POVERTY AND YOUTH CRIME

Poverty and Youth Crime

Executive Summary

In this study we try to explore the concept of poverty and youth crime in UK in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on relation between poverty and youth crime in UK. The research also analyzes many aspects of poverty and tries to gauge its effect on youth crime. The methodology covers the research design and data collection tools regarding the poverty and youth crime. Results were based on the data being analyzed in methodology. Finally the research describes how poverty stimulates crime among youth and tries to describe the overall effect of poverty on youth crime. The paper concludes by mentioning the implications and future aspects regarding poverty and youth crime.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary2

Chapter No. 1: Introduction4

Background of the Study4

Research Objective5

Significance of the Study5

Chapter No. 2: Literature Review6

Youth Crimes and Present Justice System of UK6

Economic Deprivation and Youth Crime Poverty6

Wilson's Theory of Concentrated Disadvantage10

Comparison of London's Richest Boroughs with Poorest Boroughs10

Macroeconomic Conditions and Violent Crime11

Relation between Causes of Crime and Poverty12

Summary13

Chapter No 3: Methodology15

Research Approach15

Data Collection15

Questionnaire Explanation16

Search Strategy16

Literature Search16

Ethical Viewpoint17

References18

Appendix A21

Appendix B23

Chapter No. 1: Introduction

Background of the Study

Multidisciplinary research has widely documented the detriments of economic deprivation for child and adolescent well-being; it has been linked to a number of family and child outcomes that adversely affect youth welfare and adjustment including inadequate parenting, poor family functioning, cognitive and academic deficits, emotional and behavioural problems, and poor physical health (Anderson, 1999; Blank, David, Levy, and Medoff 1993; Donohue, and Steven 2001; Haveman and Johnathan 1999; MacDonald and Angela 2005; Wacquant, 2009). For instance, criminologists like Young, Wacquant and others have established numerous theoretical and empirical connections between economic deprivation and youth crime via family, community, and social processes that affect the socialization and regulation of youth behaviour. Despite a vast body of knowledge on the effects of economic deprivation on youth, there is still much to learn about this relationship (Hall, 2007). Past research has paid little attention to the effects of larger economic and social policy changes on youth violence trends, and even less is known about these effects on youth sub-groups such as racial and ethnic minorities, married couple and female-headed family members, etc. This research will utilize the wealth of demographic and victimization data available describing relationship between poverty and youth crime to address this specific issues.

An additional advantage of the child poverty rate for the purposes of this research is its relationship with macroeconomic conditions. As measured by the unemployment rate, for example, the state of the economy is an important determinant of child poverty rates. More importantly, there has been a close historical association between changes in the unemployment and child poverty rate that may have important implications for youth violence trends. Though prior research overwhelmingly refutes a relationship between changes in the economy and violence trends, there is evidence that child poverty and youth violence trends are significantly associated. It stands to reason, therefore, that the macroeconomic conditions that affect child poverty rates ...