Factors which cause crime

Question 1

What is the link between age and crime? (3)

Answer 1

• Crime increases throughout adolescence and peaks at 17, where it begins to decrease moving forward.
• Research suggests there are crime prone years.
• The relationship between age and crime is one of the most solid within the field of criminology.

Question 2

What are the peak ages for criminality? (2)

Answer 2

• The peak age for reoffending is 17.
• Male 20-29 year olds make up the highest percentile of prisoners.

Question 3

What contributes to young people committing crime? (3)

Answer 3

• Low income and poor housing.
• Parental conflict, broken families and poor parental supervision (9x more likely to commit crime.)
• Influence of friendships/peer groups.

Question 4

How many crimes/offences were recorded as having been committed by children and young people. (1)

Answer 4

• 43,177

Question 5

How does the media relate to age and crime? (2)

Answer 5

• A study conducted in 2010 shows that exposure to violent videogames can increase aggressive behaviour.
• A later study in 2011 showed that there was a clear statistical link between violent games and violent behaviour, but there was no evidence that violent behaviour was caused by violent games.

Question 6

What is an international example related to age and crime? (2)

Answer 6

• USA: Since 2007, there has been a distinct correlation between violent crime rates and videogame sales.
• Furthermore, the USA is one of the highest revenue generating countries for videogames, while also being the country with the most violent gun deaths.

Question 7

How valid is it to say that videogames contribute to the age and crime arguement? (2)

Answer 7

• Video games have age classifications for regulations.
• Long term effects were not found to be sustained from playing violent videogames.

Question 8

What is the link between poverty and crime? (2)

Answer 8

• Average violent crime rate in the deprived areas of Glasgow are 8 times higher compared to affluent areas.
• In London, three quarters of the boroughs with the highest levels of violent offending are also in the top 10 most deprived.

Question 9

How can poverty lead to crime? (3)

Answer 9

• Leads to economic crimes/unemployment.
• Can link to gangs and gang related criminal activity.
• Lack of educational opportunities to improve conditions.

Question 10

What is the link between Poverty and ACE’s? (1)

Answer 10

• Those who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience ACE’s than those raised in affluent homes.

Question 11

What is an international example that disproves the link between poverty and crime? (1)

Answer 11

• China has high rates of poverty yet low levels of violent crime

Question 12

What is the link between the UK populace and poverty?

Answer 12

• 25% of the population lives in poverty.
• Dundee, Glasgow and London are the areas that experience the highest levels of deprivation.