Misguided Notions of Causes of Crime

Cambridge Police Area 4 Lt. Dan Wagner said “Traditionally, Area 4 has been a higher crime neighborhood, a neighborhood with a larger minority population, and a lower income population,” Wagner said. “So, having someone who can be proactive in identifying kids who may be at risk for getting into trouble for committing crimes or being victims of crimes is huge.” (Erin Baldassari, "Cambridge streetworker: Keeping an ear to the ground and eye on the streets," Cambridge Chronicle, Aug 17, 2012.) The misguided notion that poor people are criminals indicates how effective propaganda is. It is similar to the misguided notion that persons accused of mental illness are dangerous, violent and cannot be trusted. These ideas are promoted by city officials, and academic professionals. Ramelfo "Fito" Frometa, Area IV Streetworker and Case Manager "said the two things his clients need the most are jobs and housing, usually in that order." In her book, Guilty, Ann Coulter says, "the leading cause of all social pathologies is single motherhood. [. . .] Various studies have shown that children raised by a single mother comprise about 70 percent of juvenile murderers, delinquents, teenaged mothers, drug abusers, dropouts, suicides and runaways. [. . .] Single mothers are six times more likely to be in poverty than married families. More than 80 percent of homeless families are single mothers. [. . .] A 1990 study by the (liberal) Progressive Policy Institute showed that, after controlling for single motherhood, the difference in black and white crime rates disappeared." Poverty is not a cause of crime, but often a result of neglect.

[From article]
Cambridge Police Area 4 Lt. Dan Wagner said “Traditionally, Area 4 has been a higher crime neighborhood, a neighborhood with a larger minority population, and a lower income population,” Wagner said. “So, having someone who can be proactive in identifying kids who may be at risk for getting into trouble for committing crimes or being victims of crimes is huge.”
[. . .]
Ramelfo "Fito" Frometa, Area IV Streetworker and Case Manager "said the two things his clients need the most are jobs and housing, usually in that order."

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x580291221/Cambridge-streetworker-Keeping-an-ear-to-the-ground-and-eye-on-the-streets#axzz23jpcWqBQ

Cambridge streetworker: Keeping an ear to the ground and eye on the streets
By Erin Baldassari/ebaldassari@wickedlocal.com
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Aug 17, 2012 @ 09:26 AM