Research Reports
Reflections on Traditional American Indian Ways, 1998
Threats to Tribal Sovereignty, 1998
Traditional American Indian Leadership: A Comparison with U.S. Governance, 1997
Poverty and Involvement in the Criminal Justice System
American Indians have the highest poverty rate of any racial/ethnic group in Minnesota. In 1999, census figures indicated that 29% of American Indians were living below the poverty rates as compared to 6% of Whites, 27% of Blacks, 19% of Asians and 20% of Latinos. Data indicate that the number of children living in poverty is even greater. Over 35% of American Indian children below the age of 18 years were living below the poverty level while 6% of Whites, 34% of Blacks, 24% of Asians, and 23% of Latino children were living under the poverty level.
Research links poverty with higher rates of crime. Greater proportions of inmates in correctional facilities come from backgrounds of poverty, and most families of inmates have been recipients of public welfare or other source of public support. This is echoed in research by Jon Powell, who notes that high concentrations of poverty are linked directly to increased crime rates in and around a university community. Powell notes that concentrated poverty also impacts other life factors in communities including such as employment, education, health as well as increased criminal behavior.
One participant described a cycle involving poverty, alcohol, drugs, and hopelessness that he believed led to criminal behavior as well as increased recidivism rates for American Indian young people and adults.
“There are no resources that are available for me, and I’m using and abusing. Chances are that because of that I’ll be forced to live surrounded by other folks like me who are in the same situation. And we’re going to reinforce one another in order to make ourselves feel better … Well this person gets out (of treatment) and one they can’t make a geographical change because there’s no other place that they can afford to move to, thereby they really can’t leave their friends because they don’t have the money to do so. So they end up right back in the situation that we just pulled them out of… And I’m fighting to stay sober … but my life isn’t getting any better. I still live in a shit run-down apartment, I’m not being able to go out here and get me a goddamn job that will pay me $15 an hour that would begin to give me hope, so what am I doing all this for? After a while the system beats them back down because they don’t have any hope.”
Other participants agree that among American Indian youth and adults, poverty is a major factor leading to participation in criminal activity. Economically disadvantaged youth who are impressed by the latest fashions, clothes, fancy cars, and popularity among peers might be most vulnerable to the appeal of material things.
The
Well-Being of American Indian Children in Minnesota: Economic Conditions,
1994
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