Gangs And Crime example essay topic

410 words
Sociologists focus on 2 main arguments relating to crime. First, the American Dream is based upon the desperate craving for richness. Being rich and famous may be a fantasy of many but in our society there are people that will go to drastic measures to ensure that it becomes a reality. This is where the economy plays a role in criminal behavior. People tend to want that which they don't have and are on a constant pursuit to attain the American Dream. Poverty is one example in which this desire for money and survival can lead to crime.

For example, a bum on the streets of Brooklyn, living in a cardboard box and currently unemployed may resort to stealing in order to survive. He may steal food for nutrition, clothing for warmth, and money for personal pleasure. The criminal behavior in which he took part in gave him instant pleasure and comfort. In this case the immediate effects outweigh the consequences of the crime. It was the best thing the though he could do to guarantee his survival. The rich on the other hand may not need to resort to these measures to fulfill their so-called " American Dream" because it is a reality.

This shows how the lower-class system may make the poor more prone and vulnerable to crime. It is highly apparent that certain societies and social groups are faced with situations that may prove to be conducive elements towards crime. Gangs and crime are bred in large cities. People who have a tendency to get in trouble may easily be dragged into the world of crime. The second focus of sociology and crime is the lower class value system and its relationship to gangs. Gangs hold their own standards of right vs. wrong.

They believe their acts are normal and usual but others see it as breaking the law. Gangs do indeed engage in illegal activities such as drugs and the selling of stolen goods. Gangs usually arise in poor neighborhoods as a mean to become 'successful' but in turn they commit unthinkable criminal and violent conflicts. The presence of gangs in a society makes it dangerous, uncontrollable, and disorganized. Gangs tend to attract youngsters consistently. Since gangs exist in poor cities, the sociological explanation shows why crime rates differ in various social environments.