Unemployment among Black Youths,Demographics,and Crime

Abstract

Because of their lack or misuse of information on unemployment rates, demographics, and crime rates of black youths in the United States, a number of prominent urban theorists have drawn erroneous conclusions regarding the interrelationship among these factors. An analysis of the following statements shows them to be based on incorrect data or faulty interpretation. (1) Unemployment rates for black youths dropped in the 1960s. (2) Crime will decrease significantly in the 1980s because there will be fewer youths in the critical crime-prone age range. (3) The simultaneous improvement in the economic condition of blacks in the 1960s and rapid rise in the crime rate indicates that there is no immediate relationship between economic factors and crime, at least among blacks. (4) With re spect to street crime, there is something inherent in the black culture that differentiates it from other cultures in the United States. A reexamination of the data shows that crime by black youths does bear a close relationship with prevailing economic conditions. Employment programs concentrated on this subgroup of the unemployed make more sense as a crime preven tion tactic than do the more punitive measures currently fashionable.