Poverty and Crime in America Essay

Blood-stained shoes, a meager sum of cash, and a guilty conscience: this is what Richard Hickock and Perry Smith left with from the Clutter Household on the night of November 15, 1959. Four innocent people, who could have changed the world one day, received fatal gun shot wounds and for what: a mere sum of forty dollars? Hickock and Perry committed this senseless crime as they felt it necessary to live up to the America ideals of power and money, no matter the cost. The American Dream, once thought to be the dream of a freer, better, richer, and happier life for all citizens of every rank, has now turned into a desire for quick success and financial security, regardless of the means by which people achieve it. Due to the media and changing

African Americans are targeted by law enforcement more often than any other race (Toth, Crews & Burton, 2008). Because of this the term racial profiling was created to explain the process of targeting people for criminal activity because of race not evidence (Toth et al, 2008). African Americans are over represented in the criminal justice system based on their population amount compared to whites (Toth et al, 2008). African American males are incarcerated at a rate 9 times that of white males in most states, in others that number may be as high as 12 to 26 times more (Toth et al, 2008). Nationwide statistics show in most states 1 in 20 over the age of 18 are in prison, while 5 other states report 1 in 13 or 14 compared to the 1 in 180

On July 4, 1776, thirteen colonies declared independence from English rule, eventually forming the United States of America (“American History,” 2016). Built upon a unique platform of autonomy, the United States provides citizens with freedoms not present in other countries. In order to preserve such freedoms, the Constitution of the United States was enacted in 1797, outlining an array of rights and privileges afforded to all citizens of the country (“American History,” 2016). However, as in any society, crime and abuse pervaded the peace of the nation, continuing to date. Methods of public, social control span deep into the history of the United States, in an effort to combat wrongful, illicit activity, or crime. With the first official police force established in 1838, law enforcement has grown rapidly within the nation, employing millions (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2015). Nevertheless, with the evolution of law enforcement, crime and the American population have also evolved. In the present-day United States, fear and unrest regarding personal rights and freedoms are overwhelmingly prevalent, often creating controversy between the public and the police. Under democratically-inspired legal restraints, notably the Bill of Rights, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution ensure the personal rights and freedoms of American citizens against certain police-related matters.

Crime is something that happens every day. Many people fear it, but it is a factor that people cannot escape. In places, like Detroit, people are surrounded by violent crime. Either they are the victims of it, or the committers, but it was not always like this. During the sixties, Detroit was one of the most lucrative cities in the country. Many people moved there to seek jobs in the automotive factories which increased the population to 1.85 million. (Padnani, 2013) However, this is not the case now. Many of the factories have moved, putting people and their families at a disadvantage. A numerous amount of workers relied on these jobs to feed their families. Since then, Detroit has faced a significant amount of hardships that has caused the city to deteriorate effecting education, employment, and the crime rate each factor acts as a chain reaction. The lack of diversity in the city can be a factor of the crime rate as well because Detroit is filled with a large population of minorities. Many politicians have looked for ways to solve the problem, but nothing has been proven to work.

Crime exists everywhere in the United States - in rural and urban areas, in the East and West, and among all types of people. This has led many government officials, especially those in urban areas, to focus largely on the reduction of crime among their respective constituencies and has led others to speculate on the factors that influence the amount of crime and how those factors can be controlled.

The relationship between Crime and less fortunate people cannot underestimated; it may just be the way the media has conditioned us to characterize what a criminal looks like and how they live their lives. There are many low income cities and crime rates widespread across America. One may say that people with low income have nothing to lose when they commit crime or depressed or desperate to the point that they will commit crimes for the profit of money. Even though crime is committed at all walks of life, one can still pose a question to know if crime is more likely to be committed by people with low income that those with high income.

Benedek, ''The average American parent doesn't need to fear being murdered.''(Children who kill: personality patterns are identified, New York Times.) Kids who do not experience remorse for their actions are mentally shortcoming to switch positions with people to see things from their prospective (Children who kill: personality patterns are identified, New York Times.) These same children have a background of assaultive behavior and are unable cope with everyday stress. Juvenile homicide offenders tend to have spent the first year of life in a short staffed institution or with an inadequate mother who may not have provided any psychological sustenance (Children who kill: personality patterns are identified, New York Times.) Those homicide offenders who are sexual confused often carry a weapon to build confidence. These children may have come from homes where the mom wore the pants and the father was shy. These murders tend to be followed through with a derived passion, but are found to be encouraged by a parent. Children tend to engage in more over the top behavior (Why do kids commit murder, Everyday Phycology.) “Studies show that teenagers do not

A violent crime occurs every 23.5 seconds in the United States of America. Even though crime has been at a low during the past decade, violence is still prevalent in today’s society. Most of these crimes happen in places that are socio-economically disadvantaged. There then is the debate of whether violent crime is associated with environments struck with poverty. There is a correlation between violent crimes and poverty because of the unemployment rates in major cities, the culture of poor areas, and drugs.

Crime is bad; it cannot be prevented nor ignored. Crime is everywhere we look. There is crime in cities, states, and countries. People have many different motives and reasons for committing crimes. A couple reasons include drugs, mental disorder, racism, poverty, and TV violence. About 360 crimes were reported in 2013. The top three common crimes in America include burglary, vehicle theft, and aggravated assault. This essay will go over the different crimes and how everyone can prevent them.

By this reaction paper I would like to continue the discussion, which we had after our presentation with Tami Miller about the second chapter of « Crime and American Dream ».

Crime is a major problem in the United States. It is happening to often than it should. Everyday there is always a crime story-taking place in the news or in the daily newspaper. It is difficult for individuals to not be drawn to negativity happening in their community. There are many different ideas on how to solve the crime problems that are happening in our country.

Crime is an issue that has been affecting society for years now, it is a phenomenon which has always been present. It is now almost impossible to imagine a society without crime as it is something which is all around us in the news primarily in the media through the TV and internet. In a sense we do not need to experience crime directly to be affected by it. News reporting has made us far more aware of crime for better or worse. However whilst our knowledge of crime has

     In general the definition of a crime is an act punishable by law, usually considered an evil act. Crime refers to many types of misconduct forbidden by law. Crimes include such things as murder, stealing a car, resisting arrest, possession or dealing of illegal drugs, being nude in public , drunk driving, and bank robbery. Crime is an act that has been timeless and has been committed practically since the start of time. For example, ever since Cain killed his brother Abel (B.C.), people being charged with witchcraft in the 1600’s, prostitution, to the current crimes of modern day(A.D.). Even though crime has existed throughout time it has progressed and branched out taking many types forms.

Crime is a social act that offends the laws of society. This can range from stealing a bar of chocolate from a shop to murder. All crimes can be divided into 2 groups- against people (e.g. vandalism, theft) and against people (e.g. assault, murder, rape). There are lots of causes for people carrying out crime, whether it be because they are so poor they commit robberies to survive or because they are mentally unstable and do not realize the difference between right and wrong. Nowadays drugs are a major factor in creating crime.

Crime prevalently commits around the globe either at the past time or even in this present and ongoing society. Crime is not commendable to commit in any society, however, we cannot rule out the possibility that, it is there as a complex issue and could be explained as a part of society life. So, what crime actually is? Crime delineates as an illegal act either against law, collective wellbeing, or even political wellbeing (Bradley & Walters, 2011). It then overall deems as a kind of harmful behavior towards certain values or norms of the society it committed in.