Crime & Risk factors
By Tamburai
Muchinguri
Introduction
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Risk factors are organized into 5 main
categories:
Individual
Family
School
Peer group
community
Cont’d
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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
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Early sexual involvement
Mental disorder/mental health problem
Family risk factors
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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
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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
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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
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Gang involvement/gang membership
Association with delinquent/ aggressive
peers
Peer rejection
Community risk factors
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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