essay on poverty leads to crime

Essay on Poverty Causes Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Poverty Causes Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Poverty Causes Crime

Understanding poverty and crime.

Poverty is when people do not have enough money for things like food and a home. Some believe that not having money can lead to crime. When people are poor, they might steal to survive. They might feel they have no choice but to break the law to feed their families.

The Link Between Need and Theft

Imagine you’re really hungry, but you have no money. What would you do? Some might steal food. This is a simple example of how needing something badly can push someone to commit a crime, like theft.

Desperation Leads to Bad Choices

A person who can’t find a job and is desperate might feel forced to sell illegal things or join gangs. They might think this is the only way to make money. This shows how not having options can lead to crime.

Crime as a Last Resort

Sometimes, people who are poor see crime as the only way out. They might not see any other way to change their lives. So, they take risks to try to escape poverty, which can include doing illegal things.

Breaking the Cycle

To stop this problem, everyone needs to help. If poor people get support, like education and jobs, they might not turn to crime. Helping them can make our communities safer for everyone.

250 Words Essay on Poverty Causes Crime

The link between poverty and crime.

Many people wonder if not having enough money can lead to crime. The answer is not simple, but often, when people are very poor, they might break the law to get what they need or want.

Struggle for Basic Needs

When families do not have enough money, they struggle to buy food, pay for a house, or get medicine. This can make someone feel desperate. In desperation, stealing or other illegal ways to get money can seem like the only choice.

Lack of Education and Jobs

Schools in poor areas might not be very good, making it hard for kids to learn and get good jobs later. Without a good job, it’s tough to earn money legally. This can lead some to choose crime as a way to make money.

Feeling Left Out

People who are poor often feel left out because they can’t have what others do. This feeling can turn into anger or jealousy, which might lead them to take things that aren’t theirs.

Not everyone who is poor will commit a crime. But when there’s no other way to survive, some might see crime as the last option. It’s like when you’re playing a game and you’re losing badly, you might break the rules just to keep playing.

In conclusion, being poor can sometimes lead to crime, but it’s not the only reason people do bad things. It’s important to help those in need and make sure everyone has a fair chance at a good life to prevent crime.

500 Words Essay on Poverty Causes Crime

Many people wonder if being poor can lead someone to act wrongly. It is a topic that has been talked about for a long time. This essay will explain why some believe that not having enough money can make people commit crimes.

Struggling to Survive

When people do not have enough money, they might find it hard to buy food, find a place to live, or get clothes. This situation is called poverty. Imagine you are very hungry and you have no money; you might think about taking food from a store without paying. This is an example of how poverty can push someone to steal, which is a crime. People who are very poor often feel they have no choice but to break the law to survive.

Education and Opportunities

Schools in richer areas usually have more resources, like books and computers, than schools in poorer areas. Children from poor families might not learn as much or might even stop going to school. Without a good education, it is hard to get a good job. This makes it tough for people to earn enough money legally. So, some might turn to crime as a way to make money because they feel they have no other options.

When people are poor, they might feel left out of society. They see others with nice things and feel they can never have those things. This can make them angry or jealous. Sometimes, to get what others have, they might decide to take things that are not theirs. This is not right, but it shows how feeling left out can lead to crime.

Drugs and Crime

In places where there is a lot of poverty, there might also be more drugs. Drugs can cause big problems. People who use drugs may need a lot of money to buy them, and this can lead to stealing or other crimes. Also, people who sell drugs are committing a crime, and they might do this because they think they can’t make money any other way.

What Can Be Done?

To stop crime, we need to help people get out of poverty. This means making sure everyone has enough food, a safe place to live, and clothes to wear. It also means giving children the chance to go to good schools and learn. When people have what they need and feel they are part of society, they are less likely to commit crimes.

In conclusion, not having enough money can lead to crime because people are trying to survive, they might not have good education or job opportunities, they feel left out, or they get involved with drugs. To solve this problem, it is important to help people live better lives. By understanding the reasons behind crime, we can work to make our communities safer for everyone.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Sociological Perspective — Poverty and Crime: Unraveling the Complex Relationship

Poverty and Crime: Unraveling The Complex Relationship

• Categories: Sociological Perspective

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Words: 577 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 577 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

The vicious cycle of poverty and crime, root causes of the connection, the role of policy and interventions.

• Economic Inequality: Societies with significant economic disparities are more likely to experience higher rates of poverty and crime. The gap between the wealthy and the impoverished can lead to feelings of resentment and hopelessness among those living in poverty.
• Unemployment: High levels of unemployment, particularly in impoverished communities, can lead individuals to turn to crime as a source of income when legitimate job opportunities are scarce.
• Limited Access to Education: Inadequate access to quality education can limit the prospects of individuals growing up in poverty. Without proper education and skills, individuals may struggle to find stable employment and may resort to criminal activities.
• Substance Abuse: Poverty can contribute to substance abuse issues, which can, in turn, lead to criminal behavior related to drug possession, distribution, or addiction-driven crimes.
• Neighborhood Environment: High-crime neighborhoods often lack essential resources and social services, making it difficult for residents to escape the cycle of poverty and crime.
• Education and Skill Development: Investing in education and vocational training programs in impoverished communities can provide individuals with the tools they need to secure stable employment and avoid turning to crime.
• Employment Opportunities: Government and private sector initiatives aimed at creating jobs in underserved areas can help alleviate poverty and reduce crime rates.
• Substance Abuse Treatment: Expanding access to substance abuse treatment programs and addressing the root causes of addiction can mitigate drug-related crimes.
• Community Policing: Implementing community-oriented policing strategies can help build trust between law enforcement and residents, fostering safer neighborhoods.
• Social Support Services: Increasing access to social services such as mental health support, housing assistance, and food programs can provide a safety net for individuals and families in poverty.
• Crime Prevention Programs: Initiatives that target at-risk youth with mentorship, after-school activities, and positive role models can divert them away from criminal influences.

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Law and Crime

Crime causes poverty, a reversal of the conventional wisdom.

Posted December 24, 2014

Social scientists and public officials have long identified poverty as a “root cause” of crime or, at least, as a significant “risk factor.” Such a causal linkage was made by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A.D.), who declared, “Poverty is the mother of crime.”

During the 1960s, Attorney General Ramsey Clark emphasized that the United States government needed to combat crime by improving the deplorable conditions under which impoverished people were living. What followed was a plethora of social programs aimed at doing just that. Although many citizens benefited and improved their lot in life, crime remained an intractable problem.

What may not be apparent is that crime causes poverty .

Consider the costs of establishing and operating a small business in a rundown inner city neighborhood. An entrepreneur saves for years and finally amasses funds sufficient to establish a hair salon. She has paid for schooling to learn the skills to become a beautician, and she has honed them working for other people. Now she can rent space, purchase supplies and a stylist’s chair or two, and begin fixing women’s hair in her own shop. By careful management of her finances, she is able to invest additional sums in her business and expand the services she offers. A break-in and robbery occur, setting her back enormously. While awaiting costly repairs, she loses revenue and customers every day. She has to spend additional sums to tighten security. Having had a small profit margin as she struggled to maintain her salon, she now slides into the red or may not be able to re-open at all, thus losing the source of her livelihood.

Consider what has transpired in inner city areas rocked by social unrest. It can take years, even decades, for businesses to return to neighborhoods that were burned and looted. Such was the case during the 1968 riots in Washington, D.C., following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Recently, damage occurred to businesses in Ferguson, Missouri after a grand jury did not indict a white police officer for killing a young black man.

It is not peaceful protestors who threaten the livelihoods of small business owners. It is criminals who seize upon an opportunity when there is social disorder. In the name of a cause, they strike -- destroying property belonging to fledgling entrepreneurs. Having begun to emerge from poverty, these merchants are plunged back into it when criminals demolish overnight what they have worked so hard to build.

Stanton Samenow, Ph.D. , an expert in criminal behavior, was the author of many books including Inside the Criminal Mind .

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How Poverty Influences Crime Rates

In the 1993 science-fiction movie Demolition Man, a rebel named Edgar Friendly is leading a rebellion against a society that has discovered complete bliss. The only problem is that if you don’t fit in with that society, you don’t get to eat. So in a fine dining experience at the local Taco Bell, we see Friendly’s group stealing food to eat.

In today’s society, we see people in poverty often acting the same way. Stealing food from take-out counters, violating loitering laws, and influencing the crime rate in other ways is something that is directly linked to poverty. There will always be crime, but urban crime tends to always be located in high poverty areas.

How does poverty influence crime rates? The answers may actually surprise you.

Poverty Isn’t Just About Having a Lack of Resources

The effects that poverty has on crime can be explained in multiple ways. For starters, there is a higher rate of untreated mental illness that is in populations struggling with poverty compared to wealthier populations. Now most people who struggle with a mental illness will never commit a crime, but there are some types of severe mental illness which increase the risk of an individual committing a crime.

Untreated severe mental illnesses are particularly significant when looking at links between poverty and homicide. On the other end of the spectrum, those who are mentally ill are also victimized by violent crime at much higher levels than the general population.

Yet despite these facts, the number of beds at mental health hospitals and treatment facilities are lower in the United States today than they were in 1850.

But a mental illness isn’t the only link that there is between poverty and crime. Being in poverty often leads to high levels of stress. An overwhelming desire to meet certain basic needs becomes the highest priority. Over time, if those needs cannot be met, then some individuals will commit robberies, burglaries, and other forms of them. It can also lead to violent acts, though in the mind of the perpetrator, the actions are seen as a method of self-defense.

Poverty also creates fewer opportunities, some of which co-exist with mental illness and a lack of being able to meet basic needs. If an individual is struggling with an untreated mental illness, then it is difficult for them to hold down an employment opportunity. Without a job, it is difficult to find money to meet basic needs.

A lack of resources also creates inferior educational opportunities for households in poverty, some actual and some admittedly perceived. Yet the perception of a lack of education is enough for individuals in poverty to create self-fulfilling prophecies regarding their future. Because they believe there aren’t good quality schools out there, then there aren’t good quality jobs out there. People feel the need to fight for themselves.

This leads to the creation of gangs and gang affiliation. Then the cycle continues to perpetuate itself again and again. Crime is simply a means to an end. It’s a way to obtain what is needed without a legitimate means to do so because it seems like there isn’t a legitimate opportunity to avoid crime.

It’s a cycle that feeds upon itself. And often the prize of a successful crime outweighs the risk of being caught, which further increases the crime rate in areas of poverty.

Isn’t Poverty a Reflection of a Person’s Choices?

In a free-market society, a common belief regarding poverty is that each person is responsible for their own circumstances. It’s a stereotype that has fed more stereotypes, such as the idea that drug and alcohol use is more prevalent amongst households in poverty. It is true that one of the risk factors for drug use is poverty.

The same is true for alcoholism. Yet the stereotype is that the risk factor not only applies to everyone in poverty, but that everyone is struggling with some form of addiction. If they could only get a job, they would be fine.

And since drug use and public alcohol use is often illegal, these activities then contribute to the local crime rate.

In reality, the problem comes back to the stresses that occur when a household or individual is living in poverty. Not being able to have a basic need met, like knowing when your next meal will be or what it will be, can lead people to a breaking point. They seek out any relief that they can find. Many times, that relief ends up being in a bottle or a needle.

Stress relief also involves risky decisions to alleviate, if but for a moment, what poverty is placing upon an individual. It’s the reason why risky sexual encounters are accepted in poverty-stricken areas. That brief monetary reward is enough to purchase another fix that can help someone forget where they are. Then they repeat the behavior because the reward of forgetting is worth the risk of future health problems or getting caught.

Greater Socioeconomic Gaps Also Encourage Greater Crime

Setting all stereotypes aside, poverty influences crime rates because at its core, it highlights and reinforces the differences between the wealthy class and those who are poor. The greater the gap happens to be, then the greater the benefits are to a thief to use that wealth in some way to their own advantage.

This socioeconomic gap is seen in many different ways in our society today.

• Children who come from homes in poverty are more likely to be expelled from school or to have a police record than a child who makes the same choices as the poor child, but has more overall wealth.
• Societies that have age gaps are also prone to more crime when poverty is a factor in the community. This is because of the number of possessions that elderly households are perceived to have, along with the natural vulnerability which comes with age.
• Communities which have a higher percentage of inhabitants that are under the age of 25 may also lead to higher crime rates, especially if there are large socioeconomic gaps between different households of that age group.

It is these differences which also encourage a higher overall crime rate in minority populations in the United States. Many minority households live in urban areas and may have built-in struggles with poverty for multiple generations. In a 1995 survey of US metropolitan areas with unemployed rates of 12% or more, the population was composed of at least 30% minority households.

Yet socioeconomic gaps also create the potential for crime within communities that are struggling with poverty. These gaps are just not always associated with money. If someone is bigger and stronger than someone else, then they may choose to take a weaker person’s resources. Business owners may take advantage of the desperation of poverty and offer jobs with wages well below legal limits.

There are even precedents of having local law enforcement officials extorting money from those who are in poverty, which then creates a lack of functional restraint on the crime that exists in these areas.

A World Where Not All Crimes Are Created or Treated Equally

During a 20-year period of economic difficulty which started in Europe in 1975, there was a rise in unemployment in uneducated youth and a rise of theft and violence that rose at the same time. This led to an effort to create more educational opportunities, as multiple studies have shown that higher educational levels lead to lower overall violent crime.

Yet this doesn’t eliminate all crime. In fact, other forms of crime, such as corruption, are more likely in the wealthier classes. This means our focus on poverty tends to be on the amount of violent crime that is produced by low-income communities.

So why is there more violence in low-income areas? It is because there is less of a safety net that is present for those with few or no resources to rely upon. The fight-or-flight mechanism is initiated and when it comes to self-preservation, most people are going to fight for themselves and their loved ones.

If that means violence is required to secure needed resources, then so be it.

This Means There Are Two Key Issues Which Must Be Addressed

In order to solve the problem of poverty as it relates to crime, there are two key issues which must be addressed at the same time.

• Resources must be provided to those in poverty so that basic needs can be met, including any treatment that may be required for mental illness or addiction.
• Those in poverty must receive some level of consistent protection to make sure they do not have what little resources they have become stolen from them by others.

And, for the most part, society agrees with these two points. Where disagreement begins is how to address these issues. You’ll see this often in poverty-stricken areas when someone is asking for help and another person comes by and says, “Just go get a job.”

Unfortunately, it just isn’t that easy. Someone struggling with a lack of resources and an untreated illness may not even know how to begin looking for a job. For that reason, many societies have implemented programs to ease the stress that poverty creates.

To meet basic needs, many governments have created aid and assistance programs which offer enough food benefits, living assistance, and limited cash to reduce the stress of poverty. But, because there may be a 1-5% fraud rate within these programs, there are consistent calls to reduce eligibility for them, create greater restrictions to join them, or to cut them out of society completely.

We’ve also created changes to the individual treatment process in order to protect personal rights. This has stopped many of the involuntary inpatient commitments to mental hospitals that occurred in the past, yet the less-restrictive alternative of outpatient therapy has been found to be far from effective – even if a judge orders compliance with medication and therapy.

So what do we do from a criminal justice standpoint? We have to enforce laws to create a society that is safe and orderly. Yet we cannot ignore households in poverty when they become victims of a crime, even if it is labeled as “poor-on-poor” crime. The answer, it seems, may come from the State of Texas – which ironically houses about 10% of the US prisoner population.

Instead of Incarceration, a Focus on Treatment Creates a Reduction in Crime

In 2006, Texas was facing a population crisis within their criminal justice system. Hundreds of thousands of prisoner beds were already full due to the enforcement of drug crime in the past 15 years. By 2010, the prisoner population increase had risen 346% from 1990 levels. At the same time, US prison populations only doubled.

Texas couldn’t build prisons fast enough. Yet, when looking at a cost of $526 million to expand the prison population even more, the investment didn’t seem to make sense. So Texas decided to “go soft on crime” as a way to reduce prison population levels.

Instead of creating new prisoner beds, Texas focused on expanding beds in treatment programs. Should a prisoner violate their probation or a first-time offender commit a non-violent crime, instead of locking the person up, the goal became to shift away the stress that is caused by a lack of overall resources.

There were even slots put into the Texas criminal justice system which allowed for outpatient treatment programs to allow for sentences of probation instead of incarceration. Diversion programs were also setup within the court system to be able to treat individuals suffering from a mental illness. Instead of just prison and parole being an option for sentencing, judges were given a third option: treatment.

In the first 7 years of these reforms being in place, the number of inmates that were incarcerated in Texas dropped by nearly 10,000. And, for the first time in over 160 years, Texas decided to actually shut down a prison. The state is even seeing improvements in their recidivism rates with treatment as an option.

What Does This Mean for Poverty and Crime?

There will always be crime. That much is clear. What our goal must be as a society is to eliminate crime that is due to the stresses of poverty. Through reforms, treatment, and a removal of the stress that comes with living in poverty, it is clear that a lower crime rate will be the result. Texas has already proven this.

In order to make this happen, we must be willing to set aside our own personal stereotypes about poverty. Instead of someone being a “poor person,” we must view them as a person. We must treat children equally, no matter what their socioeconomic class might be. Then we must be consistent in providing opportunities to everyone, no matter what their living situation might be.

When there are zero opportunities, an individual will make their own opportunities and that will usually be through crime. It will be through violent crime if necessary. We may never completely eliminate poverty within our lifetime, but we can set the stage for people to find a different way than in previous generations.

Through education, treatment, and consistency, people will be given more opportunities. That will help them be able to get that job they need to provide themselves with legitimate resources. If not, then our future might just be a world where people feel like they need to steal food from Taco Bell in order to survive.

The Impact of Poverty on Crime Rates: 3 Best Essay Examples

Exploring the connection between poverty and crime has always been a subject of great interest among sociologists, policymakers, and academics. If you are tasked with writing an essay discussing this intricate relationship, fret not. Here’s how you can structure your thoughts, generate compelling arguments, and present your findings convincingly. Let’s delve into three standout essay examples along with key tips on penning down a powerful discussion.

• What is an Essay on Poverty and Crime Rates?

An essay on poverty and crime rates analyzes the correlation between these two phenomena. It discusses the root causes of poverty, its socioeconomic impact, and how such conditions may foster a breeding ground for criminal activities. This type of essay typically employs statistics, case studies, theoretical analysis, and real-life examples to support its arguments.

• Key Elements of a Well-Structured Essay

A well-structured essay on poverty and crime rates should have the following elements:

Introduction

• A compelling hook to grab the reader’s attention.
• Background information on the issue.
• A clear thesis statement outlining the purpose of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

• Topic Sentences: Concise sentences introducing the main idea of each paragraph.
• Supporting Evidence: Facts, statistics, and examples to back up the arguments.
• Analysis: Interpretation of the evidence, showing how it relates to the essay’s main argument.
• Counterarguments: Addressing potential counterarguments to add depth to the discussion.
• Restatement of the thesis in light of the evidence presented.
• Summary of key points discussed.
• A closing thought or call to action.
• Example 1: Data-Driven Analysis of Poverty’s Impact on Crime Rates

Have you ever considered how your economic status might affect your life choices? The correlation between poverty and crime rates is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires in-depth exploration. This essay seeks to uncover the extent to which economic hardship influences criminal activities and identifies the key factors driving this relationship.

Understanding Poverty

Poverty is not merely the lack of financial resources but a condition encompassing limited access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. According to the World Bank, over 700 million people live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day.

Link Between Poverty and Crime

Research suggests a significant correlation between poverty and crime rates. Studies indicate that areas with higher poverty levels often record elevated crime rates. This can be attributed to multiple factors, such as limited access to legitimate employment, leading individuals to engage in illegal activities as a means of survival.

Case Study: Urban Areas in the United States

In urban centers like Chicago and Detroit, poverty-stricken neighborhoods report higher crime rates than affluent areas. These statistics underscore the idea that economic deprivation fosters an environment conducive to criminal behavior. For instance, the lack of educational and recreational facilities leaves youth vulnerable to joining gangs as an alternative source of identity and income.

Counterarguments and Discussion

While the link between poverty and crime is evident, it is essential to consider other variables like societal norms, law enforcement practices, and individual choice. Critics argue that focusing solely on economic factors oversimplifies the issue, ignoring cultural and psychological aspects that play crucial roles in criminal behavior.

The relationship between poverty and crime rates is undeniably intricate. Although economic hardship plays a substantial role in fostering crime, it is imperative to consider the broader context, including social and cultural influences. Addressing poverty through comprehensive policies could be a pivotal step in reducing crime rates.

• Example 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Poverty and Crime

Poverty and crime are often perceived as two sides of the same coin. But what drives individuals in impoverished communities toward crime? This essay delves into various theoretical perspectives, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the poverty-crime nexus.

Social Disorganization Theory

Social disorganization theory posits that crime tends to flourish in communities with weak social institutions. In poverty-stricken neighborhoods, institutions such as families, schools, and law enforcement are often ineffective, leading to an increase in criminal activities.

Strain Theory

Proposed by Robert K. Merton, strain theory argues that societal pressure to achieve success drives individuals to commit crimes when they lack legitimate means. For those trapped in poverty, illegal activities might appear as the only viable path to financial stability.

Routine Activity Theory

According to routine activity theory, the absence of capable guardians and the convergence of motivated offenders and suitable targets lead to crime. In impoverished areas, the lack of surveillance and high unemployment rates create a fertile ground for criminal behavior.

Case Study: Application of Theories in South Africa

South Africa, with its high levels of poverty and crime, serves as a case study for the aforementioned theories. The country’s historical inequality and weak social institutions exemplify social disorganization. Meanwhile, the enormous gap between rich and poor perfectly illustrates strain theory. The daily routines in impoverished communities, lacking protective measures, validate routine activity theory.

Theoretical perspectives offer valuable insights into understanding the relationship between poverty and crime. While each theory provides a unique lens, they collectively underscore the multifaceted nature of this issue. Comprehensive approaches that address social, economic, and cultural facets are crucial for mitigating crime in impoverished communities.

• Example 3: Policy Evaluation on Combating Crime Through Poverty Alleviation

The fight against crime is often intertwined with efforts to alleviate poverty. This essay evaluates various policies aimed at reducing crime by addressing the root causes of poverty, drawing on examples from different countries to highlight effective strategies.

Education and Skill Development

Education is a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of poverty and crime. Countries like Finland have shown that investing in quality education significantly reduces crime rates. By equipping individuals with skills and knowledge, education opens up legitimate employment opportunities, reducing the lure of illegal activities.

Social Welfare Programs

Social welfare programs provide a safety net for the most vulnerable in society. The Nordic countries’ comprehensive welfare systems are exemplary, showcasing how adequate social protection can lead to lower crime rates. By ensuring that basic needs are met, these programs reduce the desperation that often drives criminal behavior.

Employment Opportunities

Creating job opportunities is crucial in impoverished areas. Microfinance initiatives in India, for instance, have empowered individuals to start their businesses, reducing reliance on illegal means of income. Employment not only provides financial stability but also instills a sense of purpose and belonging.

Case Study: Brazil’s Bolsa Família Program

Brazil’s Bolsa Família program is a conditional cash transfer initiative targeting poor families. By providing financial aid in exchange for school attendance and regular health check-ups, the program has significantly reduced poverty levels and, consequently, crime rates.

Effective poverty alleviation strategies can substantially reduce crime rates by addressing the underlying socio-economic factors. While no single policy can eradicate poverty or crime, a combination of education, social welfare, and employment initiatives can pave the way for safer and more equitable societies.

• Conclusion: Wrapping Up

Understanding the impact of poverty on crime rates requires delving into complex socio-economic dynamics. The examples provided illustrate different approaches to discussing this issue, from data-driven analyses to theoretical perspectives and policy evaluations. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or simply interested in the topic, these strategies and examples should guide you in crafting a compelling essay that sheds light on the intricate relationship between poverty and crime.

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