Free City Demographics and Crime Profile Essay Sample
When attempting to explain some phenomenon surrounding criminology in Detroit, one of the major factors one ought to evaluate is beliefs of the population of this city. Among the factor which makes crime escalate in Detroit is that this city is mostly inhabited by African American, the unemployment rate is alarming at 45% of the population documented unemployed. Racism and drug abuse is rampant in Detroit commonly known as the ghetto village. Criminal behavior is very aggravated and brutal, police discretion and gang controls are another angle which fuels crimes in this region. Racism is very rampant in this forgotten city and even companies shy away from establishing businesses along this city because of arson and crime resulting to brutal murders, kidnapping and gang wars (Edwards, 1992).
According to Chafets (1990) historically this city has been associated with criminal behavior which originated from a Halloween prank termed the "Devils Night." This prank was a 1933 Halloween tradition which entitled the youth to engage in mischievous petty vandalism like egging, toilet papering and soaping peoples homes or businesses. This traditional belief resulted to devastating acts of vandalism such as rooting, arson and burglary. In the mid 1970s during the great recession people would take advantage of this night and burn their own homes and collect insurance money. This event usually causes around 100 fires every Halloween devil's night.
The kind of social life that the resident of this city fashion is extravagant and sustaining it without proper education and job is a tricky affair, lack of edification leads to criminal behavior to sustain flashy life style coined from the genre of rap music that the resident are fond of. Unlicensed arms are easily accessible for as little as $15. This has led to gang group's escalation and gang rivalry is an everyday occurrence claiming more youth lives and civilian caught in crossfire than disease as noted by Trojanowicz (1989).
According to the research the belief of the local has greatly fueled the criminal behavior and blown it out of proportion. Abuse of police discretion and gang rivalry in this region is another factor which has also has led to escalation of criminal activities in Detroit. Reconstructing and development of this city would reduce this phenomenon through government intervention.