Factors Associate with Crime between Hispanics and Black

Traditionally, drug-related crimes are considered to be particularly serious and accompanied by a higher degree of social danger. The reason is the high risk of the commitment of crimes by drug users. It should be said that one of the main cause of the drug-related crimes is the desire of offenders to get money for drugs. For instance, in 2002 about a quarter of convicted property and drug offenders had committed their crimes exactly for this purpose, compared to 5% of violent and public order offenders (Kautt and Spohn, 2002). At the same time, drug use, being a significant factor contributing to growing crime rates, is often attributed to specific racial groups. What is meant here is the fact that, today, the modern society tends to view certain racial groups as particularly susceptible to drug use and crimes. Among these racial groups, African Americans are top ranked, while the growth of drug use and crimes among Hispanics is considered to be one of the dominant trends of 1990s and present epoch (Kautt and Spohn, 2002).

It should be pointed out that the mid-1990s are characterized by the peak of drug-related crimes. However, it is also necessary to underline that drugs often provokes the most serious crimes because people who need drugs are ready to commit any crime in order to get some drugs and the more addictive a person is the more dangerous for the society he/she is and the more readily he/she commits crimes and, finally, the more frequent he/she does it. The reason why people commit drug-related crimes is quite obvious. Basically, drugs make produce a very significant impact on individuals. As a result drug addicts are addicted both physically and psychologically and they actually cannot live without drugs, or at least they believe so.

Furthermore, it is quite noteworthy that it is possible to speak about certain racial differentiation of drug-related crimes since representatives of certain racial groups are more predisposed to commitment such crimes than others. At the same time it is obvious that drug-related crimes are socio-economic by nature and they are often result from low social position, level of income, and other factors.

However, the general trend among the criminals is quite disturbing since the number of cases involving young people keeps growing, notably the number of cases involving white youth increased 43%, between 1989 and 1998, while cases involving black youth increased 44%, and those involving youth of other races increased 54% (Kautt and Spohn, 2002).

Obviously such a growth that has occurred within a decade is quite disturbing, especially if one takes into account the age of offenders.

Actually these are youth offenders that means that potentially they may be socially dangerous and need to be properly treated and got used to a normal social life. Nonetheless this is quite a complicated process, while such a trend of growth of the number of drug-related crimes can have disastrous consequences because in quite a short-term they will prevail over other types of crime.

The drug use increases the risk and the possibility of commitment of a crime or else it may result in anti-social behavior that is not always criminal by its nature.

Speaking about the basic trends and main statistical data concerning arrests of representatives of different races in the result of crimes committed under the influence of drugs, it is necessary to refer to some statistics. For instance, it is a well-known fact that drug abuse violation arrest rates were practically equal for white juveniles and black juveniles in 1980s. However, till 2003, the situation has changed significantly. On analyzing statistical data, it is possible to estimate that, according to the US Department of Justice statistics, since 1980, drug abuse violation arrest rates for white juveniles generally declined through 1991 while the black rate soared. Between 1980 and the peak year 1995, the black arrest rate for drug abuse violations increased nearly 350%. The declining rate in the white arrest rate turned around in the early 1990s, but not until 1994 did the rate surpass its 1980 level. By 2004, the white rate was 40% above its 1980 level. As for the Hispanic population, the drug abuse violation arrest rates have trends similar to African-Americans and marked a considerable 210% growth within the last couple of decades (Beckett, 2004).

As for the black rates, the data of the US Department of Justice statistics reveal quite contrary processes in late 1990s early 2000. To put it more precisely, despite the substantial decline between 1995 and 2002 for black juveniles, which constituted about 45%, the black rate was nearly twice the white rate in 2003 (Beckett, 2004). At the same time, the rate of drug-related crimes committed by Hispanics steadily tends to grow.

Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that the drug use is an important factor contributing to the commitment of crimes. Today, African Americans and Hispanics are considered to be the major racial groups where drug use and drug-related crimes are particularly widely spread.

It should be pointed out that the mid-1990s are characterized by the peak of drug-related crimes. However, it is also necessary to underline that drugs often provokes the most serious crimes because people who need drugs are ready to commit any crime in order to get some drugs and the more addictive a person is the more dangerous for the society he/she is and the more readily he/she commits crimes and, finally, the more frequent he/she does it. The reason why people commit drug-related crimes is quite obvious. Basically, drugs make produce a very significant impact on individuals. As a result drug addicts are addicted both physically and psychologically and they actually cannot live without drugs, or at least they believe so.

Furthermore, it is quite noteworthy that it is possible to speak about certain racial differentiation of drug-related crimes since representatives of certain racial groups are more predisposed to commitment such crimes than others. At the same time it is obvious that drug-related crimes are socio-economic by nature and they are often result from low social position, level of income, and other factors.

However, the general trend among the criminals is quite disturbing since the number of cases involving young people keeps growing, notably the number of cases involving white youth increased 43%, between 1989 and 1998, while cases involving black youth increased 44%, and those involving youth of other races increased 54% (Kautt and Spohn, 2002).

Obviously such a growth that has occurred within a decade is quite disturbing, especially if one takes into account the age of offenders.

Actually these are youth offenders that means that potentially they may be socially dangerous and need to be properly treated and got used to a normal social life. Nonetheless this is quite a complicated process, while such a trend of growth of the number of drug-related crimes can have disastrous consequences because in quite a short-term they will prevail over other types of crime.

The drug use increases the risk and the possibility of commitment of a crime or else it may result in anti-social behavior that is not always criminal by its nature.

Speaking about the basic trends and main statistical data concerning arrests of representatives of different races in the result of crimes committed under the influence of drugs, it is necessary to refer to some statistics. For instance, it is a well-known fact that drug abuse violation arrest rates were practically equal for white juveniles and black juveniles in 1980s. However, till 2003, the situation has changed significantly. On analyzing statistical data, it is possible to estimate that, according to the US Department of Justice statistics, since 1980, drug abuse violation arrest rates for white juveniles generally declined through 1991 while the black rate soared. Between 1980 and the peak year 1995, the black arrest rate for drug abuse violations increased nearly 350%. The declining rate in the white arrest rate turned around in the early 1990s, but not until 1994 did the rate surpass its 1980 level. By 2004, the white rate was 40% above its 1980 level. As for the Hispanic population, the drug abuse violation arrest rates have trends similar to African-Americans and marked a considerable 210% growth within the last couple of decades (Beckett, 2004).

As for the black rates, the data of the US Department of Justice statistics reveal quite contrary processes in late 1990s early 2000. To put it more precisely, despite the substantial decline between 1995 and 2002 for black juveniles, which constituted about 45%, the black rate was nearly twice the white rate in 2003 (Beckett, 2004).  At the same time, the rate of drug-related crimes committed by Hispanics steadily tends to grow.

Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that the drug use is an important factor contributing to the commitment of crimes. Today, African Americans and Hispanics are considered to be the major racial groups where drug use and drug-related crimes are particularly widely spread.



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