| In the 1990s the crime rate in the U.S. dropped | | | | Aftercare discovered that over 53% of those |
| dramatically in all significant categories, including violent | | | | individuals who are currently incarcerated had an |
| crime and property crime. Some experts attribute | | | | average income of $10,000 or less[3]. Despite the |
| this drop to the strong economy that existed | | | | controversy that these studies have sparked, there |
| throughout most of the decade, when the per capita | | | | is little question in anyone's mind that a recessed |
| income increased by as much as 30% and the | | | | economy, accompanied by the dramatic rise in |
| unemployment rate dropped by 2%[1]. These | | | | unemployment and drop in per capita income that |
| numbers have pushed many experts in the field to | | | | accompany the recession, will ultimately lead in an |
| speculate on the potential effects that today's | | | | increase in crime rate if proactive measures are not |
| recessed economy will have on the crime rate for | | | | taken. |
| the foreseeable future. | | | | The economic stimulus plan that is going into effect |
| There is no doubt that a strong economy | | | | under President Obama may offer a solution to the |
| encourages a lower crime rate, for many reasons. | | | | threatening increase in crime. Through his |
| While many experts could not directly attribute the | | | | development plan steps will be taken to provide for |
| drop in violent crime to the increase in economic | | | | those living in poverty, including children and senior |
| strength seen in the 1990s, they did attribute it to | | | | citizens, increasing federally funded health care |
| additional state funding for police departments and | | | | coverage and tax cuts and creating a number of |
| crime prevention measures. The drop in property | | | | federally funded jobs that are expected to have a |
| crime, specifically theft, was directly relational to the | | | | dramatic impact on the unemployment rate and begin |
| increase in economic prosperity[2]. The indications of | | | | to repair the damage that the economic recession |
| this study show that when citizens have the | | | | has wrought[4]. |
| resources to provide for their needs they are less | | | | One can only hope that these steps will also serve to |
| likely to turn to crime as a way of providing for | | | | head off any notable increase in crime rate as well. |
| themselves and their families, and those individuals | | | | [1] Levitt, S. (2004). Understanding why crime fell in |
| who are more likely to commit violent crimes are | | | | the 1990s: Four factors that explain the decline and |
| often deterred or caught in the act through increased | | | | six that do not. Journal of Economic Perspectives, |
| intervention by law enforcement made possible by | | | | Vol. 18. |
| sufficient financial resources. | | | | [2] Ibid |
| Studies have also shown that children who grow up | | | | [3] Williams, J. (2007). Poverty and crime. Retrieved 2 |
| in homes whose annual income is at or below | | | | 17/2009 from |
| poverty level are also more likely to engage in | | | | [4]Espo, D. (2009, February 14). Stimulus bill heads to |
| criminal activity as teens and adults, and a recent | | | | President's desk. The Free Lance Star, pp. A1, A9. |
| study done by the Christian Association for Prison | | | | |