Economic Downturn and Crime - Essay Example

 Introduction In this century, people commit crimes and at the same time people are victims of crime, indirectly when people take their properties or directly when involved in the crimes of violence. More indirectly, people are crime victims when property belonging to an organization, the community, or the government is destroyed or taken from them. Crime is one of the issues that need immediate addressing; it is one of the issues of political discussion and action and public concern. Even with the salience within the public arena, people know and understand very little about the factors that drive the crime trends. Also, there is little knowledge base that supports the “intelligent forecasts” that provide the direction as to which the crime rates move. Developing the knowledge about the crime trends and the crime rates is important as it helps enhance the rationality of the public expenditures and the public policies in relation to crime; this is because many of these commitments need advancement before their actual use [Fin12]. Economic downturn and crime The Economic downturn is a period characterised by declines in the economic activities in an economy, an economic downturn may last from months to years and is normally visible within employment, real income, production and other indicators. As per the past research conducted by Finklea (Economic downturns and crime), for example in the United States, the economic downturn does fuel crimes. Figures show an increase in the crime level that resulted from opposition parties, members of different parties fighting each other. In England and Wales, the figures of crime have changed as a result of economic downturn; records show that the domestic burglaries raised by four percent, forgery and fraud rose by 16% while the burglaries within the businesses rose by 3%. The annual crime statistics for 2014 also show that the crime rate increased in terms of “fatal stabbings”, the records show an increase of 16% in the number of knife robberies. As per the journal by Finklea the assumptions made by the security officials in 2014 also show that the number of property crimes increased which in most cases accounts for 70% of all the recorded crimes. The estimates are that with the increase in the economic crisis then the crime rate will keep increasing. The public even with the increasing crime rates is still very hopeful in that the crime rates will reduce [Fin11] The article by the UNODC show that during the times of economic downturn the rate of crime increases, however even with these fact economic factors whether in times of economic downturns or economic “non-crisis,” play an important role on how the crime trends revolve. Recorded data by police from many countries does show that during an economic downturn the incidences of homicides, robbery, car thefts and many other crimes increase. For example during the global financial crisis of 2008 to 2009, the number of robberies car thefts and homicides doubled. In many cases when a country undergoes an economic up veal links between crime and the economic factors are clearly evident, these crime trends link with the crime motivation theory which suggests that increase in criminal behaviours may result in economic stress. Research conducted by Malby and Davis regarding economic trends, and crime showed that there is a rapid increase in crime during economic downturns. The report showed an 80% increase in burglary crimes, 90% increase in larceny crimes and 93% increase in theft when the economy deteriorates. This suggests that the increase in those impacts of an economic downturn that includes unemployment results to increase in crime rates. When the economy spirals downwards, the general individual income reduces, from this many individuals engage in income producing criminal activities in attempt to surpass the costs of apprehension [Mon]. Crimes resulting from economic downturn mainly revolve around the decrease in individual incomes, in that economic downturns result to financial crises that affect the individual income of many people. The problem of income is the potential cause of the increase in the motivation to look for illicit options to the problems of individual income. However even with the decrease in income unemployment is the main cause of the increase in crimes of an economic downfall, in many cases the unemployed individuals become intolerant and aggressive, even within their families. Rosenfeld in his book states that many researchers use unemployment as the key indicator for analysis in search of information regarding the impacts of economic downfalls on crime. Unemployment and crime In most cases, economic downfall results to the loss of employment and the reduction in the income level to individuals. Unemployment is greatly related to increase in the crime levels, as per the labour statistics, in the 2007 economic downfall, the rate of unemployment was 5.0 %, throughout the recession the rate of unemployment kept increasing until it reached 9.5%, this rate grew further to 10.1% in 2009. During this period, the crime rate increased rapidly, in most of the cases unemployment results of 40% of the crime levels. During the economic downturn in the 1970s, there was an increase in the rate of unemployment that saw an increase in the property crime rate. However, the unemployment crime rate relationship has some complications with some scholars arguing that unemployment does not cause an increase in crime rate.[Ros] Unemployment also results to family based crimes, in most cases unemployment results to the economic stress that in turn may trigger domestic violence. Police statistics shows an increase in domestic violence during an economic downturn even to homes that have never experienced domestic violence before. In most cases the stress resulting from unemployment results to the increase in the number of home-based crimes that include increase in suicides [New09] Home foreclosure and crime Economic downturn in most cases results to a home foreclosure, in that the economic recession results to falling home prices and at the same time causes an increase in the mortgage delinquencies that in turn lead to home foreclosures. Research conducted show a relationship between home foreclosures and crime, past data shows that the 2007 economic downturn resulted in an increase in crime. During these downturn data shows that 2.04% of all the homes were in foreclosure, as the economic downturn increased, the number of home foreclosure increased to 4.30. This meant that the number of empty houses increased, with the increase of abandoned houses within a neighbourhood then there is an increase of delinquent activities and ultimately crime. When the houses are blighted and abandoned, there are high chances of increase in the neighbourhood crime. The increase in crimes related to hoe foreclosure occurs mainly when the foreclosure happens in one particular neighbourhood, or in neighbourhoods where the demand for property is less. A Recent study conducted showed that with controlling some social, economic factors, then the number of violent crimes and not property crime increases with the increase in foreclosure. Analytically, a 1% increase in the number of a foreclosure usually results to a 2.3% increase in the number of violent crimes. There is less data on property crime as many of the houses are abandoned no people hence to report the crimes, or because the crimes took place in lower income neighbourhoods. In North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department statistics show that from 2003 and 2007, the number of violent crimes rose consistently, during this period the region experienced a high rate of house foreclosure. However even with the fact that house foreclosure lead to an increase in crime rate the two of them may work together, at times increase in crime rate results to house foreclosures which in turn creates more space for crime to increase [Ros] Increase in crime rates during economic downturns do not generally result from an increase in the number of offenders, in times of an economic downturn, the tax base is affected, this in turn affects all most all the corners of the globe. In most cases with an economic downturn the tax income reduces as a result of many businesses being forced to close, also with a reduction in the tax income the residences remain empty and the values drop as a result of foreclosures. Decline in tax income require the economists to ‘tighten the belts’ which in turn affects the police department's budget, this results in lesser resource allocation within the police departments making it difficult to tackle the crime problem in the society. The Economic downturn also resulted to institute hiring freezes, elimination of a non-essential position and also layoff of duties, this also extends to the police departments. Lack of resources within the police departments extends to the lack of equipment and training, these in turn influences the lack if patrol officers within the community. The lack of newer technology and equipment, lack of training, and also “hiring freezes” resulting from an economic downturn result in the increase in crime rates. Economic downturns do not only affect the police departments (about the tax revenue) it also affects the state correctional facilities as well. The reduction in tax revenue cuts the budget in all the law enforcement agencies; this forces the states to consider early inmates release programmes for a large number of prisoners within the correctional facilities. For example during the economic downfall in 2009, the state of Carolina had a budget deficit of around 26 billion dollars, these forces the state to consider the release of about 27000 inmates. The release of this many inmates means that the crime rate within the streets will increase greatly [Fin12] Other factors that show that the economic downturn does fuel crime rates include the consumer sentiments, the GDP and the GPS, and the issues of congress. As the economy deteriorates then an individual’s ability to meet his or her emotional and financial needs strained. This downturn in the economy interferes with the consumer sentiment; this in turn results in an increase in crime rate. Past studies show that consumer sentiment related highly with crimes such as property crimes and robbery. Gross domestic product and the gross state product does influence the cycles of the crime rate [Ros]. As research suggests poor utilization and the decrease in the gross domestic product results to an increase in poverty that in turn results in an increase in crime rates. Past studies show that between 1980 and 1997, decrease in the gross domestic product accounted for 28% increase in crime rates, his suggests that the crime rates specifically the property crime rate links with the economic downturn. The gross state product also relates to property crime, Thomas aevanites and defina Robert conducted a study based on the year 1986 to 2000. In their study, they found that the decrease in the gross state product increases the rate crime [Mon]. Economic downturn results in an increase of the homeless within the streets which in turn increases the crime rate. As the number of closures increases many people remain with no place of residence, these people are forced to join into criminal activities in the search for their daily bread. Also during economic downturns there is an increase in the number of hate groups involved with criminal activities. In the United States statistics shows that since the year 2000 the number of hate groups has increased rapidly mainly resulting from the countries recent recession and the election of the first black president. According to the department of homeland security, increase in hate groups has resulted in a rapid increase in the crime rate (both the violent and the property crimes) Conclusion As statistics shows the crime rates fluctuates during different times in the economy, however, evidence shows that crime rates do fluctuate higher and more during times of economic downturns. Economic downturn mainly results to a general crisis in the financial status of a nation; this in turn affects the economy in relation to the loss of employment and poor budgeting strategies. Unemployment and poor budgeting strategies result in the increase in crime rate, another factor that develops during the economic downturn and causes an increase in crime rates is the foreclosures. Even with the contradicting results as to if unemployment and foreclosures do cause an increase in the crime rate evidence proves that the impacts of economic downturns do result in an increase in crime rate in many different perspectives[New13] Bibliography Fin12: , (Finch & Fafinski, 2012), Fin11: , (Finklea, 2011), Mon: , (Malby & Davis, n.d.), Ros: , (Rosenfeld, et al., n.d.), New09: , (Newburn, 2009), Ros: , (Rosenfeld, et al., n.d.), New13: , (Newburn, 2013), Read More