Exploring policy linkages between poverty, crime and violence

The impact of crime and violence on the social, economic and political development of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean is well documented. The paper begins with definitions and categorisation of crime, violence and poverty including a brief discussion of some of the key challenges with measurement. An analysis of crime trends for the period 1996 to 2006 and the incidence of poverty in the countries under review for a similar period is presented. The following section explores the literature which discusses the links between poverty, crime and violence and includes a discussion on the risk factors for crime and violence including the impact of inequality and relative deprivation on levels of crime and violence. The publication also presents findings of a very preliminary study based on a self administered questionnaire and it concludes with recommendations for further research.