Housing and Crime Inequalities

Housing Although many Americans live in high quality inner city housing or edge of city suburbs, there are also millions of Americans who live in run-down inner city areas or ghettos. Features of middle class edge of city suburbs high quality housing areas include: a crime-free neighbourhood, parks and open spaces and good quality schools. Sometimes these areas when they are mainly populated by white people are called ‘vanilla suburbs’ or ‘ebony suburbs’ for middle class Black suburbs. People living in ghetto housing experience a life a world away from those in middle class suburbs. Ghetto housing areas are affected by crime, gangs, poor schools and a lack of shops and facilities.

Housing Reason for US housing inequalities Housing quality is linked to income. In general, the higher the income the better the housing. Income is linked to education. Again, in general, the better the educational attainment the better the income. Educational success depends on a number of factors but the schools with the best educational facilities and exam success tend to be in the wealthiest neighbourhoods. As a greater percentage of people from minority groups are born in poorer areas, they are more likely to remain poor in adult life. There is a ‘cycle of poverty’ which makes it very hard for poorer Americans, often minorities, to improve themselves. Poor areas – Compton in Los Angeles, California, Harlem in New York City, New York.

Crime and Justice If a person is in the US is poor and especially if black , they are, proportionately, more likely to: be a victim of a crime including murder, robbery or theft commit crime be arrested for a crime be found guilty of a crime be punished more severely for committing a crime including being sentenced to death or life imprisonment 40% of prison inmates in the USA are black…21% are Hispanic.

As of Jan 2017 there were 2.3 million people incarcerated in the USA – more than any other nation in the world per capita. 666 prison inmates per 100,000

There is clear evidence of disparity in the prison population when ethnic origin is considered. In 2010, Blacks made up roughly 16% of the population but 40% of the prison population.

African Americans are more likely to end up facing the death penalty than any other race. Why do many ethnic minority citizens – and in particular African Americans – feel discriminated against within the criminal justice system? Watch the documentary: Life and Death Row – Punishment about the death penalty in the USA.

With reference to a world power you have studied: Analyse the effects of a socio-economic issue on its people. (12) Pick 3 or 4 socio-economic issues: 1 paragraph for each In each paragraph: Describe socio-economic issue and who it most impacts Talk about the impact the issue has had on the group(s) Briefly explain the links between this issue and other socio-economic issues (ie the link between poverty and poor education)