He also states that police officers are more likely to arrest suspects in racially mixed or minority neighborhoods” (Crutchfield and Martinez, 2010 p913). These neighborhoods have groups that make these juveniles believe that being in a gang is ok or causing harm to another individual make them fit in to a certain group. Police officers have to constantly patrol these deviant activities that these juveniles participate in. These neighborhoods in return think that the
That usually means reverting to street crimes. These crimes include burglary, vandalism, and selling drugs. Those individuals feel that street crime is the only way they will obtain material success. Merton's theory may stand true when comparing social status with street crime; however, his theory becomes weak when the crimes include white-collar and business crimes. Therefore, Merton's theory has become an “anomie theory”.
Environment Environment has had a powerful influence on developing youth, most importantly in areas of lower household income. Being surrounded by gangs, racial discrimination, or lack of education (all components of the environment) has influenced the youth into the choices they have made in life, either making or breaking them. The youth makes choices that make them feel comfortable during the time without analyzing them carefully because of the way they were raised and the environment in which they grew in; for example, “Monster” by Sanyika Shakur is a first-hand account of the experiences of a south central Los Angeles gang member that grew in a troubled environment in where many gangs were located and that led him into the choices
Gangs on the Rise in Metro Houston Without a doubt, Houston has a growing gang problem according to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle. Gangs are a violent reality and a way of life for many who are seeking acceptance and a means to “fit in”, regardless of the price that must be paid. Many people have their own view as to why gangs are formed and why they exist in our society. One of the main reasons is friendship and they often tell their friend about how “cool” it is to be part of something, to be accepted. Children from poverty, who experience hopelessness, and who are bored and are looking for nice clothes and long to have money think being in a gang can earn them lots of pocket money.
Code of the Street In the ethnographic book, Code of the Street, Elijah Anderson, a professor of sociology at Yale University, makes some interesting and insightful assessments amid his in-depth examination of the many pertinent issues surrounding the economical, educational and social factors that exist in the urban community. These developmental conditions affect its social organization, shape the urban culture and heavily contribute to the aggression and youth violence that is so prevalent today. Some of the major problems that plague the impoverished inner city black community are that of the persistent poverty as well as the widespread violence that the young inflict on one another. Professor Anderson attempts to generally approach and address the question of why the quality of life is consistently compromised for so many inhabitants within urban communities. The book discusses that in addition to the alienation that the people who are struggling financially and reside in poor inner city neighborhoods feel from mainstream America, there is still yet another division within this confine, that is of the “decent” family in opposition to the “street” family.
Even though all of these strains have an influence on the racial differences in crime, I believe that the community contributes a lot to these differences. By observing at a community, one can derive that a community branches out to numerous types of strain. According to the text, African Americans show a disproportionate number of residents who occupy areas where there are higher rates of violence and economical disadvantages. These disadvantaged neighborhoods usually lack good public schools, job opportunities, and more often promote criminal behavior. With the lack of job opportunities in a poverty infused area, one might succumb to criminal
The ‘rush’ received from a high speed pursuit is explained by many individuals who have been involved in a police chase. This extreme behaviour can be linked with the theory of edgework, along with many other theories such as Social Learning theory and Social Ecology theory. Edgework involves voluntary risk-taking whereas the Social Ecology theory involves certain areas and groups of people that tend to commit crimes, where crime becomes status quo, not individuals seeking deviance. The individuals engaged in the Social Ecology theory may end up in the chase through other crimes, and they may have been involved in those crimes due to the area they reside, this could mean they have had a negative pre-disposition. Social Learning theory applies to individuals from certain social groups that learn the criminal behaviour through interaction with others; these individuals may end up in a high-speed chase through another crime like auto theft or fleeing the scene of a crime, whereas edgeworkers are inclined to the chase itself.
The police officer who savagely killed Michael Brown was also involved in other police brutality incidents prior to this one. Friends and family have stated that sometimes it’s how a child is raised and how they view different races and cultures. This statement shows that racism and pre-consumed thoughts of people are not good when you’re an official of the law. Thinking like this has to stop; lifelong learning of race has to be evaluated at the hiring process. Knowing who you have patrolling the streets and protecting the public is very important.
This leaves many young working class people with little alternative but to meet up with friends, and hang around streets and estates looking for something to do. This was evident in the 2011 London riots where we saw groups of jaded juveniles roam the streets of London as a mob mentality causing a disgruntled and ominous environment. Another issue is concerning education. A lack of educational values is another driving force in the admittance of many people to crime.There is a number of reasons to believe that education will affect subsequent crime. Firstly, Schooling increases the returns to legitimate
The United States has an ample youth faction, and because of most of the youth living in poverty they look up to false role models and gangs. They seek a sense of belonging and meaning in their lives. Hagedorn and Malec both emphasize that the youth has this feeling and how identity formation is a major factor in joining a gang. Danny Malec wrote a Review on Latin Gangs and their transformation of gang violence in the United States. Malec believes that gangs are not all bad, that they are not just about committing violent and illegal crimes.