Philadelphia riots: Down economy spurring crime

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Philadelphia riots: Down economy spurring crime

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Last week, Philadelphia implemented a curfew.

21 August,2011 05:50 pm

The curfews were instituted to crack down on teenagers who have plagued the city during the past year, looting, destroying property and hurting citizens.Philadelphia is not the only city dealing with spikes in civil unrest and crime because of the downturn in the economy. Proving a direct link between crime and the economy can be tenuous; there is an obvious correlation that as the economy sours, people do bad things.This ideology has been the backbone of a rational-criminal theory for decades. As people’s opportunities for honest work decline, they make a rational choice to seek dishonest sources of income.The national unemployment rate may be at 9.1 percent, but for some demographic groups in crowded urban cities, the unemployment rate soars as high as 20 percent. Research confirms that lousy job markets, particularly for young or unskilled men, are linked to more burglaries and thefts.These symptoms are due to the increased stress of not being able to support a home after losing employment. In turn, domestic violence may affect future crime rates. Children raised in violent homes are more likely to commit crimes as they get older.The evidence of violent behavior due to failing economies was captured during the London street riots, the street crimes in Philadelphia and other major cities, and certain areas of Brevard.Drive-by shootings are on the rise. Home invasions are more prevalent, and theft has increased significantly the last few years.Without support to obtain basic needs like shelter and food, many resort to crime. Communities are experiencing increases in violence and street robberies. Many people have lost everything as a result of a spiraling economy. Increased crime rates should not have to be the solution for surviving a downturn in the economy.