NCJ Number
43096
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CAUSAL FACTORS LEADING TO CRIME AND ITS ALARMING ALARMING INCREASE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE EXAMINED, AND PROGRAMS TO AID IN CRIME REDUCTION ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
ECONOMICS APPEAR TO BE A KEY FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO CRIME IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED INDIVIDUAL MAY OPT FOR CRIME AS A MEANS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, OR MAY VIEW CRIME AS A NECESSARY EVIL TO COUNTERACT YEARS OF OPPRESSION BY THE ECONOMICALLY AFFLUENT. MOREOVER, POLICE PROTECTION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES IS CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT. COMPLAINTS ABOUT INEQUITIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, UNRESPONSIVENESS OF THE POLICE, EVEN POLICE ABUSE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY'S GENERAL MISTRUST OF POLICE OFFICERS. UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS HIGHER AMONG BLACKS THAN WHITES, IS VIEWED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE HIGH CRIME RATE AMONG BLACKS. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE TYPICAL OFFENDER IS A YOUNG BLACK MALE, A LOCAL RESIDENT, AND UNDEREDUCATED. HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, MEDIA EXPOSURE WHICH RAISES THE YOUNG BLACK'S MATERIALISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS, AND UNFULFILLED ASPIRATIONS ALL SEEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CRIME PHENOMENON. STATISTICS ALSO SUGGEST THAT BLACK MALES AND FEMALES ARE THE MOST LIKELY AGANST PERSONS. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ALLEVIATE VICTIMS OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ALLEVIATE CRIME IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS SUGGESTED. THIS INCLUDES COMMUNITY-BASED ACTION PROGRAMS (OUTLINED IN THE ARTICLE), EDUCATION PROGRAMS, VICTIM-ORIENTED PROGRAMS, AND ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS; IT CALLS FOR A MORE SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIBLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RELATIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.