Crime & Risk factors By Tamburai Muchinguri

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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}

Cont’d  Early sexual involvement  Mental disorder/mental health problem

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

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

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

Peer Risk factors  Gang involvement/gang membership  Association with delinquent/ aggressive peers  Peer rejection

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