First off thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I'm a college student and I 'm doing a research project on poverty and crime. My question for you is do you think that poverty causes crime rates to go up?

People cause crime. Poverty can be an extenuating feature of crime, but not exclusively the cause for it to go up. The economy causes the crime rate to increase as people find it harder and harder to earn money to eat, buy gasoline for their cars, and put a roof over their family's heads. If we were to experience a famine in this country the crime rate would go through the roof.

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Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

If we were to experience a famine in this country the crime rate would go through the roof.

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I disagree. I believe people's better natures would emerge.

Does povery cause crime? Yes, to an extent, but then why is there crime in high-rent districts and in wealthy suburbs? Crime isn't always committed because of need or greed.

You say that peoples better nature would emerge and stop them committing a crime that all depends on how poor they are. example if you had young kids and you had no money,no food on the table no money to dress them,in a real rutt,trust me you would steal to make sure their OK.I have 3 young children if they where hungry I had absolutely no way of providing for them I wouldn't think twice about stealing my kids come first and me last.id never let my kids go hungry and if stealing was the only way to look after them I would do time in prison as long as their OK.

Sometimes crimes may lead a person to poverty too.
A person who is committing crimes,gets caught spends time in jail and comes out to find home,family and everything else gone.