Code of the Streets Elijah Anderson

Anderson’s Research Approach Ethnography

Competing Values The Decent Family The Street Family Coexist in poor, urban neighborhoods

The Meaning of R-E-S-P-E-C-T Techniques for gaining respect are learned on the street Rational choice?

Campaigning for Respect

Anderson’s Big Picture Global Economy, Poverty, Prejudice, Drugs Social isolation/alienation from conventional ways of life, including the criminal justice system Code of the street (norms governing violence)

Inner City Economy and the Drug Trade Low Income Jobs Underground Economy Welfare Payments

Community Tolerance of Drug Trade Boys are not bad, they just need money Drug money is a source of family income Residents avoid “seeing” – fear retribution Parents look the other way, not my child Is morality a luxury of the rich?

Drugs and Punishment Conservative approach Liberal approach

Crack v. Powder Cocaine (Possession with intent to distribute) Powder cocaine: 500 grams (street value = $50,000) = 5 year minimum sentence Crack cocaine: 5 grams (street value = $500) = 5 year sentence (mandatory for 1st offense)

Racial Disparity in Cocaine Possession Convictions 1994 Powder Crack % Black 26.7 84.5 % White 58.0 10.3 % Hispanic 15.0 5.2

Implications for Poor Neighborhoods Poor, urban neighborhoods are the largest contributors to the prison population Are there downsides to incarceration policies that focus on drug crime?

Downsides