SECTION III – CORRELATES OF CRIME

Section III includes five modules: (1) Age, Gender, and Crime, (2) Family and Crime, (3) Mental Illness and Crime, (4) Race/Ethnicity and Crime, and (5) Social Class and Crime. Together, these five modules provide an opportunity to isolate internal and/or external correlations (i.e., statistical relationship) that may lead to antisocial behavior. For example, socioeconomic status, unemployment, urbanization, age and gender, family factors, substance abuse, neighborhood characteristics, police presence and criminal justice policies, gang activity, etc. are all points of examination and lend to an improved crime prevention strategies designed to targeted interventions that address the underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior. Studying the correlates of crime is essential for several reasons as it provides valuable insights into the complex factors that contribute to criminal behavior and its patterns. Understanding these correlates helps in developing effective crime prevention strategies, informing public policy, and addressing the root causes of criminal activity. While correlation does not necessarily imply causation, studying these associations helps researchers understand the complex interplay of factors that contribute to crime rates and patterns.