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