RE-ASSESSING THE LINKS BETWEEN
CRIME AND POVERTY

While poverty and unemployment do exert an upward effect on crime, these factors influence crime because they disrupt parenting, according to the Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Dr Don Weatherburn. The effects of this disruption are amplified by peer influence when low-income families live close together, according to Dr Weatherburn.

Dr Weatherburn tomorrow addresses the National Social Policy Conference being held at the University of New South Wales. The topic of his plenary address is "Crime Control for the New Millenium: Is There a Role for Economic and Social Policy?"

Dr Weatherburn will discuss the view that crime prevention is now best pursued by reducing the opportunities for offending. He says that despite massive Government investment in anti-poverty programs during the US War on Poverty in the 1960s, US crime rates during this period increased rapidly. He adds that research has thrown up a number of findings that cannot be explained by conventional theories of the relationship between disadvantage and crime.

The Conference is looking at the current controversies in social policy and their relationship to Australian identity. Conference organiser Dr Tony Eardley said "This is an election year and one in which welfare reform is squarely on the agenda. It's important to debate these issues because they're crucial to where Australia is heading," he said. Dr Eardley is a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre, which is hosting the conference.

Papers presented tomorrow will look at social and economic inequalities; welfare reform and community partnerships; welfare and families; retirement and ageing; housing and disadvantage; and mutual obligation.

WHAT: National Social Policy Conference 2001. (Thursday's program follows. See also www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/nspc2001/index.htm)
WHEN: 9.00am, Wednesday 4 July to 4.00pm, Friday 6 July
WHERE: The Clancy Auditorium, Kensington Campus (High Street entrance), UNSW

CONTACT DETAILS: Marilyn McHugh, SPRC, (02) 9385 7829, mob. 0401 609 108; Tony Eardley, SPRC, (02) 9385 7826; Amanda Hainsworth, UNSW Public Affairs, tel. (02) 9385 2873, mob. 0402 476 681.

Date issued: 4 July 2001