Over the past two decades’ crime rates in Detroit, Michigan have fluctuated but continues to hold the highest rate of homicides for a major city in the entire country. Many citizens of Detroit find it difficult to meet their own basic needs to survive. The education system has steadily failed many of the youth, and the city has just emerged from bankruptcy. With it’s crime linked to economic decline, and substantial poverty, Detroit’s state of crime may be best explained using the theory of Critical Criminology. Therefore, it is important to have an understanding of Critical Criminology and review its characteristics.
The Critical Criminology theory is a way of looking at crime through the structure and the overall society, …show more content…
2014). Many local activists responded in outrage, calling for payment plans to be implemented, as well as greater assistance. The United Nations eventually stepped in declaring it a violation of human rights to take away the source of clean water for so many. This is representative of the38 percent of “Detroitians” who currently live in poverty and unable to afford even the basics (Abbey-Lambertz, K. 2014). In addition to the poverty crisis in Detroit, there is also the perils of a crumbling education system. Local organization “Real Life. My Music.” released a report revealing that on a recent national test Detroit students came in last (Detroit Public School Statistics, 2011). The graduation rate for high school students in the city was also one of the poorest in the …show more content…
As explained in the critical criminology theory, where there is a struggle for the community in particular equality and general social welfare there is heightened crime. In particular, for the youth who make up a third of those in poverty, there is no outlet, and their education is in a crisis. There has been an implementation of policies to help improve the lives of youth with programs, and intervention tactics. However, the youth still make up the main group responsible for the violence (Abbey-Lambertz, K.