Example research essay topic: Running Head Social Dimensions Of Crime - 1,507 words

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Running head: SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF CRIME Social Dimensions of Crime March 29, 2009 Social Dimensions of Crime There are few major conclusions concerning the distribution of crime by race, gender, age and class. It is believed that individuals involvement in crime decreases with age, implying that younger persons are more likely to commit crimes. Also, there is an opinion that females are less often to offend irrespective of the age, as males are more aggressive by nature. There are also few sources claiming that the whites are less likely to commit crimes, compared to African Americans or, for instance, Mexicans. Also, individuals from upper-class society are less likely to commit crimes, while those from lower-class or with low income are at higher risk of exposing anti-social behavior. These conclusions are most widely accepted in criminology; however, still very little research has been conducted to prove that these social factors can serve as predictors of anti-social behaviors.

The present paper examines social dimensions of crime, using information from Uniform Crime report arrest data and proves that age, gender, race and class can, to a certain extent, serve as predictors for the individuals inclination to crimes. The Distribution of Crime by Age, Gender, Race and Class According to the vast majority of researchers, age factor is inversely correlated with the persons inclination to commit crimes. It is considered that a younger person has more opportunities for criminal behavior, than an elder one. For example, young people (14 - 25 years old, which is considered as the peak for criminal involvement) are more likely to live in urban areas, and living in the cities basically provides more chances for being involved in criminal behavior, as there are more offices, shops, cars, businesses, and houses, to mention a few (Age and Crime - Variations In The Age Curve, 2009). At the same time, elder people have more opportunities for serious crimes at work, because elder people more often occupy positions of authority. What concerns class aspects, young people, belonging to upper and middle class, have fewer chances to commit crime, because if compared to the lower class youth, they are more likely to get full-time education up to 21 - 22 (Steffensmeier & Streifel, 1991).

It should be also mentioned that lower class youth are at higher risk of unemployment. Also, they are more likely to do low skill and low paid work, therefore, they are more likely to get involved in criminal behaviors as they can treat crime as one of the sources to get money. What concerns gender and crime, females are less likely to commit crimes, if they have a child they are responsible for, or a home. Homeless females or young females with no children and/ or family are more likely to commit crimes. After age 25, the curve of criminal activity significantly decreases (Caputi, 1987). When the person is 25 year old or more he or she is more likely to be more responsible.

At this age, people are more likely to adopt new social roles (for example, spouses, wage-earners, parents, to mention a few). Some of them also have to help their parents, so the possibility of jail becomes more serious thing, as people understand that their imprisonment will not only have negative impact on their lives, but also will negatively influence the lives of people they are responsible for. Contrary, if people have no responsibilities, they are more likely to commit crimes, as they do not need to take into account the opinions and lives of other people (Knafla, 2002). It should be also mentioned, that elder people have less active lifestyle, as they are more likely to be focused on home and spending more time with their families. Therefore, elder people are less likely to commit crimes than the younger ones.

It is quite difficult to provide concise explanation for pattern of crime in relation to age. Young people, for example, are more likely to listen to the opinions of the other people, thus having more conformity to their friends, peers and authority peoples group behavior that may promote deviance. For example, pressure the teenager experiences from the part of his or her peer, may encourage the teenager to adopt a form of anti-social behavior. At the same time, middle and upper class youth are more inclined to obey social rules imposed by society.

Also, in contrast to the upper class youth, they do not need to commit crime to support their particular lifestyle (at least, to a lesser extent). This can be explained by the fact that young people belonging to upper and middle class, usually have alternative sources of income, such as wealthy parents. It should be also taken into account that some young people may commit crime to achieve a social status within their peer group. However, middle and upper class young people are less likely to need such attention, as they already have status in society. Social dimensions of crime can be also examined in relation to specific types of crimes. For example, the youngest offenders are more likely to commit petty thefts, arson's, vandalism, robberies, burglaries, drug and liquor law violations and other low-yield categories of crimes (Age and Crime - Variations In The Age Curve, 2009).

At the same time, personal crimes, such as homicide or aggravated assault are usually committed by elder age group (people in their late twenties). Public drunkenness, various public order offences, consuming alcohol while driving a vehicle and some property crimes are more likely to be committed by 20 - 25 year old youth. At the same time, there are types of crime the youth simply has few or almost no chance to commit (such as gambling, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes that are typically committed by people in their late 20 s and 30 s (Age and Crime - Variations In The Age Curve, 2009). Yet, according to some researchers, in the recent years there is a significant shift to committing these older age crimes by younger persons. Also, race can serve an indicative factor of the person likelihood to commit a crime. For example, according to criminologists, black youth living in urban areas have more chances to commit crime, as they more often face racial discrimination and have fewer opportunities if compared to the white youth.

The teenagers during the period of growth in their young adulthood continue to have limited access to high paid and high quality jobs. Therefore, although adult offending levels in African American decreases, the proportion of Caucasians committing crimes is significantly fewer than the proportion of the African Americans. According to arrest statistics for robbery and homicide, adult whites are also more likely to commit these crimes than the blacks. Conclusion In such a way, few conclusions can be done.

First of all, age factor has an inverse relation to criminality. Young people, irrespective of their gender, class or race are likely to commit crimes more often than adults. The prevalence of criminal behavior starts approximately when a teenager is between 15 and 19 years old, and reaches its peak between 20 and 29 (The Social Dimensions of Crime, 2009). The vast majority of crimes committed in the late teenage years is group crimes, while the crimes committed by a person who is 20 or more, are usually committed without group participation. Finally, young offenders commit crimes usually for simple reasons, such as to relieve anger, boredom, to experience excitement, joy, or to achieve status within a peer group. What concerns social class belonging and its relation to crime, according to the official statistics, crime rates in the areas with high poverty levels are significantly higher than crimes rates in suburban areas.

Self-reports of the prison inmates also indicate that the vast majority of incarcerated belongs to lower class. Next, while examining possible relation between gender and crime, it becomes obvious that females are less likely to commit crimes, when compared to males. Most common, crimes committed by females are less serious. While examining the proportion of incarcerated, females make up a relatively small proportion of inmates, compared to males. According to the official statistics, the vast majority of offenders are male (for example, male offender / male victim 65. 1 %, male offender / female victim 22. 6 %, female offender / male victim 9. 9 %, and female offender / female victim 2. 4 %) (The Social Dimensions of Crime, 2009). Also, females usually do not tend to repeat crimes, while males are more likely to repeat crimes, and their crimes are more professional.

Bibliography Age and Crime - Variations In The Age Curve. (2009). Retrieved march 28, 2009, from web Caputi, J. (1987). The Age of Sex Crime. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. Knafla, L. (2002). Crime, Gender, and Sexuality in Criminal Prosecutions.

Greenwood Press. Steffensmeier, D. , & Streifel, C. (1991). Age. , Gender, and Crime Across Three Historical Periods: 1935, 1960, and 1985. Social Forces, 69, 869. The Social Dimensions of Crime. (2009). Retrieved March 28, 2009, from web

Research essay sample on Running Head Social Dimensions Of Crime