Introduction
High rates of crimes and violent activities are becoming a dire threat to the population worldwide. With rapid population growth and challenging economic times in society, criminologists have difficulty controlling crimes leading to extensive studies on the significant causes of crimes. Crime causative factors include social seclusion, economic marginalization, individual rationality, mental wellness, social classes, and economic sustainability. The link between social exclusion, economic marginalization, and crime is a standard theory worldwide. In England, the government has enacted various methods and acts of preventing crime, including education, employment opportunities, and community development. However, the government can solve crimes more successfully if they focus more on factors underlying crimes rather than ways of preventing crimes. This paper explores the role of socio-economic marginalization in crime and the effects of criminal activities on allied populations and the nation.
Socio-Economic Order and Marginalization
Social exclusion is an intertwined and overlapping term that describes the social complexities of particular individuals or populations. Alienation takes many forms, such as gender discrimination, age, race, ethnic background, and segregation of individuals with mental or physical disabilities (Fletcher and Flint, 2018). Social exclusion denies or reduces the affected individuals’ chances of getting essential services such as education, medical assistance, and societal meetings. In some instances, the exclusion also limits access to employment and trading in particular markets. Economic marginalization is almost similar to social exclusion in terms of limited opportunities in the labor market, financial assistance from the public and private sectors, and limited economic resources to afford essential services (Walters and Jepson, 2019). Marginalized groups also have a less economic contribution to the State and are usually excluded socially due to social classes. The group includes the unemployed and people with low income-living in poor neighborhoods.
The number of people below the average income has led to more poverty and poor neighborhoods leading to higher criminal activities. In England and Wales, almost half of the population live in rented homes and are either low-income earners or unemployed (Ellis, 2019). Most minority ethnic groups face social exclusion and marginalization than majority ethnic groups. Minorities live in the poorest neighborhoods, have fewer employment opportunities, poor housing, health, sanitation, and the most crime rates (Triplett, 2018). Ecological studies in Wales and England show that marginalized communities closer to urban centers and industrial districts Record the highest number of criminal activities (Guldåker et al., 2021). According to the report, delinquency and criminal activities have increased significantly since 2014. In 2018, there was a distinct increase in homicide cases, where most occurred in poor urban neighborhoods and the surrounding areas (Elkin, 2019). English law focuses more on crimes committed by the poor and ignores significant crimes from the rich and middle class leading to more crimes because of injustice.
Socio-Economic Theories of Crime
Spatial Distribution of Resources
Economic theories of crime mainly focus on the connection between crimes, unemployment, poverty, and limited access to financial resources. Walters and Jepson (2019) state that poverty, unemployment, and social seclusion are the most causative factors of crime. High unemployment rates and inadequate access to financial resources push people into criminal activities for sustenance. The most affected population includes people with high illiteracy levels, ex-convicts, and women (Webster and Qasim, 2018). Ex-convicts usually face stigmatization and seclusion in society. Prisoners who serve long sentences undergo severe stigmatization and seclusion even after finishing their terms. The seclusion includes minor association with others, inadequate employment opportunities, and limited access to fundamental rights. Extreme seclusion leads to more criminal activities because of low self-esteem, societal indifferences, and financial sustenance. Most ex-prisoners face financial challenges because they have fewer chances for employment due to a lack of essential standards and qualifications. If employment institutions.
Spatial Disadvantage
The spatial disadvantage is another cause of crime in socioeconomically marginalized communities. The spatial disadvantages include extreme conditions of poverty, unemployment, and crimes in neighboring communities, which pose a threat to survival (Walters and Jepson, 2019). The communities tend to compete against each other in local criminal activities, which increases crime rates. Spatial disparities occur mainly in ethnic or radicalized groups due to social segregation and the struggle for limited resources. Allied groups form gangs to protect and acquire basic needs through force, leading to crimes and violence.
Socio-Economic Disadvantage
Social seclusion affects the communities’ ecological dynamics, such as financial disadvantage, movement from place to place, and racial heterogeneity, causing social disorganization. The disorganization facilitates crime because of inadequate guardianship and a lower sense of social responsibility in the community. Over the past years, more women have been involved in criminal activities due to poverty and economic strain, making it impossible to care for families. In Samantha and John-Michael’s (2020) article, evidence shows that women are more involved in economic crimes because of illiteracy, fewer employment opportunities, and low wages that are not economically sustainable. High rates of spouse separation and domestic violence in socially secluded areas have led women to single parenthood, increasing financial needs and hardships (Samantha and John-Michael, 2020). A survey among women prisoners indicated that most female criminals come from low-class societies in socially secluded groups such as immigrants and disadvantaged groups (Elkin, 2019). Poverty leads to crimes that may start with minor operations within the community to major offenses such as forced homicide and murder.
Sociocultural Theories
Social Structure Disorder
Social order is a significant element in the making of a civil community. The most common argument on how crime relates to social order is Wilson and Kelling’s broken window theory (Estrada et al., 2018). According to the theory, communities with civil disorders and anti-social tendencies are more inclined to crime than civil and orderly communities. Independent and socially connected citizens also create stable communities’, establish economic stability, and enhance growth and development in a given region, preventing crime for financial gains (Estrada et al., 2018). Marginalized groups have more crime prevalence because of the social disorder and lack of social liability within the community. Individuals look up to societal rules and regulations to provide social responsibility guidelines and realize shared goals (Goddard and Myers, 2017). In this regard, soil seclusion disconnects and denies the communities from institutional ties of social control facilitating crime due to inadequate guardianship. Marginalized communities tend to form their code of conduct, which is more directed toward survival than social control, leading to increased criminal activities.
Collective Efficacy
Marginalized groups have a high affinity for collective efficacy, influencing most crimes against the law. Collective efficacy refers to unit cohesion among members of a particular group that creates a sense of allegiance and togetherness. Community members usually stand for each other and intervene against harassment or violence regardless of right or wrong. The unity identifies them as members of a particular group and gives a sense of identity and allegiance. This loyalty leads to more crimes to prove their existence and defend an identity that sets them apart. Alternatively, cohesion leads to more crimes since individuals have a communal backup and can get away with most crimes (Estrada et al., 2018). Young people are the most vulnerable to criminal activities to seek approval and acceptance in particular groups (Haylock et al., 2020). At the same time, the youth spend more time in leisure activities and socializing in the neighborhood leading to the formation of criminal groups for protection and recognition in the community.
Consequently, marginalized groups are always in constant awareness of law enforcement officials. The majority of allied populations tend to deal in illegal businesses such as drug peddling or supply of illegal weaponry. The illegal acts make them aggressive toward law enforcement, which hinders the government from stopping and controlling crime. Marginalization promotes ignorance regarding social conduct, education, and law enforcement policies (Fletcher and Flint, 2018). Allied groups have less regard for law and order since they lack adequate knowledge of policies and societal rules.
Social ties to institutions and responsible guardianship play an essential role in social control. Illegal dealings also make it more accessible to weapons, such as illegal firearms that cause violent acts and necessitate criminal activities. Socially secluded populations tend to occupy a large population per unit area due to limited living spaces and rapid population growth. The extensive density makes it difficult for law enforcers to affect social control due to the difficulty in surveillance (Haylock et al., 2020). Large populations also encourage anonymity in criminal activities because residents and law enforcers cannot identify people quickly.
Substance Abuse and Disorders
Drug abuse and social disorders contribute significantly to crime in socially secluded areas directly or indirectly. Alienated communities report a high number of drug and substance abuse. For most youth in low-class marginalized communities, drug and substance abuse is a leisure and recreational activity. The frequent use of drugs leads to addiction and more need for financial resources to obtain the drugs. Boyd et al. (2018) state that minor activities such as alcohol abuse can escalate to crimes because they can trigger criminal activities. Individuals using expensive drugs have a higher risk of engaging in crime to acquire the drugs or money (Cunneen, 2020). Apart from violent crimes to obtain resources, the youth engage in drug peddling, a criminal offense in England and Wales.
Consequently, the need for drugs leads individuals to become drug distributors’ intermediaries for tycoons involved in illegal trade. Influential people in the illegal trade industry take advantage of the youth’s addiction vulnerability and need poverty to enhance crimes within and outside the community (Merel and Maartje, 2020). Apart from selling drugs, the youth are also prone to committing outside crimes against their wealthy employers, such as murder and destruction of property to earn a living. However, the legislative system focuses more on marginalized communities when high-class societies the advantage of their lack and inadequacy to obtain financial needs. Cunneen (2020) also associates the use of strong substances as a significant contributor to crime due to high toxicity levels. Some individuals become more active, paranoid, or destructive during intoxication leading to crime and violent acts.
Effects of Crimes on the Local Community and Government
An increase in criminal activities affects the nation’s economy because they incur extra costs during investigation and imprisonment. Serious offenses take time to investigate and require more financial resources to complete a case. In England, the average cost of investigating a severe criminal activity range from € 550 to €600 (Heeks, 2018), leading to economic inflation. Crimes in socially excluded populations expose marginalized groups to a vicious circle of poverty, community disintegration, and social instability. For instance, children with criminal parents are more susceptible to delinquency through imitation and character development (Cunneen, 2020). Consequently, convicting parents and elders of crime increases children’s chances of criminal activities due to a lack of moral guidance. Ethical and societal degradation leads to more crimes, high illiteracy rates, and poor health and general wellbeing. The best way for the government to reduce crime will involve more social inclusion and equal distribution of economic resources, employment opportunities, and social amenities.
Conclusion
Criminal activities are prominent in socially secluded and economically marginalized areas due to factors that limit access to essential services and resources. Economic factors that influence crime include the spatial distribution of resources and spatial advantage in marginal areas. Inadequate employment opportunities and poverty lead to motivation for crimes to gain resources and basic needs. Marginalized groups commit crimes to sustain their families and have a livelihood. Social exclusion factors include a high drug and substance abuse risk influencing crimes. Structural disorder and collective efficacy are also social factors that play a significant role in crimes due to a lack of social control and allegiance to the community. Investigating crimes is costly, and increasing criminal activity may lead to economic inflation. Consequently, crimes cause illiteracy, poverty, and a cycle of criminal activities in a particular place, limiting growth and development. Creating more employment opportunities can reduce criminal activities in marginalized communities because they will have an income and stay occupied at work. Finally, practicing social inclusion and a fair distribution of resources to all communities can help prevent crime and its associated effects.
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