Much more complicated than "poverty creates crime"
For those talking about Black and crime, I think some of you are missing the bigger picture.
(Excluding hate crimes) Blacks don't commit more crime than Whites because they're "evil" Blacks, it's because statistically they're poorer than the average White. The whole point is the primary function IS NOT race, it's wealth. Go into some of the states with high amounts of white meth addicts and you'll get the same problem that inner cities have: The poor are committing the crime (actual violent crime, not drug crimes...white people and black people use drugs at about the same rate).
I know it's a bit off topic, but I think both Blacks and Whites need to see the difference between Racists and those who function under code Yellow: I don't discriminate by race, I subconsciously discriminate by what appears to be your wealth status. I see a well dressed and groomed black man as much less of a threat than your average "ragged white beater wearing trailer trash uneducated hick" because he or she is much more likely to be poor. Does that mean I call you names or strip you of your liberties? No... I just give you an extra eye.
Jake8x7
It is not at all clear that poverty creates crime in the United States. After all, even poor people in the United States would be upper middle class in much of the rest of the world. The other side of this is that crime tends to create poverty as well, so if you have a community that tolerates crime, it is very hard to accumulate wealth.
In addition, attitudes that contribute to criminality also work against the creation of wealth. Poor impulse control and an unwillingness to plan and work for a future beyond the immediate tend to foster both crime and low net worth.
From my studies, I do not think it is race or racism that is the cause of high levels of poverty and crime in the black population. I believe it is a number of factors that have come together in a culture that does not trust civil society, and thus does not trust in the rule of law.
If you look at European cultures in the Middle ages, when the rule of law was far less dependable, the murder rates are comparable to that of the black urban ghettos of today.
What can be done, if this is the case? The experience in New York City, and that of David Kennedy point the way. An intolerance for crime must be developed. Even if the intolerance is just for violent crime, David Kennedy's work shows that intolerance for those who commit violent crimes can do a great deal to reduce homicides.
http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/01/background-checks-failed-paradigm.html
Neither of these approaches rely on an increase in wealth or a reduction in relative poverty.
It is likely that both would occur, however, as the crime rate was lowered. It seems likely that a lower crime rate would result in a greater faith in the rule of law.