it's important to differentiate between cause and opportunity..

Posted March 16, 2022 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• For decades, there has been a futile search for "root causes" of crime, citing nearly any adversity as causal to criminal conduct.
• There is a difference between an environmental cause and providing an "opportunity" for crime to occur.
• Critical to understanding criminal behavior are basic personality makeup and thinking patterns.

The perennial search continues to identify causes of criminal behavior. Nearly everything but the federal deficit has been identified as playing a causal role. The term “root cause” is still used to describe what are considered critical environmental factors. The earliest citation of a link between poverty (long considered a “root cause”) and crime has been attributed to Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A.D.) who stated, “Poverty is the mother of crime.” In some quarters, crime is even considered to be a normal and adaptive response to economic disadvantage.

Unanticipated setbacks and hardship have been regarded as critically important to “pushing over the edge” into crime people who have been law-abiding throughout their lives. A woman in jail told me that when her boyfriend deserted her and her baby, she had no money even to purchase diapers. Out of desperation, she started selling drugs (eventually to an undercover police officer). She asserted that she is not a “criminal,” but just wanted to care for her infant. One might wonder the following: What does her choice of boyfriend say about her? Why did she not seek help to receive financial assistance? What, if any, was her prior connection to drugs and how did she find her way into the drug market? As was the case with this woman, there is always more to the story about the person committing a crime versus resolving her dilemma in a more responsible way.

Hardship does not "cause" criminal behavior

Let’s take three recent examples in which a particular hardship has been seen as causing people to turn to crime.

According to a Wall Street Journal column of December 6, 2021, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is “a root cause [of a surge in crime] in a lot of communities.” The Washington Post reported that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in “a growing subset of Americans who are stealing food.” A young woman explained to a reporter, “People are being forced to steal when they shouldn’t have to.” Another said, “I don’t feel too bad about taking $15 or $20 of stuff from Whole Foods when Jeff Bezos [owner of Whole Foods Market] is the richest man on earth.” The statements made by the two thieves clearly are after the fact justifications. One might wonder why one of them chose to shop at Whole Foods when it is one of the most expensive grocery chains. Next to this article was another that focused on a very different response to the pandemic— generosity by Black Americans despite their own hardships.

Millions of people have been struggling through the pandemic while suffering loss, illness, isolation, and financial pressures. There is no evidence that the pandemic has turned responsible people into criminals.

Recently, The Los Angeles Times (3/10/22) reported, “Concerns about gas thefts from cars rise as prices soar.” Citing a warning from the American Automobile Association, the Times stated, “There is a possibility that people are looking for crimes of opportunity [and] gasoline for their own vehicles.” Consequently, they are punching holes in gas tanks. However, most motorists are trying to become more economical and find ways to reduce gasoline consumption. Inflated prices do not “cause” criminal behavior.

Crime results from the way a person thinks

It is time to eliminate the term “root cause” because it turns out to be meaningless. Twelve years ago, a Christian Science Monitor article concluded with a simple statement, “The root cause of crime is the opportunity to commit it.” Opportunities present themselves, but only a small number of people exploit those opportunities in a criminal manner.

Making improvements to the environment can reduce opportunities for criminals to strike. However, such changes do not transform a criminal into a responsible person. Attributing criminal behavior to external circumstances perpetuates a deterministic view that ignores the role of choice and tends to absolve people of personal responsibility.

Crime results from the way a person thinks. One must look at the overall personality of the individual and his thinking patterns to understand the genesis of criminal behavior. Writing about juvenile crime in 1966, sociologist Robert MacIver stated, “To ask why delinquency occurs is like asking why human nature is what it is.”

Gerard Baker, "Biden Finds a Culprit for America's Crime Wave: Covid-19," The Wall Street Journal , 12/6/21

"More Americans are shoplifting among pandemic," The Washington Post, 12/13/20, p. G1

"While Black Americans have less, they give more," The Washington Post , 12/13/20, p. G1

"Concerns about gas theft from cars rise as prices soar," The Los Angeles Times , 3/10/22

Tim Worstall, "The root cause of crime? It's Simple," The Christian Science Monitor , 2/22/10

Robert M. McIver. The Prevention and Control of Delinquency , NY: Atherton Press, 1966, p. 41

Stanton Samenow, Ph.D. , an expert in criminal behavior, was the author of many books including Inside the Criminal Mind .

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16 Causes of Crime Essay (with Solutions)

This essay on the causes of crime will examine the major factors accounting for the increase in the crime rate such as the breakdown in societal values, proliferation of harmful instruments, illicit substances, peer pressure, unemployment, advances being made in technology, globalization, broken homes, parental neglect and poverty.

We will also identify the possible solutions to crime in society. But we shall begin with the definition of crime and the types of crime prevalent in society today.

Are you looking for a complete sample essay on the causes of crime and its solutions? Then you have come to the right place. Sit back and read closely this sample essay on the causes of both violent and non-violent forms of crime anywhere in the world.

Definition of Crime

To write a complete essay on the causes of crime and violence, we must have a full understanding of what we mean by crime and the various forms crime takes.

Crime refers to acts by individuals or groups that go against the law and societal norms and are therefore punishable by law.

Types of Crime

So what are the types of crime in society? The major types of crime include hate crime, economic crime, cybercrime, white-collar crime, revenge crime and organized crime.

Under the above types of crime, we have specific instances of crime. While some crimes cause little to no physical harm or injury to the victim, others are so violent that they inflict severe pain or physical injury on the persons at the receiving end of such acts of criminal behaviour.

In fact, quite often, some of these crimes result in the deaths of the victims.

Again, murder and homicide are examples of crimes that mean the demise of the affected persons.

Below is a list of the many instances of crime that are on the rise in almost every society across the globe.

• Embezzlement
• Fraud and scams
• Aggravated assault
• Tax evasion
• Human trafficking
• Drug trafficking
• Money laundering

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The Causes of Crime

At this stage of our essay on the causes of crime, we shall take a closer look at each one of the causes of crime.

1. Breakdown in Societal Values

The breakdown in traditional societal values is one of the major causes of crime today. The amazing rate of modernization we see around us has increased our quest for material things.

Today, people are willing to go to any length to acquire expensive dresses, cars and mansions. This has, unfortunately, led a lot of people to believe that any means to the acquisition of material wealth is justifiable.

As a result, such timeless social values as honesty, hard work and integrity have largely been relegated to the background.

No wonder, parents, families and even religious leaders continue to aid and abet criminal behaviours such as embezzlement, kidnapping, internet fraud and the like.

2. Illicit Substances

Among the major causes of crime is the widespread use of illicit substances. The abuse of substances is known to influence the abuser to engage in criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Such anti-social behaviours are often perpetrated by individuals who have lost control of their sense of decency and morality due to the effects of the abuse of these substances

3. Proliferation of Dangerous Instruments

Again, violence, kidnapping and banditry are common today mainly because it has become relatively easy to acquire certain weapons.

The causes of this unfortunate development are many and complex.

In other places, the increase in conflicts has led to a situation where most youth have easy access to dangerous implements.

4. Unemployment

No essay on the causes of crime will be complete without a mention of unemployment. As the saying goes, the devil finds work for an idle hand.

Today, there are multitudes of both unemployed and unemployable youths roaming our streets and looking unsuccessfully for something to do to earn a living.

Out of frustration and desperation, many of these individuals join criminal gangs to rob innocent citizens at gunpoint. They have come to see crime as the only means to survival.

5. Globalization

Crime is now organized on an international scale. Globalization has made it easier for criminals or people with the intent to commit crimes to connect via social media and plan their nefarious activities.

The ease with which these individuals and groups are able to share information and exchange ideas and acquire illicit drugs and weapons is disturbing.

Government law enforcement agencies appear to have come to their wit’s end as to how to curb the activities of international criminal gangs such as money laundering, human trafficking and cyber fraud.

6. Advances in Technology

Today, cybercriminals are having a field day. Identify theft, fraud, bank data breaches and robbery, cyberextortion and ransomware attacks are on the increase.

With a click of a button, hackers are able to get away with millions of dollars from banks with weak or compromised cybersecurity systems.

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Furthermore, the increased use of social media has made it possible for many to become unsuspecting victims to so-called e-commerce ‘merchants’, ‘friends’ and ‘lovers’.

7. Broken Homes and Parental Neglect

As divorce rates increase astronomically in many parts of the world, children are left with no proper parental care or training.

Economic hardship has exacerbated the problem of broken homes. In many developing countries, for example, jobless fathers who cannot bear the burden of providing for their families are known to have disappeared into thin air.

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Without the care and guidance from their parents, many children have grown into adults with no positive moral grounding. These are the products of parental neglect terrorizing society with unspeakable criminal acts.

Poverty is a problem we cannot easily ignore in this essay on the causes of crime. Some people engage in criminal behaviour simply because they are deprived of the basic means of livelihood.

Indeed, hunger and deprivation are among the major causes of crime in many less-developed countries in Africa, Asia and South America.

Crimes like theft, fraud, banditry and kidnapping are notable consequences of poverty.

9. Economic Inequalities

Rapid population growth rates, corruption and economic mismanagement by governments have resulted in a widening gap between the rich few and the majority poor.

Out of resentment, some people have resorted to hate crimes. Some incidents of robbery and kidnapping are purely a way by which those who feel left out of the benefits of economic development vent their anger and frustrations on the privileged class.

10. Peer Pressure

The rise in crime among the youth, in particular, is attributable to peer pressure. Impressionable as they are, the youth are easily swayed by promises of flashy cars and other material possessions to follow their peers down the road of criminality.

11. Low Self-Esteem

Closely linked to the peer pressure factor is low self-esteem. For some, a feeling of inferiority creates the need for acceptance and self-validation.

One way to achieve this is to engage in anti-social behaviour that their friends portray as acts of bravery or manliness. These are the individuals who are misled into occultism in secondary schools and many institutions of higher learning.

Assault, arson, kidnapping and outright vandalism are instances of crime that are linked to people grappling with self-esteem issues.

12. Role of the Mass Media

We must also highlight the role of the mass media in this essay on the causes of crime. There seems to be no control over the media in their portrayal of violent scenes on TV, the internet and in newspapers.

We have movies that openly show scenes of gun violence, robbery and the like. A lot of these scenes appear to glorify criminal behaviour.

No wonder, the phenomenon of unruly land guards who maim and murder people with impunity is on the rise in some parts of the world.

Moreover, the unguarded utterances of politicians and so-called social commentators have not helped matters.

13. Lax Law Enforcement

In some jurisdictions, the police have become accomplices of the criminals they are supposed to arrest and brought before the law. It is common knowledge that some law enforcement officers turn a blind eye to incidents of crime taking place right before their eyes.

Also, systemic corruption within the law enforcement apparatus has made it difficult for the citizens to assist the police and immigration officers in their effort to prevent crime.

Lack of logistics and equipment has rendered otherwise committed law enforcement officers powerless in their encounters with hardened criminals.

All these have continued to embolden some individuals and groups with criminal intent to rob, rape, kidnap and murder with impunity.

14. Ineffective Judicial System

Yet another factor worth mentioning in this sample essay on the causes of crime is the ineffectiveness of the judicial system.

The ineffectual justice system has also contributed to crime in society. Over here too, corruption is a major problem. Judges are known to have taken bribes and left lawbreakers off the hook.

The pervasive unfairness in the justice delivery system means that criminals are allowed to have their way. The notion of equality before the law has remained elusive in many parts of the world.

There are countless instances where judges have compromised their positions by accepting bribes from suspected criminals. Consequently, such corrupt judges deliberately allow criminal cases brought before them to drag on for years just to favour persons just to favour the suspects who have greased their palms.

This unprofessional behaviour on the part of judges and other judicial officers has contributed to a breakdown in the rule of law. The powerful are able to commit crimes against the less privileged without any fear of repercussions.

As a result, the aggrieved have often resorted to revenge crime. Fraud, murder, arson and kidnapping are some examples of revenge crimes.

15. Intolerance

Sometimes, intolerance has resulted in acts that break the law. Politics, religion and ethnicity are the major sources of hate crime in many societies. Every day, people are murdered, kidnapped or robbed all in the name of politics, religion and ethnicity.

16. Ignorance

Our final point in this essay on the causes of crime is ignorance. It is a known fact that some people commit crimes out of ignorance. In other words, such individuals are unaware that what they do constitutes criminal behaviour and is punishable by law.

Examples of crimes people can commit without knowing they are breaking the law include human trafficking, some forms of assault and burglary. What the majority of people fail to even realize is that ignorance is no excuse before the law.

Solutions to the High Crime Rate

We shall end this essay on the causes of crime by highlighting the possible solutions to crime.

Stricter Law Enforcement

Everything needs to be done to help all law enforcement agencies up their game. A disciplined and incorruptible police force, for example, will send a strong signal to everyone that you cannot break the law and get away with it.

Fairness in the Justice System

One way to stem the tide of crime is to promote effectiveness in the justice system. Fair and speedy trials will serve to make people begin to develop trust in the system.

And it will serve as a deterrent to anyone with a tendency to commit a crime.

Reduction in Poverty

It is the duty of governments to formulate and implement pragmatic programmes that will alleviate economic hardship within the population.

The resultant reduction in economic inequalities can help reduce the unprecedented crime wave sweeping across the globe right now.

Creation of Job Opportunities

One effective way to tackle the menace of crime is to create adequate job avenues for the youth. Apart from contributing to higher incomes and the reduction in poverty levels, jobs will also serve as an avenue for young people to channel their energies into productive activities.

The higher the number of employed youth, the lower the crime rate, all things being equal.

Promotion of Social Harmony

Politicians, religious leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders must actively promote peace and harmony in society.

Their actions and utterances can go a long way to engender a spirit of tolerance and love within the population.

Awareness Creation

Finally, to reduce crime, it is necessary to educate the population on topics such as criminal law, crime prevention and civic responsibilities.

Schools, religious groups, social gatherings and homes must be the prime targets for aggressive awareness creation on all matters regarding law and order.

This sample essay has laid bare the causes of crime in our world today.  These include globalization, parental neglect, the proliferation of firearms, poverty, peer pressure and intolerance. We have also identified the types of crime as well as some instances of criminal behaviour. Above all, we have seen the possible solutions to the problem of crime.

On what other topics would you like us to write an essay? Leave it in the comment box below.

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Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay

Crime rates of various countries reveal the correlation between employment and crime. Individuals without jobs and accommodations are forced to violate the law in order to survive. Thus, many people consider poverty as the main cause of crime worldwide.

However, it is hard to say whether unemployment is responsible for the crime in our country. The situation differs from area to area, making it impossible to draw an unambiguous conclusion.

Different types of criminal activities are carried out, and not all can be directly linked to the lack of employment. Studies have shown that property crime can be connected to unemployment. Yet, violent crimes such as murder and rape are not strongly related to poverty. That is why the author tries to examine whether unemployment leads to crime in this essay.

In the 1990s, the rate of unemployment was low and so was the rate of property crime. In other studies, it shows that where the rate of unemployment is high, the rate of crime is like to be high too.

It is not easy to conclude this matter because there are different studies carried out which have given contradicting results. One may indicate that unemployment and crime are linked, whereas, another will suggest that the two are not connected (Rafael & Winter, 259).

Most people believe that the steady rise of unemployment leads to a relative increase in crime. An individual lacks a source of legitimate income when he/she is unemployed.

This occurs when people are laid off at the closure of a company or not able to be employed at all after training. Some people resolve to criminal activities such as burglary, drug peddling, and other crimes to make an income.

Unemployment is high among young people. People who have completed training and are ready for the job market stay unemployed. Another group of young people affected by unemployment is those who are laid off because of lack of college education. When young people are unemployed for a long time, they lose hope of getting employment (Weatherburn, 1).

Therefore, unemployment and crime affect people who are under the age of 40, and these are mostly young men. This is because most criminal activities are carried out by people; thus, unemployed people over 40 years are not likely to enter into criminal activities.

Research studies show that there is a link between young people who have been unemployed for more than one year and property crime. Most young people get involved in selling drugs such as heroin, marijuana and other dangerous drugs because they make quick money.

Economists and researchers believe that when the rate of unemployment is declining the rate of criminal activities is also falling. There are usually high rates of unemployment in areas where crimes are very high. The researchers argue that in these areas, the number of youth who have been out of work for more than one year is extremely high.

Another argument is that areas with high rates of poverty and child abuse and neglect increase the rate of crime. Poverty is caused by lack of employment which leads to children resolving to crime at an early age as a source of income.

The effects of the recession on companies and manufacturing industries cause people to be laid off. These people will spend some time waiting to be recalled, however, if the recession takes long, and the unemployed young people continue increasing, the rate of crime is likely to increase. If someone stays out of employment for a long time chances of getting a job are minimized, and they think of crime as a last resort (Weatherburn, 1).

Statistics show that between 1993 and 1997, the rates of criminal activities declined almost at the same rate as the rate of unemployment declined. The link in crime and unemployment rates shows that when people have a legal source of income, they do not commit criminal activities.

Unemployment results more in property crime than violent crime as research results show that most people who commit property crimes are unemployed. Crimes such as murder and rape are weakly connected to unemployment but can be related to other psychological problems such as alcohol and drug abuse.

When there is a minimal decrease in unemployment rates, the rate of property crimes falls significantly. This study has been conducted in different states, and the results have been stable. However, the rates are different in violent crimes such as robbery and assault which indicate that they are related to unemployment, whereas, murder and rape crimes do not show a relationship to unemployment (Rafael & Winter, 260).

In the case of rape and murder crimes, the study shows that when more people who are likely to be victims of crime are at work, the rate of these crimes decreases. Therefore, female employment helps to decrease the rate of crime in society. This is because most rape victims are usually women and the offenders are men.

In another study, men who lack college training are paid low wages; this makes them despair and turns to criminal activities. Between the year 1979 and 1997, crime increased significantly. At the same time, there was a steady increase in unemployment and the reduction of wages among young men. Therefore, employment directly affects the rate of crime and should not be ignored.

When people earn low wages, they are likely to resolve property crime such as burglary because they will make money even if it is illegitimate. Assault and robbery are also related to the high rates of unemployment because money is the primary motivator. Poverty and lack of financial resources escalate crime.

When the rate of wages goes down, the rate of a crime automatically rises. Thus, economic status has a direct impact on crime. Most research studies have concluded that crime is closely linked to a decrease in wages. In 1993 to 1997, the rate of crime decreased as a result of the increase in wages of the low-skilled employees.

Crime rates increase steadily in society, and the rate of crime is connected to unemployment and low wages. However, not all criminal activities can be directly linked to the crime. For example, murder and rape cannot be directly linked directly to unemployment but other social and psychological issues.

To control the rate of crime in society, the government and other stakeholders should initiate measures to deal with the issues that activate the rate of crime. For example, politicians should not focus on methods of fighting crime such as punishment and incarceration. These are short term solutions to a continuous problem; instead, we should focus on finding long term solution to these issues (Weatherbun, 1).

Since the research studies have indicated that unemployment causes a certain percentage of crime, then the problem of unemployment has to be resolved. The government has a significant role in controlling the rate of unemployment among the youth. Trained young men should be actively engaged in income generating projects which will occupy them and, at the same time, provide a source of income.

Job opportunities can be created for both the skilled and unskilled in society to prevent the high number of young men who can easily get involved in crime. The wages paid to young employees should be attractive so that they do not get tempted to join illegal activities such as selling dangerous drugs.

The government should focus on economic growth to eliminate unemployment issues. Once the economy grows at a significantly high rate, it corresponds directly to increasing jobs. The government should also consider changing the National Labour Act to control companies from paying low wages and unemployment.

The methods used in advertising vacancies should be regulated. The record of unemployed people and their skills should be readily available for companies and industries that are employing.

The young people should be given sufficient training and education to be able to fit in the labor market. They should also be equipped with more significant professional and practical skills that can benefit them after they have been laid off from a job. The government can also fund projects initiated by the youth because this is a way of creating jobs in the society.

Once the rate of unemployment has been resolved, the government and other social institutions like schools and colleges should inform the young people on the effects of crime in society.

Schools and colleges have a more significant opportunity to discuss matters of criminology to young people before they complete their education. This leaves them equipped and ready to face the challenges of employment and unemployment. The government should realize that unemployment has a direct impact on crime and find solutions to the problem.

Raphael, Steven & Winter-Ember Rudolf. Identifying the effect of unemployment on crime. Journal of Law and Economics, 44 (1) (2001): p.259.

Weatherburn, Don. A complex link between recession and crime . 2009. Web.

• Measuring Unemployment Issues in Society
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IvyPanda. (2018, June 8). Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-crime/

"Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay." IvyPanda , 8 June 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-crime/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay'. 8 June.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay." June 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-crime/.

1. IvyPanda . "Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay." June 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-crime/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Unemployment Leads to Crime Essay." June 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-unemployment-and-crime/.

Most crime has fallen by 90% in 30 years – so why does the public think it’s increased?

Associate Professor in Criminal Justice Data Analytics, University of Leeds

Professor of Crime Science, University of Leeds

Disclosure statement

Toby Davies has received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the UK Home Office.

Graham Farrell has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

University of Leeds provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

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Seventy-eight per cent of people in England and Wales think that crime has gone up in the last few years, according to the latest survey . But the data on actual crime shows the exact opposite.

As of 2024, violence, burglary and car crime have been declining for 30 years and by close to 90%, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) – our best indicator of true crime levels. Unlike police data , the CSEW is not subject to variations in reporting and recording.

The drop in violence includes domestic violence and other violence against women. Anti-social behaviour has similarly declined. While increased fraud and computer misuse now make up half of crime , this mainly reflects how far the rates of other crimes have fallen.

All high-income countries have experienced similar trends, and there is scientific consensus that the decline in crime is a real phenomenon .

There is strong research evidence that security improvements were responsible for the drop. This is most obvious with vehicle electronic immobilisers and door deadlocks, and better household security – stronger door frames, double glazed windows and security fittings – along with an avalanche of security in shopping centres, sports stadiums, schools, businesses and elsewhere. Quite simply, it became more difficult to commit crimes.

Decreases in crimes often committed by teenagers, such as joyriding or burglary, had a multiplying effect: when teenagers could no longer commit these easy “debut crimes” they did not progress to longer criminal careers.

There are, of course, exceptions. Some places, times and crime types had a less pronounced decline or even an increase. For many years, phone theft was an exception to the general decline in theft. Cybercrime, measured by the CSEW as fraud and computer misuse, has increased and is the most prominent exception.

But this increase was not due to thwarted burglars and car thieves switching targets: the skillset, resources and rewards for cybercrime are very different . Rather, it reflects new crime opportunities facilitated by the internet. Preventive policy and practice is slowly getting better at closing off opportunities for computer misuse, but work is needed to accelerate those prevention efforts.

The perception gap

So why is there such a gulf between public perception and the reality of crime trends? A regular YouGov poll asks respondents for their top three concerns from a broad set of issues. Concern about crime went from a low in 2016 (when people were more concerned with Brexit), quadrupled by 2019 and plummeted during the pandemic when people had other worries. But in the last year, the public’s concern about crime has risen again.

Proportion of people naming crime as a top three issue facing the country:

There are many possible explanations for this, of which the first is poor information. A study published in 1998 found that “people who watch a lot of television or who read a lot of newspapers will be exposed to a steady diet of crime stories” that does not reflect official statistics.

The old news media adage “if it bleeds, it leads” reflects how violent news stories, including crime increases and serious crimes, capture public attention. Knife crime grabs headlines in the UK, but our shock at individual incidents is testament to their rarity and our relative success in controlling violence – many gun crimes do not make the news in the US.

Most recent terrorist attacks in the UK have featured knives (plus a thwarted Liverpool bomber ), but there is little discussion of how this indicates that measures to restrict guns and bomb-making resources are effective.

Political rhetoric can also skew perceptions, particularly in the run-up to elections. During the recent local elections, the Conservatives were widely criticised for an advert portraying London as “a crime capital of the world” (using a video of New York), while Labour has also made reference to high levels of crime under the current government.

There are also some “crime drop deniers”, who have vested interests in crime not declining due to, for example, fear of budget cuts. One of us (Graham) worked with a former police chief who routinely denied the existence of declining crime.

Despite the evidence of crime rates dropping, some concerns are justified. Victims, along with their families and friends, have legitimate concerns, particularly as crime is more likely to recur against the same people and at the same places.

And, while the trend is clear, there are nevertheless localised increases in some types of offending. When these relate to harmful and emotive issues like knife crime in London , for example, it is natural that this might have a substantial influence.

We are unlikely to be able to change political agendas or journalists’ approach to reporting. But governments should be taking a more rational approach to crime that is based on evidence, not public perception.

Local governments need to keep on top of their local crime hotspots: problem bars and clubs where crime occurs, shops where shoplifting is concentrated, local road traffic offence hotspots and so on. The common theme here is how crime concentrates.

National government, meanwhile, should lead on reducing crime opportunities via national-level levers. Only national government can influence social media platforms and websites that host online crime and encourage larger businesses to improve manufacturing, retailing and service industry practices.

The positive story around crime rarely makes headlines, but this should not put us off from learning the lessons borne out in the data. We know this can work from past success, but it took decades to get car makers to improve vehicle security and to get secure-by-design ideas in building regulations. Society needs to move more quickly.

• Public opinion
• Crime rates
• Violent crime
• Cyber crimes
• Give me perspective

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Most crime has fallen by 90% in 30 years—so why does the public think it's increased?

by Toby Davies and Graham Farrell, The Conversation

Seventy-eight percent of people in England and Wales think that crime has gone up in the last few years, according to the latest survey . But the data on actual crime shows the exact opposite.

As of 2024, violence, burglary and car crime have been declining for 30 years and by close to 90%, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)—our best indicator of true crime levels. Unlike police data, the CSEW is not subject to variations in reporting and recording.

The drop in violence includes domestic violence and other violence against women. Anti-social behavior has similarly declined. While increased fraud and computer misuse now make up half of crime , this mainly reflects how far the rates of other crimes have fallen.

All high-income countries have experienced similar trends, and there is scientific consensus that the decline in crime is a real phenomenon .

There is strong research evidence that security improvements were responsible for the drop. This is most obvious with vehicle electronic immobilizers and door deadlocks, and better household security —stronger door frames, double glazed windows and security fittings—along with an avalanche of security in shopping centers, sports stadiums, schools, businesses and elsewhere. Quite simply, it became more difficult to commit crimes.

Decreases in crimes often committed by teenagers, such as joyriding or burglary, had a multiplying effect: when teenagers could no longer commit these easy "debut crimes" they did not progress to longer criminal careers.

There are, of course, exceptions. Some places, times and crime types had a less pronounced decline or even an increase. For many years, phone theft was an exception to the general decline in theft. Cybercrime, measured by the CSEW as fraud and computer misuse, has increased and is the most prominent exception.

But this increase was not due to thwarted burglars and car thieves switching targets: the skillset, resources and rewards for cybercrime are very different . Rather, it reflects new crime opportunities facilitated by the internet. Preventive policy and practice is slowly getting better at closing off opportunities for computer misuse, but work is needed to accelerate those prevention efforts.

The perception gap

So why is there such a gulf between public perception and the reality of crime trends? A regular YouGov poll asks respondents for their top three concerns from a broad set of issues. Concern about crime went from a low in 2016 (when people were more concerned with Brexit), quadrupled by 2019 and plummeted during the pandemic when people had other worries. But in the last year, the public's concern about crime has risen again.

Proportion of people naming crime as a top three issue facing the country:

There are many possible explanations for this, of which the first is poor information. A study published in 1998 found that "people who watch a lot of television or who read a lot of newspapers will be exposed to a steady diet of crime stories" that does not reflect official statistics.

The old news media adage "if it bleeds, it leads" reflects how violent news stories, including crime increases and serious crimes, capture public attention. Knife crime grabs headlines in the UK, but our shock at individual incidents is testament to their rarity and our relative success in controlling violence—many gun crimes do not make the news in the US.

Most recent terrorist attacks in the UK have featured knives (plus a thwarted Liverpool bomber ), but there is little discussion of how this indicates that measures to restrict guns and bomb-making resources are effective.

Political rhetoric can also skew perceptions, particularly in the run-up to elections. During the recent local elections, the Conservatives were widely criticized for an advert portraying London as "a crime capital of the world" (using a video of New York), while Labor has also made reference to high levels of crime under the current government.

There are also some "crime drop deniers," who have vested interests in crime not declining due to, for example, fear of budget cuts. One of us (Graham) worked with a former police chief who routinely denied the existence of declining crime.

Despite the evidence of crime rates dropping, some concerns are justified. Victims, along with their families and friends, have legitimate concerns, particularly as crime is more likely to recur against the same people and at the same places.

And, while the trend is clear, there are nevertheless localized increases in some types of offending. When these relate to harmful and emotive issues like knife crime in London, for example, it is natural that this might have a substantial influence.

We are unlikely to be able to change political agendas or journalists' approach to reporting. But governments should be taking a more rational approach to crime that is based on evidence, not public perception.

Local governments need to keep on top of their local crime hotspots: problem bars and clubs where crime occurs, shops where shoplifting is concentrated, local road traffic offense hotspots and so on. The common theme here is how crime concentrates.

National government, meanwhile, should lead on reducing crime opportunities via national-level levers. Only national government can influence social media platforms and websites that host online crime and encourage larger businesses to improve manufacturing, retailing and service industry practices.

The positive story around crime rarely makes headlines, but this should not put us off from learning the lessons borne out in the data. We know this can work from past success, but it took decades to get car makers to improve vehicle security and to get secure-by-design ideas in building regulations. Society needs to move more quickly.

Provided by The Conversation

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Short Essay on Effects of Crime on Society

The crime is a result of various things in our life, the first biggest and the greatest one is called money, an expression is that “money is root of all evil”. Many people who are in need of money, they commit different types of crimes just to avail money. And the second one and most popular is revenge, in this circumstance most people do not want to call the police, mostly such types of incidents are happened in upper Sindh.

Poor people commit some small crimes because of money; they may steal and snatch things like mobiles and bikes. Some people used to be beggars, some people were workers but none of them was born as a criminal.

Poor people who have aim, mission and destiny in his life, they can become transcendental person without commit any crime but fame, painstaking and hard work is needed. Not only poor people commit crimes but also rich people are busy in commit crimes and to breach law and legislation, although they are already rich. They accumulate money through many ways against humanity. They give the priority to accumulate lots of money through some faster methods such as grog’s, trade and smuggling etc…. they should use their money in useful projects for the sake of healthy, prosperous and peaceful society.

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People, who commit small crimes, are not like great and dangerous crimes. The punishment of small crimes is small and lower level. a criminal of a small crime have to be sentenced to prison for months or just to pay money as a compensation ( fine ) or any other punishment according to the stand point of the judge. And on the other hand, huge crimes require a strong punishment such as almost represented in torture and murdering crimes. The punishment of such crimes is sentence to imprisonment of life or sentence to death to make criminals afraid and timed of committing these crimes against human rights. These persons with their dreadful crimes do not have the right to reside side to side with other peaceful people.

Justice is a small word, but it has a great and transcendental meaning as it play an important role in crimes and punishment. A judge has to take the balance of each criminal to be perfectly matched with his crime. Justice also makes criminals be afraid, timed and coward of each punishment. Such punishments become compel to the criminal to think hundreds of times before committing any crime.

Now, we have to plane to eliminate these types of crimes from our peaceful society, and to make jurisdiction in order to law according to constitution of Pakistan. restoration of justice in all over the world under the supervision of law to give the rights to each desire person, sovereign to the institutions and departments as they do their properly and we have to promote law education to every one as we serve the nation as well as individual rights and lawyers use their knowledge and power of law to defeat culprits, to execute proper punishment for contempt of law and order.

Generally, crimes are considered the biggest problem in our daily life. all classes of people commit crimes but on one of them has the right to do. Crime is a bad phenomenon that appeared in all ages and it is prevalent till now…….

Muhammad Khatti

Hyderabad, Sindh

Email: muhammadkhatti-at-yahoo.com

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