Typically you will find higher rates of crime among the poorer areas.  Some people try to blame these rates of crime on poverty.  I, however, think that those with criminal tendencies will just generally be those that are poorer.

What do you think?

It´s a very complicated subject. In this day and age of uncontrollable consumism, it does increase the chances of poor people commiting crimes.

However, a good upbringing, with values and morals and a focus on things more than just material, can provide anyone with more than enough fortitude to resist such urges (or to simply not to have it altogether).

Not to mention the absurd numbers of rich people that also commit crimes. In fact, the numbers of teenagers with money who rob for the thrill or attention is rising fast.

So I would say either bad upbringing or insanity (psycopaths) creates criminal. Poverty is maybe a catalyst.

Read Freakonomics, it explains a very in depth case-study on crime and its causes.

It's all about the ANTICHRIST. Let's face it. Which people are statistically most likely to vote for Obama?

just poor, being in poverty does not make you a criminal

I think is both of them. I would is mainly because of the poverty, the neccesity makes people do thing, but it is often used unjustified.

Btw, it also depends of what crimes are you talking about.

I wouldn't say poverty creates a criminal per se, but I'd have to imagine the likely hood of someone who lives comfortably deciding to steal, or rob etc. is definatly lower. But then again criminals bieng caught and various forms of theft in general (like taking tax dollors and misapropriating them, or justifying puttin 10,000 people out of a job so yu can have a bonus) that are'nt criminised is a whole 'nother story and could shed more light on the issue. DJ

 yes it does. if we're talkin bout murder, then any person in any social class can be a criminal. if we're talkin bout robbery, than i guess you could make a fairly good argument that poverty does have a hand in the criminals mind for doing something like that. but in a case like rape, i would again say that it could be anyone in any class. so it does matter what crimes we are talkin about.

 This.