There are many different factors that push people to break the law. It can be interesting to examine their circumstances and consider how these things may influence their decisions. For instance, some researchers have found that there is a link between poverty rates and crime rates.
This certainly doesn’t mean that a low economic status is the only predictor of crime. Some crimes are almost exclusively carried out by relatively wealthy individuals, such as white-collar crime. But let’s look at two reasons why poverty may be a contributing factor.
Extreme financial stress
First and foremost, the extreme stress of poverty could sometimes cause someone to commit a crime. For example, imagine that someone isn’t able to make ends meet and is worried that they and their family will be kicked out of their home through foreclosure or because they can’t pay the rent. They certainly don’t want to start selling illegal drugs, but they may have limited options to make money and feel like they have to do whatever they can to put their family first.
Substance abuse
This stress can also lead to substance abuse. Someone who is using illegal drugs or drinking excessively may have impaired judgment, which could make it more likely that they break the law.
Criminal defense options
In other words, it’s not that poverty creates criminal action, but it can make it more likely simply because of the difficult financial circumstances. Someone may be more likely to take a risk if they feel like they don’t have as much to lose. When this leads to serious criminal charges, however, they still need to know about all of the defense options they have at their disposal—with a focus on trying to create a positive future.