Poverty’s effects on crime can be explained through a variety of reasons. “There is a higher rate of mental illness in the poor than in the rich” (Brill 40). Poverty can lead to high levels of stress that in turn may lead individuals to commit theft, robbery, or other violent acts. Moreover, poverty may lead to an actual or perceived inferior education, which would cause youth to count on less access to quality schools, jobs, and role models, decreasing the opportunity costs of crime and increasing the probability of youth spending time on the street associating with gangs, etc.
Crime offers a way in which impoverished people can obtain material goods that they cannot attain through legitimate means. Often threat or force can help them acquire even more goods, this induces them to commit violent acts such as robbery, which is the second most common violent crime. For many impoverished people, the prize that crime yields may outweigh the risk of being caught, especially given that their opportunity cost is lower than that of a wealthier person. Thus, poverty should increase crime rates.
Directions:
1. Go to http://www.playspent.org/
2. After completing the “game”, please respond to the questions posed below. CLICK ADD COMMENT button.
A. What did you feel like trying to survive as an impoverished person? Did you "make it" in the end?
B. What kind of tough decisions did you have to make throughout the month in order to survive? How do you think those decisions would have impacted your family?
C. What was your strategy for success? Did it work? (Why/ Why not?)
D. Imagine yourself a convict who just got out of prison. You have a felony charge and are poor. What would you do to try and survive, while staying legal?
Once you hit “submit” and it tells you ERROR, that means I got it. Don’t send it anymore than that! Thanks
Crime offers a way in which impoverished people can obtain material goods that they cannot attain through legitimate means. Often threat or force can help them acquire even more goods, this induces them to commit violent acts such as robbery, which is the second most common violent crime. For many impoverished people, the prize that crime yields may outweigh the risk of being caught, especially given that their opportunity cost is lower than that of a wealthier person. Thus, poverty should increase crime rates.
Directions:
1. Go to http://www.playspent.org/
2. After completing the “game”, please respond to the questions posed below. CLICK ADD COMMENT button.
A. What did you feel like trying to survive as an impoverished person? Did you "make it" in the end?
B. What kind of tough decisions did you have to make throughout the month in order to survive? How do you think those decisions would have impacted your family?
C. What was your strategy for success? Did it work? (Why/ Why not?)
D. Imagine yourself a convict who just got out of prison. You have a felony charge and are poor. What would you do to try and survive, while staying legal?
Once you hit “submit” and it tells you ERROR, that means I got it. Don’t send it anymore than that! Thanks