UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME

• NCJ Number: 53933
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 92 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: New South Wales
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEMINAR HELD BY THE INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, JULY 19, 1978

Annotation

SELECTED PAPERS FROM AN AUSTRALIAN SEMINAR ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME PRESENT BOTH GENERAL AND NARROW PERSPECTIVES ON ADULT AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND HIGHLIGHT PARADOXIAL STUDY FINDINGS.

Abstract

THREE APPROACHES TO MITIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND GENERAL DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING WORK SUPPORTED PROJECTS, RESTITUTION, AND A REHABILITATION PROGRAM FACILITATING CAREER TRAINING. THE LATTER IS FAVORED BECAUSE IT COMBINES VICTIMS COMPENSATION WITH EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION AND CAREER COUNSELING. THE SCHEME ENABLES OFFENDERS TO PERFORM SOME USEFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE, MAKE AMENDS TO THEIR VICTIMS, ASSIST IN THEIR OWN REHABILITATION BY PARTICIPATING AS A QUASI- AND LATER FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER, AND LEARN A NEW CAREER (SEE NCJ-53934). THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, IS ANALYZED USING ENPLOYMENT AND COURT DATA FROM 1967 THROUGH 1977; NO ASSOCIATION IS INDICATED BETWEEN ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND THE CRIMINOGENIC HABITS OF YOUTH (SEE NCJ-53935). THE PARADOX OF APPARENTLY CONFLICTING EVIDENCE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH AND IN LIGHT OF THE 1975 TO 1978 ECONOMIC RECESSION. POVERTY AND AFFLUENCE ARE FOUND TO CORRELATE INDEPENDENTLY WITH HIGH CRIME RATES IN SOME SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH NO RATES IN OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT IS ARGUED THAT RELATIVE DEPRIVATION (INCOME GAP) IS PROBABLY A MORE IMPORTANT CAUSE OF CRIME THAN IS ABSOLUTE DEPRIVATION (SEE NCJ-53936). FINALLY AN INTERPRETATION IS PROVIDED REGARDING A SECOND PARADOX AT THE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISMIC LEVEL OF STUDY, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT BOTH SERIOUS AND TRIVIAL CRIMES THAN ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED, WHILE AT THE TEMPORAL OR HISTORICAL LEVEL, RESEARCH FAILS TO CONFIRM THAT CRIME RATES GO UP DURING PERIODS OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, AND COME DOWN DURING PERIODS OF LOW UNEMPLOYMENT (SEE NCJ-53937). REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)