Urban Crime Rates and Socioeconomic Conditions Criminological theories developed in the early 1900s emphasized that the causes of criminal behavior were related to socioeconomic conditions and...

Urban Crime Rates and Socioeconomic Conditions

Criminological theories developed in the early 1900s emphasized that the causes of criminal behavior were related to socioeconomic conditions and environmental factors. Furthermore, these theories emphasized that crime was primarily a problem for the “inner-city” areas in large urban cities. In the century that has passed since these theories were developed, many new theories have been developed emphasizing other factors as the cause of criminal behavior. However, data suggest that there is still a very high correlation between crime rates and the urban environment. Today, crime is still predominantly a “big city” problem and is concentrated in specific neighborhoods of a city. For example, the Fourth Precinct covering the north side of Minneapolis is a high-crime area. The neighborhood is mostly black. Black residents have a median income of $27,950 compared to $73,600 for white residents. Most of the housing units are substandard. Public transportation is poor, food choices are limited, many businesses have left the area, and there is a history of rioting in the Fourth Precinct. The neighborhood is characterized by “white flight” to the suburbs resulting in an inadequate tax base to pay for needed services.10 These conditions are similar to those found in other large cities such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City (MO), and Los Angeles. Data support the assertion that there is a high correlation between crime rates in large urban cities and the socioeconomic conditions of the neighborhood. Do you think that socioeconomic conditions and environment are the primary causes of crime? Explain.