ECONOMIC AND SOCIOCULTURAL VARIABLES AFFECTING RATES OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT DELINQUENCY AND CRIME

• NCJ Number: 54557
• Author(s): D GLASER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 35 pages
• Contract Number(s): B9M8-0654
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Labor
• Corporate Author: University of Southern California
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDIES ARE REVIEWED TO SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES AFFECTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF UNEMPLOYMENT TO YOUTH AND YOUTH CRIME, AND FACTORS FOSTERING THESE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN EXAMINING STUDIES RELATING ECOLOGICAL FACTORS TO CRIME RATE, THERE ARE IMPRESSIVE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN RATES OF DELINQUENCY OR CRIME AND INDICES OF EXTREME POVERTY; HOWEVER, CRITICS OF THESE ECOLOGICAL STUDIES SEEK EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF LAW-ABIDING INDIVIDUALS IN HIGH OFFENSE RATE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE FACT OF SOME POVERTY-RIDDEN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LOW OFFENSE RATES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE ARE FACTORS COUNTERACTING THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY IN CRIME CAUSATION. IN EXAMINING STUDIES THAT EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS AND YOUTH CRIME, STUDIES USING DATA OTHER THAN THAT BIASED BY POLICE AND THE COURTS DO NOT SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT YOUTH FROM THE LOWEST SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES HAVE DELINQUENCY AND CRIME RATES MUCH GREATER THAN UPPER CLASS YOUTH. STUDIES RELATING CRIME TO THE BUSINESS CYCLE AND UNEMPLOYMENT TEND TO SHOW THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY AMONG OLDER YOUTH DO AFFECT YOUTH CRIME, AS DEPRIVATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL TENDS TO STIMULATE CRIMINAL TECHNIQUES FOR SURVIVAL. STUDIES OF OFFENDERS' EMPLOYMENT STATUS AT THE TIME OF THEIR CRIMES LENDS SUPPORT TO THE PREVIOUS FINDINGS, AS THEY SHOW THAT FAILURE AT LEGITIMATE EMPLOYMENT CORRELATES WITH SERIOUS LAW VIOLATIONS. THE SOCIAL SEPARATION OF YOUTH FROM ADULTS THROUGH EARLY AND LENGTHY PARTICIPATION IN A SCHOOL SUBCULTURE, THE DIFFERENTIATION OF STUDENTS ACCORDING TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE WITHIN THAT SUBCULTURE, AND EXTENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTION INTO THE DRUG-RELATED BEHAVIOR OF YOUTH ARE CITED AS PRINCIPAL SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DELINQUENT AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUTH. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE COMBATING OF YOUTH CRIME MUST INCLUDE EFFORTS TO ASSURE LEGITIMATE EMPLOYMENT FOR JUVENILES, WHICH IN TURN REQUIRES DEALING WITH RELATED SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL FACTORS. (RCB)