In terms of gender, race and ethnicity, age, and class, identify the categories of people who are more likely to be arrested in the U.S., and discuss some of the sociological explanations for why this is the case

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Males are more likely than females to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced for most crimes. The "chivalry effect" may influence this, as police and judges may perceive women as less dangerous. Men are also socialized to defend themselves and to provide financial support – in order to meet this latter expectation, they may resort to crime.
African Americans and Latinos are more likely than whites to be arrested. Strain theory suggests that this is a matter of class, not race, as blacks are more likely to be poor, though even within lower classes blacks are more likely to be arrested than whites. Differential opportunity suggests that blacks are more likely to be raised by single mothers and thus may receive less supervision, though significant correlation has not been found between growing up in a single-parent household and crime. Labeling theory suggests that Blacks may be automatically labeled deviant, hence their behavior may be viewed as more threatening, police officers may be more likely to arrest Blacks.
Teens and young adults are more likely to be arrested than their population proportion. This may be related to gang activity as well as to the culture of young males who may feel the need to prove their masculinity.
Poor people have a greater likelihood of arrest. The poor are less powerful, and those with less power are more likely to be arrested. The arrest rate of the poor could be due to economic deprivation, but also to crime being more visible and noticed in lower classes.