The relationship between debt and crime

Authors Vivienne de Vogel, Dike van de Mheen, Gercoline van Beek
Published in European Journal of Probation
Publication date 19 October 2020
Research groups Working with Mandated Clients
Type Article

Summary

Compared to macroeconomic factors, the financial situation of the individual may provide better insight into the relationship between debt and crime. However, the relationship between debt and crime is still unclear and little is known about the causality of this relationship and the factors that influence it. To obtain more insight into this relationship, a systematic and scoping literature review was conducted. Five articles were analyzed in the systematic review, and 24 articles in the scoping review. The results of the systematic review show a strong association between debt and crime whereby debt is a risk factor for crime, especially for recidivism and regardless of the type of crime, and crime is a risk factor for debt. The scoping review provided additional and in-depth insight, and placed the results of the systematic review in a broader perspective. Moreover, it emphasized the prevalence of debt among offenders, regardless of age, and identified the factors that influence the relationship between debt and crime.

On this publication contributed

  • Vivienne de Vogel | Professor | Working with Mandated Clients
    Vivienne de Vogel
    • Professor
    • Research group: Working with Mandated Clients
  • Gercoline van Beek | Researcher / PhD candidate | Working with Mandated Clients and Debt and Debt Collection
    Gercoline van Beek
    • Researcher
    • Research groups: Working with Mandated Clients, Debt and Debt Collection

Language English
Published in European Journal of Probation
Year and volume 2020 october
Key words crime, criminal behavior, debt, debts, financial problems
Digital Object Identifier 10.1177/2066220320964896
Page range 1-31

Vivienne de Vogel

Vivienne de Vogel | Professor | Working with Mandated Clients

Vivienne de Vogel

  • Professor
  • Research group: Working with Mandated Clients