Economic and social factors connection in determination of the delinquent behavior [615970]

Economic and social factors connection in determination of the delinquent behavior
Phd. Gabriel Pricină
University of Craiova
Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
Abstract
The crimes committed in modern societies are in many cases justified by the low standard of
living, economic problems of families or fear of poverty. This attitude, reductionist does not provide a
sufficient explanation of criminal activities. There are a number of factors acting together and influence
the delinquent acts. Their nature is not only economic, but also of individual nature, family, social,
educational, etc. Amid the economic downturn there is a risk that accelerates the actions of others factors.
Thus, the efforts to predict the evolution of the crime phenomenon and for constructing maps of this
phenomenon are subordinated to the need for an analysis of the correlations between all factors
contributors
Keywords: prison, crime, poverty, rehabilitation, subculture.
Explanation of deviant behaviors
Scientific approaches for explaining the behaviors are focused on identifying the causal factors.
The complete information regarding the extent and evolution of crime in a society provides statistical
distribution of officially registered cases. What the reasons may be obtained by comparing the data to
other characteristics of those who committed various crimes. Statistical distributions can result eloquent
due to such regularities discovered by the statistical analysis (Gibbons, 2000, p 503). Also, there might be
some criminal profiles based on the link between deeds and some data related to sex, residence, age,
education level, etc.
Enrolling in a single methodological approach is problematic due to uneven manifestations of the
phenomenon in the population. Thus, amid the social inequalities and a high level of poverty we see an
increase in economic crimes, but not all poor people commit crimes. For example, if gender inequalities
and a high level of porn will find a connection with rape, gender discrimination and a high consumption
of pornography among men (Gibbons, 2000, p 503). The theoretical explanation is limited to cases
recorded statistically, but cannot be applied to a whole social groups are at such risk. Thus, possible

estimates refer only to a part of the population that is affected by phenomena that weaken the importance
of social norms accepted by most people. From this point of view, most theories are limited scientifically
determine when an individual decides or accepts involvement in criminal activities.
This difficulty results from the multidimensional nature of deviance. In research conducted over
time were revealed not only the economic factors underlying certain crimes, but also factors related to the
specific subculture or social influences due to general dissatisfaction with a particular state of affairs.
Moreover, the explanation of juvenile witness and gradation according to the age of those involved: there
are theories explaining youth delinquency and theories explaining in a manner appropriate to the behavior
of people in older age groups. Statistical distributions indicate not only a particular type of crime by age,
but bring attention to several aspects of the presence or absence of moral principles or decrease
confidence in their usefulness.
In correlation with the cultural background of the juvenile social factors are associated with the
economic ones. Thus, "the criminal or the delinquent subcultures indicates some systems of norms, values
or interests that support criminal or delinquent behavior" (Short, 2000, p 509). Analyzing the theories that
include subculture as the explanation of delinquency, Short (2000, p 514) estimated reached two
conclusions: on the one hand it is a great variety of these adaptive phenomena, which implies the
existence of an effort to compensate for social and economic inequalities, and on the other hand these
phenomena are dynamic. These findings illustrate the difficulty of developing social reintegration
programs and initiate long term measures to reduce delinquency based on a value system different from
the one that generated the offending behavior.
Study design1
The functioning of penitentiary institutions is an ongoing concern in democratic societies. Prison
associated functions have undergone many changes over different historical epochs. Thus, over time we
see an evolution from the punitive function to prison education function.
Prison efforts made for the education of prisoners are minimized by the low number of social
opportunities offered to release. In most cases the value system transmitted through educational programs
and qualifications acquired during detention are useless if a hostile social environment affected by the
economic crisis repeatedly and greatly limited the possibilities of reconstructing individual life
trajectories. There are frequent cases in which relapse is explained by the lack of opportunities after the
first sentence and the adoption of strategies that favor delinquent life behavior. References to economic
status often occur in prisoners justifications. From this perspective we try to reveal the influence that
economic factors have on the criminal behaviors of participants in the study.
1 Study conducted in partnership between the University of Craiova and National Administration of Penitentiaries

The sample studied included 340 people from a total of about 1,100 inmates, representing
approximately 30.9% of the total. The method was a survey of opinion, and the technique used was a
questionnaire that included 65 questions with predefined and free answers designed to meet each
objective.
Age structure of respondents was influenced by the penitentiary institution destinated to persons
who have committed serious offenses, are repeat offenders and major punishment. The sample represents
the existing prison population structure in 2012 in Penitentiary of Craiova so that the structure by age
groups was influenced by the proportion of the age groups had a total population; the first priority in the
selection of participants was the committed acts.
The influence of economic factors on the delinquent behaviors
The group of participants in the study is characterized in terms of the economic situation by the
following characteristics: 54.7% had a personal house at the time of arrest, 22.9% had no income at the
time of arrest, 17.4% had incomes below 650 RON (minimum wage in Romania during the investigation
period, about 150 Euros), 16.8% had incomes between 651-1000 RON, 15.6% had incomes between
1001-1500 RON, 7.6% had income between 1501 -2000 RON and 16.2% said higher revenues 2,000
RON. A percentage of 3.5% did not report revenues.
A percentage of 71.8% believed that the revenues placed them among middle-income people,
17.1% considered themselves poor and 8.8% said they were rich. A percentage of 1.2% could not
appreciate the social position, and 1.2% did not answer this question.
Of the 340 respondents 50.0% had a job at the time of arrest, in most fields of economic sectors
that require low levels of skill, such as construction, industrial workers, and farmers. A percentage of
10.5% worked in areas that require successful completion of higher education study or were entrepreneurs
at the time of arrest. The seniority of the respondents had less than 5 years 19.4%, 10.0% worked 6-10
years, 17.4% over 10 years. Those who had no work experience represented 29.4% and 23.8% have not
said the length of service. Note that only 8.8% of respondents had loans from banks or other credit
institutions at the time of arrest.
The facts committed results from entourage (friends who have committed criminal acts), attitude
to work and level of education. The facts committed indicate a relationship with the entourage. For
example, the facts of those attending an entourage with criminal records are robberies (a rate of 62.3% of
those who committed robberies had friends with a criminal record), theft, tax evasion, fraud (62.3% had
friends with criminal records) and rape (81.0% of respondents had friends with criminal record). The
reasons mentioned by the respondents do not refers in a significantly way at the economic causes. Only a

percentage of 29.0% of respondents who committed theft, tax fraud or deception invoked poverty as the
reasons for the crimes committed. The most common responses related to the entourage. The most
numerous respondents were working as laborers; most of them were among those with low incomes,
especially with no income or income less than 650 RON. This structure brings out that in addition to the
views expressed, the economic part of the causes of criminal behavior.
Analyzing the survey data opinions in relation to possible determinants there is a relationship
between those who committed economic offences and economic factors that combine those with a certain
characteristic attitude to a subcultures value system.
For those who committed robberies creates four factors: the declared religiosity, trust in
institutions, work experience and property. From the analysis of these factors we see a pattern of thinking
that belief in divinity, cumulated with the low confidence in society, low job experience and material
possessions leads to a decision to commit such an offence. Along with these, there are other factors: areas
of residence, marital status, trust in friendship concluded in prisons etc. Thus we see that the background
justifications advanced by respondents who mentioned entourage as the main cause of the offenses, there
is an accumulation of predisposing factors that are not fully acknowledge. Social groups from which they
come are characterized by a value system based on trust in religion and divinity protection, low trust in
state institutions, little experience in labor and material possessions reduced.
For those who have committed theft, tax fraud or deceit, the factors that largely explain the
variation shall be reduced to three factors: trust in public institutions, social position (determined by
revenue, seniority and level of education) and work experience. It is noted that we can statistically
determine the influence of economic factors on respondents; the explanation becomes more relevant in
the explanation of the offenses in relation to motivation.
CONCLUSIONS
Statistical analysis of the data collected through the opinion survey conducted among a group of
prisoners reveals the multidimensional nature of the factors that determine the behavior of the offender.
Also, at least in the case of respondents in this study, we find that the two types of offenses involving
obtaining material goods through illegal methods (robbery and theft) there is an economic determinant.
However, the data collected provides a picture of a fabric that acts in an aggregate form to determine the
illegal behavior.
The explanatory theories must include two substantial aspects of crime (Gibbons, 2000, p 503
apud. Cressey, 1951): the first refers to distribution the crime in time and space, and the second refers to
the process or processes that determine each person commit criminal acts. Through this study we reached

the second aspect, that of the process that determines, by combining several factors to criminal behavior.
But even in the case of the causal behavior we cannot rely on a reductionist approach. In both
cases the above analysis, thefts and burglaries occur networking with the low confidence in public
institutions and the lack of occupation in most cases. Poor economic condition is not sufficient for the
adoption of the delinquent behavior. Thus, amid the economic dissatisfaction and desire for material,
develop a system of value judgments justifying delinquent acts. Considering the fact that some
respondents had a certain social position and an honorable income, they adopted such a value system,
which tends to flatten the inclinations of some people, regardless of social position or economic level.
When trying to explain the youth involvement in drug use in terms of a subculture norms and values
systems, Short (2000, p 510) explains how young people develop "a symbiotic relationship with their
customers (coming from upper or middle classes) who share their values by approving the drug use,
taking part in the development of distribution networks as consumers. "The ultimate goal of these
activities is the desire to "be somebody" (Short, 2000, p 510) by buying "jewelry, clothing and drugs"
which means "wealth, power and respect." Also, Short noted that the majority of young people believe
that the involvement in drug trafficking will allow the development of a "legitimate business." By
analogy, the criminal behavior of those interviewed is defined by the desire to acquire goods that
symbolize a certain social status, always higher than that held at the time. The desire to acquire "symbols
of success" to some extent eliminate economic disparities and creates the same pattern of behavior, even
those with poor living standards are more likely to embrace this culture. Effectiveness of reintegration
programs assumes an effort to change this system value given that it is found. We consider that the
distance between individual desires and possibilities of a particular time of life approaching the
delinquent sub-cultural trends.
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