Poverty and a Lack of Education are Fueling Juvenile Crime Essay

In the early 1960s, the pandemic of insipid law-breaking began to take shape. The fuss of juvenile shame is meet an increasingly pressing matter in the States. Anyone who watches the news on video recording or reads the newspapers is well awargon of the urgency and intensity of Americas juvenile crime problem. Effectively establishing the causes of juvenile crime whitethorn suspensor to deter it in the future. A seemly solution cannot be punish until the root causes and reasons be exposed. on that point ar undoubtedly m either factors lend to juvenile crime, barely the focus should be on those which contribute the nigh.The twain factors which come about readily to mind are the extremes of exiguity and forgetful bringing up. Juveniles from paltry communities are not even interested in fitting educate because there are not any decent remunerative jobs for them anyway. By not difference to school, these juveniles are not are not developing the proper mental frame work with which they can pose wide choices in life. The growing numbers of poor communities does not help the feature. It is gray-haired news that crime follows p everyplacety. Americans should be concerned that juvenile crime is universe fueled by a lack of knowledge and poverty.Poverty has trio basic definitions which are absolute poverty, relative poverty and exclusionary poverty. An absence of the nearly basic resources much(prenominal) as food, shelter, and clothing constitutes absolute poverty. Relative poverty refers to those stack who are poor when compared to the wealthier members of the society. Exclusionary poverty implys people without access to healthcare, proper nutrition, transportation, and opportunities for participating in union life. The references to poverty in this argument include individuals from every last(predicate) three categories (Ryerse).The biggest differences between the upper- secernate and lower-class communities is the quality of educat ion the youths receive and economic security. In upper-class communities juvenile crime exists, but it is far less common and unappeasable than in the impoverished communities. Neighborhoods with a juicy concentration of poverty are at a untold higher risk of having problems suchas single-parent families, ineffective parenting, violent schools, high dropout rates, substance abuse, and high unemployment rates (Delbert, 86). Youths growing up in such an environment are experiencing frenzy daily and are destined to fixture to fury themselves.Poor communities pick up a tendency to be precise unstable because of economic insecurity. Economic insecurity is caused by chronic unemployment. This is especially a problem in the inner-cities where, without jobs, people live impoverished and overcrowded lives (Parcels, 43). Since they are not able to sell their labor, they resort to illegitimate markets such as drugs and prostitution (Parcels, 43). The illegitimate businesses emerge beca use the communities cannot effectively resist them, and they show around social organization and economy (Elliot, 86).Unemployment is not the source of frustration and despair that eventually leads to violence. A lack of income is, because it forces people into situations that they would choose not to be in. Robbery, prostitution, and drug dealing yield practical and immediate results. These industries naturally contrive into street bunchs which are known for their violent behavior. If these people were properly educated and lived in an economically secure environment, then there would not be any reasons for them to engage in crime.Unfortunately, they are currently engaged in enterprises which are dangerous and extremely violent. These enterprises are attractive to the juveniles who are expression for status and a steady income. They are not interested in education or legitimate employment It does not make any sense for a juvenile in a poor community to have much interest in b ecoming educated in the first place. They know that an education will not help their situation in the long run. The standardisedlihood that a high school sheepskin will land them a good job is almost nonexistent, and college is whole out of the question without a substantial amount of money.Therefore, if the juvenile wishes to make something of himself he will naturally find means available to him. By becoming a low level drug dealerhe can make a considerable amount of money in a relatively small amount of time. It becomes even more gainful to be a drug dealer in a gang because of the protection a gang can offer. The money, on top of the prestigiousness and respect drug dealers have in poor communities, makes the experience preferably rewarding. This is why younger individuals are attracted to the venomous lifestyle.In the criminal sub-culture violence is not lonesome(prenominal) condoned but encouraged. The methods and details involved are practically learned from a paren t or older sibling. Because the juveniles parents are poor and undereducated, they are more likely to be engaged in criminal and deviant activity themselves. The children grow up watching their parents struggle to make it and live a criminal lifestyle. The adults, frustrated by their hopeless situation, often turn to drugs and alcohol which affects how they deal with their children. The frustration and anger that a juvenile experiences in such a family can easily pour over into other areas of their social life in the form of violence.The limited availability of resources in poor neighborhoods creates both social isolation and economic accent mark on families. Parents who have limited problem solving skills, poor impulse control, and a history of violent behavior during adolescence are those at a high risk of child abuse. Frequently, they are young, low-income, single parent, minority women with iv or more children in the household. If the fathers are present, they tend to have only a limited education and be part-time employed. Because they have hardly a(prenominal) alternatives and limited social support, they do not have anyone who might provide social controls on their behavior and non-violent alternatives for managing their children (Elliot, 86).Neither the government, nor any other outside entity seems willing to provide much needed solutions. This is really no astonishment considering the current world-beater structure in the United States, which includes the politicians and the elite class, have an interest in keeping the lower classes confused, disorganized, and helpless. This is because of the fear that if the poor class organizes and unites the poor will at once recognize the current powerstructure is the source of their oppression. Capitalism, by definition, requires an abundance of labor which is its foundation. Noam Chomsky, professor at MIT, suggested that Americas two-tiered society with enormous wealth and claim amidst poverty and su ffering was created and sustained with bipartisan agreement.There are not enough jobs in America, because capitalism does not and never did provide plenteous employment (Parcels 45). Eric Parcels, writer of the New Unionist, believes that capitalism likes to keep a guard army of unemployed people to help force wages rout (44). The widening gap between the rich and the poor and the hopelessness it creates are two reasons which make the poor gaga and frustrated (Hall 124). The young people see drugs, gangs, and anti-social behavior as a way to get tolerate at the system (Hall ). Gus Hall, chair of Communist Party USA, claims whenever there is severe unemployment and poverty, there is crime, drugs, and violence (125).Some people argue that not all poor people are violent and many grow up in poor areas and do not become criminals. This is true, but the pourboire is that growing up in a poor neighborhood increases the like telegraph wiress criminal activity will emerge. Others poin t out that white- collar crime is rampant, but these crimes are not as common or as severe as those committed by the gangs and other violent youth. There are withal the questions of overcrowding and media violence. These factors undoubtedly contribute to crime, but they do not have as much influence as poverty joined with poor education. When trying to solve the problem of juvenile crime most people are quick to suggest increasing law enforcement and creating harsher prison house sentences. These solutions will help to a certain extent, but they are treating the effectuate of juvenile crime instead of the causes.Some people are proposing that America test Buckminister Fullers idea of the negative income tax. This is the idea that a line be drawn somewhere above the poverty line and no one can receive less. The most remarkable tantrum of this idea is that it would cost less than the current bureaucratic welfare system. Its opponents argue that it would increase inflation, but thi s is not necessarily true if the gross(a) Nation Product was not exceeded.Educating and giving money to the poor would not solve Americas crime and violence problems overnight. A more reasonable time frame would be several generations. There is also the idea of investing in a massive adult education program. This might be effective in breaking the cycle in which juveniles are learning bad habits and criminal behavior from their parents. Though it may not be the most effective solution, it does seem to be the most civilized.Americas juvenile crime problem is not going to fix itself. Realizing that juveniles who grow up uneducated and poverty stricken are prone to engage in crime may lead to the find of a viable solution that can be agreed upon. Until then, the problem still lingers and threatens to intensify. By not addressing the situation in a well and rational manner, the juveniles are destined to become even more angry and frustrated at the hopelessness of their situation.It i s now clear how poverty and a lack of education are linked to juvenile crime. Juvenile crime will continue to exist as long as the state-supported and the government chooses to ignore its relationship to economy and education. It was Gus Hall who said, crime, like joblessness, is a national disease. When people-any people-lose hope, when poverty and despair is the only view of the future, crime, drugs, and violence are the results (125).Works CitedChomsky, Noam. Interview with David Finkel. Chomsky on Capitalism. 1991. 27 Feb. 2003Elliot, Delbert. Environmental Factors bring in to Juvenile Crime and furiousness. Juvenile Crime Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. A.E. Sadler. San Diego Greenhaven, 1997. 83-94.Hall, Gus. Capitalism Causes Violence. Violence Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Scott Barbour. San Diego Greenhaven, 1996. 120-125.Parcels, Erik. Capitalism Fosters Gang Behavior. Gangs Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Charles Cozic. San Diego Greenhaven, 1996. 41-45.Ryerse, C. Thursdays child. churl poverty in Canada A review of the effects of poverty on children. Ottawa National Youth Care Network, 1990.