Crime & Risk factors

1. Crime & Risk factors By Tamburai Muchinguri

2. Introduction • As they grow up, children are exposed to a number of factors which may increase their risk for problems such as abusing drugs or engaging in delinquent behavior. • These factors may be referred to as risk factors.

3. Definition • Risk factors are any circumstances that may increase children’s likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors. • Risk factors function in a cumulative fashion, that is, the greater the number of risk factors, the greater the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent or other risky behavior. • There is evidence that problem behaviors associated with risk factors tend to cluster.

4. Cont’d • For example, delinquency and violence cluster with other problems, such as drug abuse, teen pregnancy and school misbehavior. • There is however a difference between root cause and risk factors. • A cause-effect mindset makes it too easy to assume that the existence of a risk factor inevitably leads to criminality.

5. Cont’d • For example, poverty is a factor in criminal behavior. However many poor people do not engage in crime. • It therefore does not mean that if you are poor you can commit crimes but chances of you committing crimes are high.

6. Categories of risk behaviors • Risk factors are organized into 5 main categories: • Individual • Family • School • Peer group • community

7. Cont’d • Individual risk factors. • Antisocial behavior and alienation/ general delinquency involvement, drug dealing • Gun possession/illegal gun ownership or carrying • Favorable attitudes towards drug use, early use of alcohol/ drug use • Early onset of aggression/ violence • Victimization and exposure to violence {value judgment is distorted}

8. Cont’d • Early sexual involvement • Mental disorder/mental health problem

9. Family risk factors • Family history of problem behavior/parent criminality • Family management problems/poor parent supervision and or monitoring • Poor family attachment/bonding • Child victimization and maltreatment • Pattern of high family conflict • Family violence

10. Cont’d • Broken home • Sibling anti social behavior • Parental use of physical punishment/harsh and or erratic discipline practices • Low parent education level /literacy • Maternal depression

11. School Risk Factors • Low academic achievement • Negative attitude toward school/low bonding/low school attachment/ low commitment to school. • Truancy/frequent absences • Suspension • Dropping out of school. • Inadequate school climate/poorly organized and functioning schools/negative labeling by teachers • Identified as learning disabled

12. Peer Risk factors • Gang involvement/gang membership • Association with delinquent/ aggressive peers • Peer rejection

13. Community risk factors • Availability /use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in neighborhood • Availability of firearms • High crime neighborhood • Community instability • Low community attachment • Economic deprivation/poverty/residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood • Neighborhood youth in trouble • Feeling unsafe in the neighborhood • Social and physical disorder/disorganized neighborhood