Economic and Social Effects of Crime

The social effects of crime vary among the various segments of the general population. Statistics show that men are far more likely to be victims of crime than women. Studies show that women, however, fear crime far more than men. Other patterns reveal that the elderly fear crime more than younger adults, and children fear crime more than adults.

While women have less chance of being a victim, the crimes they suffer are more violent including rape and domestic abuse. Another factor is that women, the elderly, and the very young are physically weaker than the common offender making them feel more susceptible to crime.

Regarding factors of race and ethnicity (people who share a common culture), minorities, particularly black Americans, fear crime far more than whites. Studies show blacks are much more likely to be a victim or witness a crime. An exception to this rule is that whites commonly fear young black males. Based on these two patterns, it is evident that a strong racial distrust is another social consequence of crime in the United States. Race and ethnicity also strongly influence people's perception of crime in particular areas, which in turn influences their daily behavior patterns.