Demographics & Crime
Demographics, which are characteristics about a set of people, teach us about patterns in society from areas such as income, gender, education, or family status. Demographics can also be thought of as characteristics about a population. On the other hand, demographics can also provide information about criminal activity. Criminologists often turn to demographics in order to better understand why certain areas have higher rates of crime. In addition, demographics can shed light on who commits crimes and the motivations behind their actions. To gain a better understanding of criminal behaviour, demographic factors such as social class, age, gender, and race can all be investigated.
Meet John. John is a 20-year-old white man who just celebrated his birthday by himself. John's neighbourhood is one that is falling apart physically and is populated by people from the working class. John is having trouble finding full-time work because he did not graduate high school and therefore does not have a diploma.
Now let me introduce you to Jimmy, an African American man who is 70 years old. Jimmy's home is located in a traditional New York suburb that caters to upper-middle class families. After 30 years of service in the police department, he decided to retire.
What can we infer about John and Jimmy based on the crime demographics? So, let's take a look at the correlation between criminal behaviour and factors such as social class, age, gender, and race, and then we'll see where John and Jimmy fall in the spectrum.
Social Class
The correlation between one's social class and criminal behaviour will be the first crime demographic that we analyse. According to the data, the parts of an inner city that are concentrated in working class neighbourhoods have the greatest crime rates.
According to the broken window theory, rundown communities are more likely to have instances of criminal behaviour. In other words, housing that is in a poor condition and is located in an area that is populated by people from working class backgrounds contributes to a rise in problems related to vandalism, crime, and safety issues. This results in physical disorder, which leads to residents avoiding going outside, which gives the area the appearance of being vulnerable to criminal criminals. In the end, the neighbourhood will see an increase in criminal activity.
Let's have a look at John and Jimmy now, shall we? It would appear that John is a member of this particular demographic. John's neighbourhood is located in the inner city, which is characterised by visible signs of decay. As was previously said, the parts of inner cities that are home to working class people have the greatest crime rates. In addition, according to the broken window concept, these locations are magnets for criminal behaviour. As a result, according to this crime demography, it appears that John has a considerable risk of either becoming involved in criminal activity or becoming a victim of criminal activity in his town. On the other hand, Jimmy is a resident of an area in the suburbs that is considered upper middle class. Jimmy does not belong to this particular group of people who have a high probability of being involved in criminal activity.
Age Distribution on a Demographic Chart
The relationship between age and criminal activity is the subject of the following demographic study: According to statistics provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2012, young people between the ages of 16 and 25 had a significantly elevated arrest rate. This age bracket has a much greater arrest rate compared to other age ranges. As a matter of fact, the share of the population represented by this chart will reach its highest point somewhere in the middle of the 20s before beginning a gradual fall as people get older, as shown in the top right hand corner of the chart. On the other hand, the facts presented here demonstrate that the top reasons why older males over the age of 65 get arrested are for assaults, larceny or petty theft, and drugs. This is the case even though they are over the age of 65.
Gender
The following demographic that we will examine is the connection that exists between criminal behaviour and gender. According to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2010, the rate of criminal activity committed by men is continuously greater than that of women. According to the figures, the likelihood of a man getting arrested for a violent crime is up to four times higher than the probability of a woman being detained for the same offence.
The experts point to a variety of possible explanations for this distinction. To begin, there is the theory that men are more aggressive than women because of the hormonal differences between the sexes. The second misconception is that women have superior people skills, which enable them to handle conflicts more effectively than men. Some people also believe that male children are subject to less parental oversight than female children are, and that this may be one reason why males have a higher incidence of criminal behaviour.
In this case, there is a deadlock. Both John and Jimmy are considered to be men. Therefore, John and Jimmy have the same risk of being a victim of crime based on their gender, regardless of the other distinctions that exist between them.
Race
According to the statistics on racial crime compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2010, members of ethnic minority groups are involved in a disproportionately high quantity of criminal activity. African Americans, for instance, make up around 14% of the total population yet are responsible for 39% of violent crime arrests. These crime data, according to the opinions of some qualified authorities, provide evidence of the usage of racism.
For instance, according to the racial danger hypothesis, the proportion of the population that identifies as a member of an ethnic minority group contributes positively to a rise in the usage of police control. According to this hypothesis, police patrols are more likely to be sent to neighbourhoods where a larger portion of the population are members of minority ethnic groups. As a result, more arrests are made in these neighbourhoods, which leads to an increase in the number of reported crimes.
Take a look at John and Jimmy, shall we? According to this demographic, the likelihood of John being involved in criminal activity is lower due to the fact that he is white. On the other hand, Jimmy is of African American descent. According to these statistics based on Jimmy's race, he has a greater likelihood of being involved in criminal activity.
Conclusion
Let's go over everything that we've learned today.
The demographics of different social classes were our first focus. We discovered that the likelihood of criminal behaviour is significantly increased among residents of inner-city districts who have inadequate economic possibilities.
Following that, we investigated the impact that age has on the demography of criminal activity. We made a discovery that indicated that as one gets older, their likelihood of committing a crime goes down.
After that, we discussed the correlation between gender and the demographics of crime, and we discovered that the likelihood of men committing a crime is up to four times higher than the likelihood of women doing so.
In the end, we investigated the relationship between racial demographics and criminal activity. Based on high arrest rates, which many experts say may be the result of racism, we came to the conclusion that individuals of ethnic minority groups face a greater likelihood of becoming involved in criminal activity.
Outcomes of Learning
After reading this, you should be able to interpret the ways in which demographic factors such as socioeconomic class, age, gender, and race play a role in criminal behaviour.
What does demography mean in the context of criminology?
Demographics inform us about societal tendencies such as income, gender, education, and family status. Crime can be predicted by demography. Criminologists utilise demography to understand crime patterns.
What are five demographic examples?
Age, sex, income, race, employment, geography, homeownership, and education are common demographic factors.
What is meant by social class in demography of criminology?
We will analyse the socioeconomic class-crime behaviour association in this. Inner-city working-class neighbourhoods have the highest crime rates, according to research. According to the broken window idea, dilapidated neighbourhoods have greater crime. Poor housing in a working-class neighbourhood increases graffiti, crime, and safety issues. This causes bodily disorder, which makes locals avoid going outside, making the neighbourhood vulnerable to criminals. The area will experience more crime.
What is meant by age in demography of criminology?
The following demographic analysis examines age and criminality. According to 2012 FBI figures, 16- to 25-year-olds had a disproportionately high arrest rate. This age category has a high arrest rate. The share of the population represented by this chart will peak around the middle of the 20s before falling gradually as people age, as shown in the top right corner. The top reasons elder males over 65 are arrested are assaults, thefts, and drugs. This is true notwithstanding their age.
What is meant by gender in demography of criminology?
Men commit more crimes than women, according to 2010 FBI figures. Men are four times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes than women, according to the data. Experts provide several causes for this difference. Men are supposedly more aggressive than women due to hormonal differences. Second, women have greater people skills and can handle disagreements better than men. Some feel male children are subject to less parental scrutiny than female youngsters, which may explain why males commit more crimes.
What is meant by race in demography of criminology?
According to 2010 FBI crime statistics, ethnic minority groups commit a disproportionate amount of crime. African Americans comprise 14% of the population but 39% of violent crime arrests. Some experts say these crime statistics show racism. According to the racial risk theory, the fraction of the population identifying as an ethnic minority group increases police control. According to this idea, police patrols are more probable in minority-populated neighbourhoods. In these neighbourhoods, more arrests lead to more reported offences.