The Underclass and Group Offending Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Underclass and Group Offending - Essay ExampleHowever, since the term underclass was coined, there has not been a precise definition of the term underclass but most sociologists hold up now drive to define underclass as those members of the society whose incomes fall below the level of poverty and may be eligible for assistance by the government. Wilson (1987) attempts to define the underclass as the most deprived sections of the urban residential district composed of black population, the heterogeneous grouping of individuals and families outside the main study of the Ameri dismiss system. He say that this group includes those people lacking necessary skills, training to secure employment, have not been in employment for a foresighted-term or are not members of the mainstream labour force. They are those individuals that are often assiduous in crime and other forms of behaviour that are abhorred by the society and have experienced long spells of poverty relying on assist ance by the government (Wilson 1987, p.8). ... power, the labour government of Prime Minister Tony Blair appreciated the menace posed by the underclass by setting p a social elision unit that would deal with what it referred to as Margaret Thatchers underclass that defines people who were without jobs and skills, often without homes and hopeless. These individuals were also considered alienated from the unoriginal setting of a society (Mark 2011) therefore according to the studies by Murray, the underclass are not exactly defined by their economic positions but also by their behaviour in that they respond to their pocket-sized economic situations through engagement in behaviour that can be deemed to be deplorable (Murray 1990, p.68). whiz distinct area associated with the underclass and group offending is found among gangs who in most cases belong to a minority underclass found in urban areas. Gangs are often avenues for particular groups of people particularly the underclass to get out of poverty and in the mix, they are ceaselessly brought into the world of crime and the gangs are normally organized in peer groups, street gangs or criminal networks that are organized. Several researchers have suggested that the existence of gangs and gang-related crimes increase when there are limited economic opportunities available. A study conducted by the criminal offense Justice Research Centre of Ohio State University found that when jobs were lost in the industries, unemployment became rampant consequently, there was always an upsurge of gangs engaging in criminal activities (Watts 1992, p.819-820). These findings confirm that there is a direct correlation amidst criminal activities, lack of employment and poverty often associated with the underclass, and most people join gangs discerning that it can provide them with an opportunity to be