SOARING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: EXPECT TO SEE RISE IN CRIME

November marked the greatest number of jobs lost in 34 years; unemployment rose to 6.7% as nearly 533,000 people lost their jobs. Article here.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Many people will fall into depression and seek the "numbing" effect of illegal drugs to ease their emotional pain. And where there is demand, there is supply. Drug dealers can expect to be busier than ever; however, their competition for control of the streets will also increase. Many people who once had a job will resort to pushing dope to pay the bills. I suspect our crime rate will rise and tension on the streets will create more violence.

We will see dealers (especially those without the experience) get arrested at alarming rates. In effect, this will cause an increase in the jail population, especially because many won't be able to post bond to get out of jail. Bond money can be used to pay the lawyer. Since many won't be able to post bond, the public defender's office can expect to see an influx of cases while the criminal defense attorney can expect to see an decrease in work, just like the rest of the country.

Judges will be forced to toss many cases in an effort to keep the jails from over-crowding. These people (dealers or buyers) will leave the courthouse with a criminal record, even if the case was dismissed. Now, this arrest record is visible to background check companies. This arrest record will prevent the prospective employee from getting a job. And so the cycle begins...See my blog about an arrest record and its relationship to the umemployment rate here: http://tamaraholder.squarespace.com/blog/2008/9/6/having-an-arrest-on-your-record-can-leave-you-jobless.html

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