... there is a sort of rational thinking that takes place among criminals. This is to say that a large number of crimes are committed in light of a deliberate calculation of a number of factors that may make illegal activities more beneficial than legal ones in a particular society or subculture. For example, a minimum wage earner will look at his situation and reason within himself, "What will I lose if I commit a crime and am caught?" If in his mind he perceives that his current life is a prison of debt, despair, and doubtful advancement, he figures that he might as well try to succeed in a crime that may actually pay off in a big way and quickly. On the other hand, an individual with a better paying job will most likely have so much more to lose. Social status, lucrative business, an accomplished career, and a ...

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