Farm Workers' Perception Concerning Poverty and Crime: A Supporting Literature Review

• NCJ Number: 221548
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 102-118
• Author(s): N. Kotze; H. Strydom
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
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Annotation

This paper provides an overview of the available literature on the perception of farm workers in an informal farming settlement concerning poverty and crime and reports on how poverty and crime influence the farm worker’s life, as well as statistics on poverty and crime.

Abstract

The literature overview shows that farm workers are under great strain to survive which is exacerbated by their life experiences which include their limited work opportunities, their poor housing, and their inadequate income. Poverty is prevalent in most households. People who do not have a stable income or merely survive from day to day do not regard stealing as a crime, especially when it is poverty related. A clear linkage can be stated between poverty and crime. Based on the findings from the study, several recommendations concerning poverty and crime are presented: (1) people should not be taught to discriminate against each other, but stand together especially in rural areas; (2) situations in which the individual, the family, and the community are affected by crime, can be reduced by empowering the individual to defend him/herself and to assist those who have been exposed to crime by providing the victims support; (3) because low income is linked to poor social infrastructure and leads to negativity, people should be encouraged to focus on their strengths and be more positive; and (4) the government should contribute by providing more homes in rural areas. On certain farms in the North-West Province of South Africa, a multidisciplinary study was conducted by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the North-West University in Potchefstroom. The study was called FLAGH, meaning the Farm Labor, Agriculture and General Health study. This paper provides a profile on crime, poverty, and the related issues that farm workers have to deal with in their community. Background information was given before the research methodology was discussed. Bibliography