Violent Crime and Social Disadvantage: A Criminological Enigma

Abstract

Individuals' involvement in crimes on the basis of their being socially disadvantaged remains a puzzle in criminological literature. Many scholars including some senior sociologists often argue that those without means of . social and economic survival are the leading perpetrators of crimes in society. On this premise, it was further stressed that, criminologists should not bother searching elsewhere for crime causation. Clear as the _argument appears, rest the puzzle which highlights the fact that there are many social disadvantaged that are not into crime, just as there are individuals from affluent backgrounds that are into crime. Socio-economic conditions of the social ·disadvantage which make crime attractive to them are neglected. What makes social disadvantage settings criminogenic and affluent. settings less?. Facts in criminological literature do not see crime as a sole· function. of poverty rather as a funct􀀠on of myriad of factors. This · paper sets to highlight this enigma and why criminologists are· not ·in a hurry to subscribe to the view that the relationship between social disadvantage and crime is glaring to establish crime causation outside any direction.