Explanation
Poverty affects access to housing, healthcare, education, and employment. It is both a cause and a consequence of crime: people living in poverty are more likely to be criminalized and less likely to receive justice or protection. Poverty also increases vulnerability to victimization, exploitation, and social exclusion.
Theoretical Reference
Poverty is a key concept in structural criminology, social disorganization theory, and critical perspectives. These approaches argue that poverty is not simply individual failure but a product of broader economic and political systems.