The debate over what causes crime is important because it is directly tied to the debate over what policies can best reduce crime. For example, if alcoholism and drug abuse tend to cause criminal behavior, then zoning laws that restrict the number of liquor stores in an area or increased policing in neighborhoods where illegal drugs are sold may help reduce crime. If unemployment and poor wages contribute to crime, then crime rates might be lowered through government efforts to stimulate the economy and relieve poverty.

A fundamental division in the debate is whether crime is really “caused” by socioeconomic factors such as poverty or unemployment. Social conservatives tend to view crime as the result of individual choice, and they reject the idea that poverty, inequality, or family dysfunction may be to blame. For those who share this view, crime is an...