The Analysıs Of Relatıonshıp Between Crıme and Poverty For The Test Of Culture Of Poverty In Turkey

Abstract

In the culture of poverty approach, it is argued that the poor form a subculture. Crime is common in this subculture. It is claimed that there is a strong link between poverty and crime. In the culture of poverty approach, it is argued that the poor are considered as potential criminals. It is pointed out that an approach that sees the poor as potential criminals will be biased. It is a basic assumption that the culture of poverty is universal. In other words, the relationship between poverty and crime is expected to be similar in every part of the world. The starting point in the preparation of this study is to test the validity of the universal claim in the culture of poverty approach. The analyzes carried out with the 2019 TURKSTAT data supported that the relationship between poverty and crime in Turkey is very limited, and that it is seen in a few types of crime. However, it was expected that there would be a relationship between crime and poverty in many more types of crime. Therefore, Turkey cannot provide serious evidence for the poverty and crime relationship of the culture of poverty approach. This reinforces that the culture of poverty approach does not have a universal feature.