Violent crime

Violent Crime Criminological theory of rational choice assumes that people commit crimes after determining the extent of the pain or punishment of their action and if it is worth the pleasure or reward they are likely to obtain after the act (Ahmad, 2014). Therefore, high punishment deters the criminal acts hence very minimal.
Rational choice theory can be used to explain the high rates of crimes in areas characterized by poverty, unemployment, school dropouts, and divorce among others in many ways. First, the theory notes that the offenders are willing to do all that they can to obtain money, sex, status and any other thing that can make them happy (Ahmad, 2014). As it is commonly known, those who are unemployed lack the basics of sustaining themselves such as the daily upkeep and decent housing. Because of this, they are likely to be involved in violent crimes to get what they want. Same thing applies to the school dropouts who lack the skills that employers look for their employments.
Lastly, the theory bases on cost benefit analyses among the offenders (Ahmad, 2014). Residents living in recession areas weigh the impact of violent crimes to obtain what they want with the punishment they are to get. In most cases, some of them commit violent crimes and run before being caught. This encourages them to continue with the act since the benefit is high compared to cost because they are not caught. Hence, the unemployed, poverty stricken, and school dropouts are more likely to commit violent crimes often compared to others.
In conclusion, rationale choice theory of crimes assumes that human beings are rational actors who calculates and weighs their behaviors before committing a crime. They indulge in violent crimes after considering the impact in terms of pleasure versus pain. Hence, those in informal settlement characterized by unemployment, poverty, divorce, school dropouts among other characteristics will always commit crimes to obtain pleasure they need.
Reference
Ahmad, J. (2014). Rational choice theory.  The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal
Justice. 1–5.