Relationship Between Education and Crime

All of todayÆs research begins with reference to one of the major theories of delinquency: Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, and Deviance Theory. Strain Theory holds that the problems of adjustment faced by youths in the school setting lead to poor performance and later delinquency. Strain Theory particularly emphasizes the role of class in the educational achievement of young people. The esteem of lower-class youths suffers because of their inability to measure up to the middle-class standards of American education (Cohen 1955).

Another factor affecting dropouts and delinquency are the expectations of young people. Young people generally equate a college degree with monetary success, and lower-class youths are no different in that respect. But the loss of self-esteem from the strain of adjusting to the middle-class educational system leads lower-class youths to the assessment that they have little chance of going to college. Dropping o

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s authors found that situational factorsùsuch as existing social bondsùcoupled with the individualÆs self-control determine the extent (if any) of criminal involvement. Ironically, staying in school might lead to more trouble because of peer pressure (Garofalo 1987). Consistent with those concepts, Strain Theory holds that dropping out of school and delinquency are alternative responses to the problems of alienation and peer pressure. Delinquent behavior is not enhanced by dropping out, though superficially that might seem to be the case. Indeed, several studies have documented a decrease in delinquent behavior after the dropoutÆs exit from school. Some explanations can be offered for the assumption that leaving school is a harbinger of delinquency. Students who did not participate in delinquent behavior while attending school likely will not do so after dropping out. Conversely, a child who has opted for delinquent behavior while still in school will not change his behavior after leaving the educational system (Wilson and Herrnstein 1985). Moreover, dropping out of school increases the friction from the parents (Agnew 1985), a factor that clouds the connection between exiting school and subsequent delinquent behavior
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2535
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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