The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-15
MARRIAGE AND CRIME.


r. Prnzing in American Journal OF Sociology
An investigation conducted chiefly with regard
to criminal statistics reveals certain facts con-
cernng the respective relations of married and
OF unmarried men to different classes OF crime.
These facts may be eptomized briefly follows:
Property rights of all kinds more generally
respected by the married than by the single. The
graver onenses against property-robbery, extor-
tion. fraud. etc.-are committed by the married
man with comparative infrequency. When he IL
driven to the unlawful requirement Of wealth or
OF material goods. he generally chooses some Of
the less dangerous methods of doing.
Receiving stolen goods breaking OF laws rela-
tive to trade. commerce and public health. for
chile detention OF pieces OF property. bankruptcy.
etc. the forms which offenses against prop
er:y usually assume among married men. Among
those married at IN extremely early age eighteen
10 twenty-fNe) treSpaSses against the rights or
property much more common than among the
unmarried of corresponding age. This Is prob
ably explained by the fact that In such marriages
poverty, IL not concomitant. Is frequently re-
suit lncendiarism IL most largely found among
the unmarried. the greatest proportion falling to
the account of widowers and single men between
the ages OF thirty and sixty years.
Apart from bigamy and similar crimes. the un-
married far outrun the married In the commit
ment OF offenses against morality In the sphere
or crime and offense against human life the un-
married are greater sinners than the married.
though not so markedly in the offenseS
against property rights. Only in the matter of
careless and negligent killing do the married
pass the unmarried The difference in the GRIM
inality OF the married and the unmarried grows
less with advancing years Between the ages
OF nfty and sixty years 1t is small; after that
The criminaity of widowers decreases with ad-
vancing age. Their share i'm crime between the
ages of thirty and fifty Is notably greater than
that OF either Of the other classes mentioned.
Their share in such crimes murder. false
cusation and false witness at this time Is espe-
cially noteworthy 1t has been said. in attempted
explanation OF this fact, that widowers are, a
rule. il-stuated financially, but there appears to
be no satisfactory evidence that this is true.
Statistics do not prove that widowers belong TO
the poorer classes I'm any unusual degree. Wild
overs especially prominent in offenses against
nj hlt fhev QIcsp nd first IN fac
of those guilty of other classes of crime
The loss Of the wife very frequently leads to
mental arrangement. and IL is probably true as
well. that certain types Of self-control are pc
culiariy difficult for this class 10 exercise In
general. there is greater decrease in criminality
married state. This conforms with the fact that
the larger share of the births. together with the
large outlay incident thereto fall within the first
decade of married life. and observe further
that ID Is the offenses against property which
most rapidly fall away with advancing years
among the married
Among the restraint which marriage places upon
the criminaity Of the married man Is the fear
OF bringing disgrace upon the family and lasting
shame to the children. The temptation OF the
married man to indulge in the pleasures of the
public house Is less than that OF the single man,
for the family demands too large share OF the
mans income TO allow him to spend any con-
siderable sum elsewhere With the need of de-
Tending and supporting a family there comes. too.
increased respect for religion law and property
the defending and supporting institutions OF So
ciety. and last, but not least. be mentioned
married male is the influence of the constant
and intimate association OF the man with mem
ber OF the sex. the criminality of which IL very
low when compared with that of his own.