The Effect of Marriage on Crime Rate

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This paper endeavors to find peer reviewed journal articles, which analyze the relationship between crime rates and criminals who are single or those who have a family. A study conducted by Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006) aimed at evaluating whether marriage reduces crime.

These researchers argue that marriage significantly influences adult outcomes but the current information on this phenomenon is limited due to the lack of experimental evidence. According to the literature review conducted by Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006), it can be noted that numerous scholarly works have studied the effect of marriage on crime rate.

In their study, Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006) reveal that a former delinquent aged 70 and married fro 49 years, admits that if he had not met his wife, then he could be dead by now. The responded states that “If I had not met my wife at the time I did, I’d probably be dead… it changed my whole life…that is my turning point” (Sampson, Laub, & Wimer, 2006, p. 467).

Owing to the respondent’s testimony, Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006) argue that a change in criminal behavior can be initiated by the social bond inherent in marriages. This explanation is based on the social bonding model.

The social model indicates that social bonds within marriage enhance mutual support and they enable delinquent to assume responsibility. On the other hand, marriage often leads to changes in a delinquent’s patterns of association with others (Sampson, Laub, &Wimer, 2006).

As a result, it may cause the delinquent to desist from assisting with certain people most importantly other delinquents. In addition, Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006) argue that wives play a significant role in social control. This is explanation is attributed to gendered desistance theory which sees women as major initiators of social change in couples.

Furthermore, Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006, p. 468) note that marriages enable delinquents to undergo cognitive transformations. For example, “when one gets marred, it is seen as a sign of maturity or seriousness” (Sampson, Laub, & Wimer, 2006, p. 468).

In another study conducted by Laub and Simpson (2001), the reasons as to why marriages reduce crime were investigated. Laub and Simpson (2001, p. 2) argue that “other than one’s own deviant behavior, the best single predictor of the onset, continuation, or desistance of delinquency is deferential association with law violating peers”.

The two researchers hold the opinion that in order to comprehend the distance from crime as a result of marriage, there is a need to examine the theory of the crime and the criminal offender. In their study, Laub and Simpson (2001) give an example of drug abuse and alcoholism.

They note that cases of drug abuse and alcoholism are rampant in young adults. In addition, such cases reduce with age. They attribute the reduction to delinquent’s involvement in marriage.

These researchers hold the opinion that, at a young age, delinquents often engage in deviant behavior because of peer pressure. As they mature, some of them get married or engaged. Consequently, their partners have a positive contribution to their behavior change.

According to the literature review conducted by (Laub & Simpson, 2001) it was found that a number of surveys, which investigated deviance in the youth, revealed that parenting and marriage significantly influence a delinquent’s choices. As a result, crime rate in unmarried crime offenders is high.

The literature review also revealed that desistance from crime in the youth significantly relies on the role of parents. Youth who are raised by whole families are less likely to engage in crime when compared with youth from single parent families.

In their study, Laub and Simpson (2001) realized that the transition from single life to marriage life is essential to overall behavior change. Laub and Simpson (2001, p. 37) argue that “the process of change across life domains reveal robust commonalities in the way people modify their behavior including crime related behavior”.

On the other hand, the study conducted by Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (IMPP) (2005) involved an analysis of per reviewed journals, which had documented the effect of married parents on crime. All the 23 journal articles reviewed indicate that family structure significantly affects criminal behaviors.

According to the study conducted by IMPP (2005), parenthood affects the behavior of delinquents both at the aggregate and individual levels. IMPP’s study indicates that “a family diversity index was associated with an increase in white homicides but a decrease in black homicides, after controlling for economic disadvantage” (IMPP, 2005, p. 2).

This study also found out that adolescents in single parent families with low income are more likely to use weapons such as guns and knives to commit crime. This study concluded that “adolescents in married, two biological parent families generally fare well than children in other families examined here, including single mother, cohabiting stepfather, and married stepfather families…

The advantage of the family appears to exist primarily when the child is the biological offspring of the two parents” (IMPP, 2005, p. 2). It is evident that the study confirmed the notion crime and delinquency are significantly influenced by family structure.

This paper has analyzed three articles which document the relations hip between crime rates and criminal who are single or those who have a family. In summary, it can be noted that the all three articles have solid evidence suggesting that families or marriage significantly reduce crime rates.

Crime offenders who were initially single tend to desist from engaging in crime when they get married or engaged. The study conducted by Sampson, Laub, and Wimer (2006) gave four explanations to this phenomenon. First, a change in criminal behavior can be initiated by the social bond inherent in marriages.

This explanation is based on the social bonding model. The social model indicates that social bonds within marriage enhance mutual support and they enable delinquent to assume responsibility. Second, marriage often leads to changes in a delinquent’s patterns of association with others.

Third, wives play a significant role in social control. This is explanation is attributed to gendered desistance theory which sees women as major initiators of social change in couples. Fourth, marriages enable delinquents to undergo cognitive transformations.

Laub and Simpson’s study suggests that that at a young age, delinquents often engage in deviant behavior because of peer pressure. As they mature, some of them get married or engaged. Consequently, their partners have a positive contribution to their behavior change.

In addition, the study conducted by IMPP (2005) indicated that parenthood affects the behavior of delinquents both at the aggregate and individual levels.

Thus, this literature review has proven that there exists a significant relationship between crime rates and criminal who are single or those who have a family. This research paper concludes that crime rates are higher in offenders who are single than those who have families.

References

Insitute of Marriage and Public Policy (IMPP). (2005). Can Married Parents Prevent Crime?Recent Research On Family Structure And Delinquency 2000-2005. Insitute of Marriage and Public Policy, 1, 2-10.

Sampson, R., and Laub, J. (2001). Understanding Desistance. Comparative Social Research,1, 1-40.

Sampson, R., Laub, J., and Wimer, C. (2006). Does Marriage Reduce Crime? A Counterfactual Approach To Within-Individual Causal Effects. Criminology, 44(3), 1-10.

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The Effect of Marriage on Crime Rate

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