Impact of Unemployment to Crime rates
An increase in levels of unemployment among a population always increases the crime rates. According to Ajimotokin et al.,2015 loss of job makes people frustrated and desperate to live the lifestyles they were accustomed to. People who have lost employment can do anything to make money; most of them are likely to join crime. The states with the highest number of people living below the poverty line also report the highest crime rates(Ajimotokin et al.,2015). A growth in the economy, which means an increase in the number of employed people has always resulted in a reduction in crime rates. One of the possible reasons why unemployed people are likely to engage in crimes is they have nothing to lose if caught. Employed persons, on the other hand, have a reputation to protect, making them reluctant to engage in crimes.
Between the years 1992 and 1998 national unemployment rate decreased from a rate of 7.5 to 4.5 percent. Also, during this period, the crime rates also reduced with almost the same rates (Raphael &winter-Ebmer,1999). Employed people are engaged most of the time, and they, therefore, lack time to engage in crime and drug abuse. When the majority of people within an area are employed, they consume a lot of ready stock, making criminals lack target items to steal. When people are educated but unable to secure a good income, they lose hope with life and become unpatriotic. Unemployed young people mainly blame the government and the system for their conditions. The unemployed youth may develop hate against the system and the broad society, making them to engage in crime as a form of revenge.
References
Ajimotokin, S., Haskins, A., & Wade, Z. (2015). The Effects of Unemployment on Crime Rates in the U.S.
Raphael, S., & Winter-Ebmer, R. (1999). Identifying the effect of unemployment on crime. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.145790