540275584_Age_vs_Crime - What_crimes_are_most_common_at_certain_ages

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Nov 24, 2024

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1 Age-Crime Patterns at Different Stages Student’s Name Department, University Course Professor Name Date

2 Abstract Considering that distinct age sets or groups connect with varying degrees and kinds of criminal conduct, age is essential in gaining proper knowledge of criminal tendencies. The subject of this paper investigates the correlation between age and criminal behavior, concentrating on the types of offences that remain most frequently committed by people at various ages and phases of their respective lives. The paper sheds a spotlight on the changing dynamics of criminal-based behavior across an individual’s life by studying empirical investigations and statistical information. Establishing successful crime avoidance and intervention measures could be aided by an improved comprehension of these age-related patterns of criminal behavior. After that, this paper delves into several hypotheses/theories floated to shed light on the age-crime curves. These theories include biological, sociological, and psychological explanations. Within the paper’s final part, an examination gets taken of the distinct sorts of criminal activity with the most significant incidence at various ages and consequences. Keywords: Criminal, Theories, Incidence, Crime Curves, and Sociological.

3 Age-Crime Patterns at Different Stages Introduction Criminal activity is a complex phenomenon that several elements, such as socioeconomic situations, educational attainment, and human traits, can explain. One such element scientifically and repeatedly connected to criminal behavior is the individual’s age. According to the research findings, individuals of various ages have specific behaviors when it comes to criminal conduct. This paper aims to pinpoint the types of crimes that have become most prevalent at particular ages, revealing light on the fundamental causes and consequences of crime avoidance and intervention (Bobbio et al., 2020). An array of psychological, socioeconomic, and financial variables shapes the correlation between the age of an individual and criminal behavior, highlighting the need for age-specific programs and regulations to rehabilitate offenders. A correlation between age and criminal behavior has been evident for a long time. As a rule, crime rates reach their zenith during the teenage years, gradually decreasing across adulthood. The trend can get located in a wide range of geographical locations and cultural contexts, and it remains repeatedly confirmed by research. One of the most significant and reliable discoveries in the field of criminology involves the ag-crime curves (Bobbio et al., 2020). It gets demonstrated that this curve serves as the case for both offences of assault and crimes against property, and it turns out that it remains constant across a wide range of demographic categories. Theories Related to the Age-Crime Curve Age-crime curves represent a broad topic in society that could get explained by well- articulated theories. Therefore, various hypotheses tend to explain the age-crime trajectory.

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4 Several of these hypothesis centre on biological aspects, such as shifts in brain development and hormone effects (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). Other theories emphasize psychological characteristics, including impulsivity and the willingness to take risks (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). Different approaches are more concerned with sociological factors, such as levels of social authority and the chances for criminal activity. The maturity gap or divide theory remains widely considered to be among the most critical hypotheses regarding the age-crime curves. The maturity gap theory explains that young adults become more likely to commit crimes since they have not yet reached their full potential. The theory states that young adults are yet to possess an identical amount of control over their impulses or awareness of potential dangers that adults do. As individuals grow older, the likelihood of their committing crimes decreases (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). The social-based control theory represents another prominent school of thought (Bobbio et al., 2020). According to this notion, individuals with difficulty integrating into society have a higher risk of engaging in criminal activity (Bobbio et al., 2020). People with healthy relationships with their families, schools, and communities are statistically less inclined to engage in criminal behavior. Age-Crime Curves Stages Childhood and Juvenile Crime Children and teenagers frequently participate in criminal conduct. However, their offences might look quite different from those of adults. Vandalism, theft, and violations linked to school are some of the most prevalent crimes committed by people of that age bracket (Bobbio et al., 2020). A large part of the development of delinquency throughout these crucial periods gets played by factors that include the impact left by peers, the setting of the household, and the

5 absence of parental monitoring (Hoffmann & Dufur, 2018). It is possible to guide adolescents from becoming victims of crime by providing them with the opportunity to gain access to educational opportunities and social services, as well as through promoting positive role models and intervening through initiatives that target adolescents in danger. Young Adulthood Young adulthood, which often begins in an individual's later teenage years and continues into their early twenties, represents a stage that distinguishes itself by higher levels of autonomy, exploratory activity, and willingness to take risks. Drug-associated violations, crimes involving property, and violent-based crimes, including assault or abuse and burglary, are examples of crimes typically connected with those within this age bracket (Prieto Curiel & Bishop, 2018). Social pressure, substance misuse, joblessness, and a lack of educational possibilities are all potential contributors to criminal behavior throughout this stage of development (Hoffmann & Dufur, 2018). Therefore, reducing the risk variables linked with criminal behavior during young adulthood is possible by implementing programs that target substance misuse, offer chances to receive vocational education, and provide job placement services. Middle Adulthood Middle adulthood represents a stage where individuals have discovered themselves well. When people reach their later 30s and 50s, the likelihood that they would engage in criminal behavior often decreases (Hoffmann & Dufur, 2018). White-collar offences that include fraud, money laundering, and theft of identification are among the most prevalent categories of offences adults commit within the middle years of their lives. This change may become linked to several circumstances, including more duties, a secure job, and dedication to family obligations

6 (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). Nevertheless, it is necessary to realize that everyone cannot follow this trend, and some might engage in illegal activities. Criminal activity involving white-collar workers can be discouraged by using educational programs about the repercussions of such crimes and through the vigorous enforcement of legislation. Late Adulthood Later years in adulthood, the likelihood of getting involved with unlawful activities continues to decline, with people aged 67 and beyond having the lowest probability of participating in illegal behavior. On the other hand, this demographic of individuals is disproportionately susceptible to specific criminal activity, such as the mistreatment of older people and fraudulent money schemes aimed at the elderly (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). However, the perpetration of these crimes gets aided by various factors, including cognitive deterioration, social exclusion, and susceptibility to victimization (Prieto Curiel & Bishop, 2018). These problems can remain alleviated by increasing public awareness of elder neglect or abuse, establishing support communities, and enacting laws to safeguard elders susceptible to mistreatment. Consequences of Criminal Activities Criminal behavior may result in various repercussions, some of which damage people, societies, and still others' civilizations throughout its entirety. Engaging in unlawful conduct can result in detentions, leading to prosecutions and possibly incarceration (Schuck, 2019). The judicial system can impose monetary penalties, suspension, community-based service, jail, or the death penalty, contingent upon the crime's seriousness and the relevant jurisdiction's regulatory framework (Schuck, 2019). The victims of unlawful acts frequently suffer from bodily injuries

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7 and emotional trauma due to the ordeal. Victims can sustain physical damages, economic losses, and destruction to their assets, all of which could have long-term repercussions on their standard of living and overall health. Increased security measures may get implemented by both people and institutions in response to persistent criminal activity. This combat may entail stepped-up security measures like more monitoring, more stringent restrictions on entry, and more guards. These steps attempt to boost safety but may also result in less privacy and more expenses for people and organizations (Schuck, 2019). Criminal activity can undermine community trust and alter citizens' views of their level of safety. This activity might result from anxiety, loneliness, and a loss of cohesiveness among the group (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). As a result, this shift can lower the overall standard of living conditions and obstruct advancements in society and the economy throughout the impacted regions. Criminal behavior may have significant consequences in society. These activities can reinforce violent and illegal phases, particularly if they foster a criminal underworld or spark retaliatory behavior. In addition to deterring investments, tourist attractions, and revenue generation within affected regions, elevated crime levels may result in fewer possibilities and more efficient finances to support building communities (Wilcox & Cullen, 2018). Criminal activity participants may experience stigmatization and social exclusion. They might have trouble locating a job, a place to live, or social support, which increases the probability of recurrence and the continuation of criminal activity. Age and crime have a complicated association that brews harsh consequences. The age- crime curves remain influenced by several psychological, biological, and overall sociological variables. Various crimes are prevalent at different ages (Schuck, 2019). The curve represents a

8 generally accepted criminological observation. Although it constitutes a complicated phenomenon, its existence has significant ramifications for comprehending criminality and creating preventative techniques. Conclusion Age and crime play a significant role in society as they showcase the severity of criminal activities at different stages of life. Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand the association between age sets and crimes to create successful methods for preventing crime and tailored measures. The crimes that occur most frequently at particular ages reflect the unique difficulties and situations that people go through at various periods of life. Legislators, regulations enforcement organizations, and social assistance organizations can take preventative action to reduce criminal activities and rehabilitate criminals by understanding the characteristics that influence criminal conduct at different ages. In the end, tackling the underlying roots of criminality at each phase of life becomes crucial for building secure and more multicultural neighborhoods.

9 References Bobbio, A., Arbach, K., & Redondo Illescas, S. (2020). Juvenile delinquency risk factors: Individual, social, opportunity, or all of these together? International Journal of Law, Crime, and Justice , 62 , 100388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2020.100388 Hoffmann, J. P., & Dufur, M. J. (2018). Family social capital, family social bonds, and juvenile delinquency. American Behavioral Scientist , 62 (11), 1525–1544. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218787020 Prieto Curiel, R., & Bishop, S. R. (2018). Fear of crime: The impact of different distributions of victimization. Palgrave Communications , 4 (1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-018-0094-8 Schuck, A. M. (2019). Examining the community consequences of arrests for low‐level criminal activity. Journal of Community Psychology , 48 (1), 86–103. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22238 Wilcox, P., & Cullen, F. T. (2018). Situational opportunity theories of crime. Annual Review of Criminology , 1 (1), 123–148. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-092421

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