The Role of Poverty in Explaining Crime

• In Event: Poverty and Crime

Abstract

Poverty has been one of the most robust factors associated with crime, especially violent crime. Most criminological theories rely on various explanations that account for the effects of poverty on crime. We have conducted an analysis of major empirical studies testing criminological theories (empirical studies were identified based on their citation in doctoral-level criminological textbooks), to synthesize the results of using poverty as an explanatory/control variable in crime causation. The analysis was done using poverty indicators such as “family income”, “socioeconomic status, or SES”, “educational level”, etc. A comparison was drawn for the role of poverty in minor/property crime versus serious/violent crime. The results reveal some interesting insights related not just to criminological theory testing but also to the important aspects of the role that poverty plays in crime causation.

Authors

• Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo, University of New Haven

• Richard Spano, University of New Haven

• Daniel O'Brien, University of New Haven