1. World problems
  2. Criminal subculture

Criminal subculture

  • Underworld society
  • Criminal sub-culture
  • Underworld milieu

Nature

Members of the criminal underworld are alienated from their societies and may characterize themselves as such not only by idiom, but by mannerisms, clothes, and a range of behavioural preferences and adaptations.

Incidence

A criminal sub-culture is in evidence in most large cities in the industrialized west, and is a phenomenon of growing concern in most of the rest of the world. A recent study in the USA on convicted murderers showed that 60% had been abused children, 50% came from broken homes, 65% never finished high school, 70% lived below the poverty line, and 60% were unemployed at the time of the commission of their crime.

Claim

The criminal sub-culture in every nation is governed by rules and codes of behaviour that do not apply outside the shadows of this underworld. Children brought up in the penumbra of illicitness are exposed to all its immorality which is presented as the normative standard for values and behaviour. The ageing criminal dies among his fellows, so that crime is a way of life for many, from cradle to grave. The criminal sub-culture is much more than organized crime or the aggregate of all active or imprisoned criminals; it is also comprised of the wives, children, grand-children, friends, and places for business meetings or business entertainment. It is the people in collusion with criminals: corrupt lawyers, politicians, police; and people who turn the other way to overlook criminality in those who may be customers, patrons, or contributors to churches, charities, elections or other appeals. These are the people of the twilight; who stand on the edge of the darkness, who feed it, and eventually who are engulfed. That the underworld is indeed a sub-culture is also shown by its own idioms; and a number of lexicons of the languages of the criminal elements in the French, English and American cities, for example, have been compiled.

Counter-claim

While some may argue that criminal subculture poses a significant issue, I contend it is largely overstated. The vast majority of society operates within lawful parameters, and the influence of criminal subcultures is often exaggerated by media sensationalism. Instead of focusing on these fringe elements, we should prioritize addressing systemic issues like poverty and education that truly impact communities. Criminal subcultures are a minor concern compared to the broader societal challenges we face.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Criminals
Presentable

Narrower

Criminal gangs
Yet to rate

Aggravates

Recidivists
Presentable

Aggravated by

Related

Drug subculture
Presentable

Strategy

Value

Culture
Yet to rate
Crime
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Culture » Culture
  • Environment » Environment
  • Societal problems » Crime
  • Society » Minority, indigenous groups
  • Society » Society
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    E5508
    DOCID
    11555080
    D7NID
    137561
    Last update
    Dec 1, 2022