Poverty Increases Crime

Poverty is a situation when one’s resources are not able to meet his/ her needs fully. Most poor people live below $ 1.09 a day. Reports on different societies in the world reveal that there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor. Recent statistics by the world Bank Group (2016) reveal that Global Poverty is continuously falling. Despite this progress, the poverty level is still considerably high. The basic assumption is that when as individual lacks the resourses to sustain himself or the family, criminal activity is perceived to be the easiest way out. There are four major measures of poverty : the socio-economic status, education, period of unemployment and the neighbourhood. Karl Max confirmed this relationship when he mentioned that crime was the inevitable result of economic struggle. This notion does not necessarily mean that all poor people will commit crime with every opportunity. An impoverished life creates psycholoical desires and crime related behaviour as ways to seek fulfilment .Children born and brought up in poor families are likely to be convicted into criminal activities.sometimes sudden changes in the living standards of people from affluence to poverty create a trap for the desire to escape from the lifestyle. This research work particularly analyses the effect of poverty on criminal behaviour and to analyze the circumstances that cause the poor to engage in crime 

Literature review 

A study by Short(2018) on the reationship between poverty, ethnicity and violent crimes revealed aled that there is a direct relationship between poverty and criminal behaviour. The study further revealed that pressure from peers and lack of proper education made the youths mostly to engage in criminal activities. 

However , a separate research conducted by Webster and Kingdton (2014) revealed there is a negative corelation between crime and poverty. According to them, poor people have no direct involvement in criminal activities. They further emphasize that the interveneing conditions in poor families may lead to crime only in a few circumstances but not all. There are other variables that must occur which are not necessarily exclusive to poor families. They alaso mention that the poor are instead the victims of violet criminal activities more than the rich since they do not have the priviledge of extra care from the government and expencive protective facilities. 

Research Questions 

Relating poverty to crime implies that the condition of lack of finances to meet ones needs guaranteees the occurance of a criminal behaviour.This study will focus mainly social disorganization and pressure for material success as the primary contributing factors that lead a poor person to criminal activities. 

What is the realationship between social disorganization and crime 

What is the relationship between pressure for success and crime 

Presssure for Success 

This phenomenon can be well described using the classical strain theory. This theory deveoped by Robert Merton arguers that all individuals in the United States are motivated to struggle for material and monetary success in different ways. The poor people however are not able to achieve these goals by valid means. School going children lack money and basic requirements to persue their studies which is the primary means to achieve the most legitimate attitude and behaviour for monetary succes. As a result these families will always experience strain knowing they cannot achieve their dream life goals. One of the ways these families cope with strain is by engaging in criminal activities as the only way to achieve monetary success. In other situations, they may choose to ignore monetary goals and seek other means of consolation like engaging in drug abuse or killing. Moreover , the teenagers find means to put up wih pressure and material competition from their agemates. This tend to gent involved in gangs that ignore the cultural means of wealth acquisition . They choose to reject values and embrace crime (Jang, 2015). The hypothesis therefore is that the ressure for success is likely to increase crime. 

Social disorganization 

People from poor neighbourhoods have a tendency of getting involved in criminal activities compared to people from rich neighbourhoods, this thought can be well described usind the social disorganisatioon theory. This theory was developed by Clifford R. Shaw and McKay in the 1942. The theory argues that social diorganisation leads to crime. Poverty weakens the social bonds and practices. Poverty is therefore a form of a stuctural problem. The theory also focuses on the relationship between poverty stricken households than individuals. People of a lower status are socially stratified within the community basing on the poor housing, unemployment, depression and lack of motivation. Naturally the society values material posession and most people tend to link posessions to self worth. Areas with a lot of unemployment and dependency on aid from the government are prone to the disintergration of social control. Besides members of poor neighbourhoods have no conventional goals. They tend to lack commmunity organizations and relationships. Criminal activities increase without proper union and residendial investment. This culture repeats itself and it is difficult to do away with it. The hypothesis is social disorganization leads to crime. 

Methodology 

Introduction 

This sectiion gives a precise explanation of the methods of conducting the study. It entails the sampling methods used , criteria for selection of the sample , the participants of the study, the instruments for data collection and the methods of data analysis. 

Research Design 

This is the manner the research will be conducted by paying a close attention to the factors and ensuring they do not interfere with the findings. It is the method of testing the research hypothesis (Singh & Bajpai, 2017) . The research approach will be qualitative and descriptive. It will aim at focusing on the real views from the population perceived to be the perpetrators of criminal activities in America. It wil focus on the opinion of residents from a slum to try to create sense about their personal feelings on the world they live in. The rationale of using this method is because it is the most appropriate to get the opinions of residents in a ghetto environment. 

Sample Selection And Sampling Procedure 

Purposive sampling will be used. This sampling entails direct selection of the sample by the resaercher basing on the nature of the data collection methods and their ability to provide relevant information (Singh & Bajpai, 2017). The researcher will seek the help of the local leader to identify potential participants. Later the researcher will inquire if the participants will be willing to take part. The remaining group will then be taught the details of the research . 

Data Collection Methods 

The reearcher will use bracketuing to avid bias. The methods of data collection will entail 

Questionnares 

Data will be primarily collected through the questionnares. The selected sample will be asked to fill in the already formulated list of the survey questions. The researcher will explain the requirements for completion and simpliy the most ambiguous question that might require clarity. The advantage of using questionaares is that the method is relatively cheap, unbiased and ensures the confidentiality of the respondents. 

Interview technique 

semi structured questions will also be used however the researcher will be allowed to be flexible as long us the questions are in line with the research variables. The researcher will use of both non verbal and verbal techniques. The interview will be personal to ensure confidentiality. The rationale of this method is that it will investigate the motive and feelings of the resopondents, it has a good response rate and it guarantees an accurate information. Responses will be recorded in tapes and some written down. At the end the researcher will ask for any contributions or extra information from the participants. However, the researcher will have to seek the consent of the participants before using a recorder. 

Potential Limitations to the Data Collection 

The information gathered is subject to personal bias due to the personal charecteristics of the respondents. The best way to reduce this bisness is to ensure the resondents first sign a consent form before filling questionnares. Furthermore respondents should be assured of confidentiality. Some conditions of participants like exhausion, hunger and worrry can also influence their response rates. Therefore the interviews will be scheduled for mid morning between 1030 hrs and 1130 hrs. researcher biasness is also a possible limitation. The reesearcher will verify responses from all participants and practice bracketing to prevent bresearcher biasness. 

Pilot Test 

A pilot study will be conducted to ensure accuracy of the study. This is an initial exercise before the real study to familiarize the reearcher with the actual research process (Singh & Bajpai, 2017). This prior test will also help the researcher to detect potential errors that might arise and allow the researcher to correct them at a very low cost. Besides it will be the best platform for the improvement of interviewing and interpersonal skills. The researcher will select two participants with the help of the local area leader. The researcher will then interview them and record their responses in a tape recorder. 

Methods of Data Analysis 

The reseacher will use bracketing to avoid possible bias . The process of data analysis willl first begin with the comprehension of the data by the researcher by explaining all the variables under study. The next step will be synthesizing the data and selecing the data that is relecvant to the study variables. Lastly, the researcher will need to theorise the data by trying to create a correlation between the phenomena off study and the data collected. 

The researcher will ensure the credibility of the data by peer reviewing. In this case the researcher will give the data to a collegue who is competent in qualitative reasearch methods for clarification and further discussion. 

Ethical Considerations 

The researcher will have to first seek the appproval of the college before going ahead and conducting the research. Besides he will require permission from the administration of the local area before going ahead. Full disclosure to the participants will be paramount as well as seeking the participants consents before the study. 

Survey Questions 

Part I: Pressure for success 

1.How long have you lived in St. Augustine slums? [ ] less than six months 

(tick the right choice ) [ ] 1 year to 3 years 

[ ]3years to 5 years 

[ ] above 5 years 

Are you happy with the living conditions here? Yes [ ] No [ ] 

How would you rate life here? [] satisfying 

[] somewhat satisfying 

[] Nuetral 

[] somewhat dissatistfying 

[] absolutely dissatisfing 

How would you explain the behaviour of most youths in this place 

[] very disciplined 

[]somehow disciplined 

[] average 

[] somehow indisciplined 

[] very indisciplined 

What is the economic activity of most residents in St. Augustine slums? 

[ ] farmers [ ] businesspersons [ ] casual labourers [ ] unemployed [ ] others 

How would you descibe the level of security in St. Augustine? 

[ ] very poor [ ] poor [ ] fair [ ] good [ ] very good 

How would you rate the level of crime in St. Augustine? 

What do you think is the reason for the level of crime as mentioned in (8) above………………………………………………………………………….. 

is there anything you would love to change about your curent life or in your neighbourhood? [ ] yes [ ] no if yes, what is it?.............................................................. 

Part II: Social disorganization 

How would you describe the level of social intergration in St. Augustine? [] satisfying 

[] somewhat satisfying 

[] Nuetral 

[] somewhat dissatistfying 

[] absolutely dissatisfing 

Are there social events/gatherings that aim at uniting the people of St. Augustine? 

[ ]Yes [ ] No 

Do you prefer attending a social meeting in your area. [ ] Yes [ ] No 

How would you describe the leadership structure of St. Augustine? 

[ ] very effective 

[ ] Somehow effective 

[ ] neutral 

[ ] Someow ineffective 

[ ] vey ineffective 

What is the most common problem in St. Augustine? 

[ ] unemployment [ ] housing [ ] security [ ] education[ ] others 

What is your personal dream? 

Do you have any hope for the St. Augustine Community? [ ] Yes [ ] No 

If yes, where do you hope to see your society in future? 

What do you think might be the challenges to achieving the goal above? 

What do you think are the ways the administration of St. Augustine can implement ti achieve the above goals? 

Part III: Personal information 

Age……………… 

Gender male [] Female[] 

Race…………………… 

Educational Status………………. 

Occupation………………… 

Conclusion 

This research will meet assess the connection between poverty and the level of crime. disorganisation amd the desire to get reach are the most common factors determining the choice for criminal behaviur. This research will further confirm the level of satistaction among the people living in the slums, their desires and the social organisation of poor people and ow it affects the moral structure within the society. 

References 

Group, W. B. (2016). Taking on Inequality. Washington: International Bank for Reconstruction and development. 

Jang, S. J. (2015). Strain Theories and Crime. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences 3rd edition, Vol 23 , 495-500. 

Short, J. (2018). Relationship between poverty , ethnicity and iolent crime. 

Singh, Y. K., & Bajpai, R. P. (2017). Research Methodology. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation.