Consider why men commit more violent crimes, why African Americans are disproportionately arrested in the United States, and why lower-class neighborhoods are more likely to be afflicted by crime. What explanations for these situations do you find to be the most valid? Do these explanations relate to and influence each other?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Official crime data indicates minority group members are involved in a disproportionate share of criminal activity. UCR arrest data consistently shows that males have much higher crime rate and commit more serious crimes than females. Crime rates are also highest in deprived, inner-city areas, and the level of poverty and social disorganization in an area can predict its crime rate. Reasons that men might commit more crimes than women include men are stronger and more aggressive, women are socialized to be less aggressive and have better verbal skills, and men have the personal freedom to commit crime. Reasons for the disproportionate number of African Americans being arrested can be explained by institutional racism. Reasons lower-class neighborhoods are more likely to be afflicted by crime include a lack of opportunities, disrupted family lives, socially disorganized neighborhoods, relative deprivation, and the broken window hypothesis. Students should consider intersections like the fact that minority groups tend to live in lower-class neighborhoods and that African American men seem to account for a majority of crime.