# Does abortion prevent crime? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184 "2006-09-10T17:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/1 "2006-09-10T17:44:49Z")
This study seams to cunclude with that > [@](#): > > The purpose of the study is to better understand the reasons for the sharp decline in crime during this decade, which, prior to our research, had largely eluded explanation. While there are many other theories as to why crime declined (more prisoners, better policing, the strong economy, the decline of crack, etc.), most experts agree that none of these very convincingly explains the 30 percent to 40 percent fall in crime since 1991. > > The theoretical justification for our argument rests on two simple assumptions: 1) Legalized abortion leads to fewer “unwanted” babies being born, and 2) unwanted babies are more likely to suffer abuse and neglect and are therefore at an increased risk for criminal involvement later in life. The first assumption, that abortion reduces the number of unwanted children, is true virtually by definition. The second assumption, that unwanted children are at increased risk for criminal involvement, is supported by three decades of academic research. If one accepts these two assumptions, then a direct mechanism by which the legalization of abortion can reduce crime has been established. > > Our preliminary research suggests that the effect of abortion legalization is large. According to our estimates, as much as one-half of the remarkable decline in crime in the 1990s may be attributable to the legalization of abortion. [http://www.slate.com/id/33569/entry/33571/](http://www.slate.com/id/33569/entry/33571/) ---
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/2 "2006-09-10T17:48:09Z")
It should be: Does abortion prevent crime? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/3 "2006-09-10T18:02:34Z")
Neither the p key nor the b key nor the n key is anywhere close enough to the a key for me to understand how that could have happened. I’m fascinated. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/4 "2006-09-10T18:03:07Z")
Does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/5 "2006-09-10T18:21:36Z")
I think [Freakonomics](http://www.amazon.com/Freakonomics-Economist-Explores-Hidden-Everything/dp/006073132X/sr=1-1/qid=1157912070/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2146589-7148957?ie=UTF8&s=books) was the first to suggest that the legalization of abortion was the major contributor to the drop in crime. Their research certainly sounds convincing to me, distasteful though the idea may be. I would mention, though, that there are other factors afoot, and it would certainly be possible to lower the crime rate significantly _without_ abortion. The crime rate was comparatively low in the US in the first half of the last century, when abortion was still illegal. Somehow back then all the mothers who were pregnant with children they didn’t want (assuming they weren’t among the minority who could afford/risk getting a back alley abortion) were able to raise those kids well enough that they didn’t become criminals. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/6 "2006-09-10T19:20:48Z")
It of course is not abortion. its people who are unable emotionally and financially able to raise children having a choice. Forcing people to have children that are unwanted visits the decision upon the kids. The book also says the children are delayed til another time. They are then much more successful. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/7 "2006-09-10T21:23:28Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] The crime rate was comparatively low in the US in the first half of the last century, when abortion was still illegal. Somehow back then all the mothers who were pregnant with children they didn’t want (assuming they weren’t among the minority who could afford/risk getting a back alley abortion) were able to raise those kids well enough that they didn’t become criminals. [/QUOTE] Abortion may have been illegal, but it was readily available, and the question really didn’t come up until/unless the fetus had quickened. Up until then, a woman could go to her doctor for a procedure that would “open” her uterus and start her period. Later abortions became the infamous “back alley” procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/8 "2006-09-10T21:37:06Z")
[QUOTE=phouka] Abortion may have been illegal, but it was readily available, and the question really didn’t come up until/unless the fetus had quickened. Up until then, a woman could go to her doctor for a procedure that would “open” her uterus and start her period. Later abortions became the infamous “back alley” procedure. [/QUOTE] Abortificatients were openly available in newspapers. The Comstock laws forced them to hide their intended purpose behind other uses, but the advertisers found ways around that: “Warning! Pregnant ladies should not take three of these pills twice a day.” The Sears and Roebuck catalogue sold them, albeit with a bit subtler of wording. The pills were for “women’s problems”. If you took them as prescribed “all would be well.” They were the only medications which used this vague wording. (All of the others described the problems and symptoms which would be cured in detail.) Of course, these herbs and chemicals were often very dangerous, especially with some women who came to the mistaken conclusion that if a\* little _would solve the problem, a_ lot\* would make it a certainty. Some of them actually worked as intended but it was risky. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/9 "2006-09-10T21:42:04Z")
[QUOTE=phouka] Abortion may have been illegal, but it was readily available, and the question really didn’t come up until/unless the fetus had quickened. Up until then, a woman could go to her doctor for a procedure that would “open” her uterus and start her period. Later abortions became the infamous “back alley” procedure. [/QUOTE] Were these procedures really as widely available and utilized as regular abortions became after Roe v. Wade? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/10 "2006-09-10T21:45:29Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] The crime rate was comparatively low in the US in the first half of the last century, when abortion was still illegal. [/QUOTE] Per capita? I’d check that if I were you. 'Cause crime per capita was very high in both the 1930s and the 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/11 "2006-09-10T22:23:54Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] Per capita? I’d check that if I were you. 'Cause crime per capita was very high in both the 1930s and the 1950s. [/QUOTE] You know, this reminds me why I tend to shy away from joining to many GD debates – it’s too easy to make unsubstantiated conventional wisdom type claims as I did above! 🙂 I’ve certainly always been under the impression that crime rates (overall and per capita) were lower in the first half of the last century, but I can’t say I know that for a fact. I’ll do some searching and get back to you. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/12 "2006-09-11T00:56:23Z")
There are indeed other ways of reducing the crime rate. I’d suspect really good sex education, and easily available birth control, would help. A better economy would help also. One of the other chapters in _Freakonomics_ talked about how little money drug dealers (except the top bosses) made. Most of them could have done better working in McDonalds, and they would have higher life expectancies also - even if they ate the food there. 🙂 But it shouldn’t be a big shock that reducing the population most likely to commit crimes would reduce the crime rate. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/13 "2006-09-11T15:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] You know, this reminds me why I tend to shy away from joining to many GD debates – it’s too easy to make unsubstantiated conventional wisdom type claims as I did above! 🙂 I’ve certainly always been under the impression that crime rates (overall and per capita) were lower in the first half of the last century, but I can’t say I know that for a fact. I’ll do some searching and get back to you. Thanks. [/QUOTE] On the other hand, its a great place to learn. I couldn’t find it, I was going to find a cite for you, but google-fu was failing me. However, I recall learning in college level History classes that crime in the latter half of the 20th century went DOWN per capita. Up overall, but there are more people. I recall them dipping during WWII when many young men were overseas. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/14 "2006-09-11T15:53:57Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] On the other hand, its a great place to learn. I couldn’t find it, I was going to find a cite for you, but google-fu was failing me. However, I recall learning in college level History classes that crime in the latter half of the 20th century went DOWN per capita. Up overall, but there are more people. I recall them dipping during WWII when many young men were overseas. [/QUOTE] Somehow my google-fu is being frustratingly inept as well. Would you believe that “crime rates by decade” doesn’t come up with a _single_ hit?? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/15 "2006-09-11T17:27:09Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] Somehow my google-fu is being frustratingly inept as well. Would you believe that “crime rates by decade” doesn’t come up with a _single_ hit?? [/QUOTE] Yep, cause I tried that one too. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-abortion-prevent-crime/372184/16 "2006-09-20T18:20:56Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] Were these procedures really as widely available and utilized as regular abortions became after Roe v. Wade? [/QUOTE] Hell no. There were states where a person had to go across a few state lines to get an abortion. Even an illegal one. It was dangerous and expensive.