Women stabbing a client in a brothel- This give you an idea of the many thing that occurred in establishments like this while ignored by the police.
Urbanization of N.Y.C was constantly changing and evolving to accommodate the large number of people that were coming to the city. In my opinion the evolution of crime was extremely influential to change in urban culture. As criminals refined their methods of doing business many became a force to be reckoned with. “Professional thieves and vice entrepreneurs” (Johnson, pg.7) would accumulate massive amounts of wealth and power therefore enabling them to sway politics in their favor. Not only would these criminals finance many politicians they themselves would be members of the government. With this great power many were able to control the police force and the boundaries in which they operated, permitting them to continue their businesses without any hiccups.
The group most affected by this breed of criminal would be the poor working class. The police force would not pay close attention to the poorer areas of the city causing crime to increase. While the upper class enjoyed protection from their “personal police force” which guarded their legitimate and illegitimate (gambling, prostitution, liquor) businesses, the majority of the population was becoming increasingly weary. The police and the politicians were corrupt and crime was ravaging their neighborhoods. The lower class did not know who to turn to.
I guess I can see why the police would only protect the upper-class. They were the ones who were getting their stuff stolen and their houses being set on fire. So I guess the real question would be, do the police protect what needs to be protected, or attack the cause?
…and again.. the poorer population got the bitter end of the stick!
@Farzana.. I see what you’re saying though. The Upper-Class were the ones with all the valuables, therefore they would be the ones who needed the excessive protection since they are more likely to be robbed. But the ones who are protecting the Upper Class are negating the fact that the poorer people are being affected. So my answer to your question would be that the police is protecting only a portion of who they’re suppose to protect. The Lower-Class are people too… I have no idea why people keep over looking them.
I mean.. you’d think that, since they are broke, thus lacking access to the things the Upper-Class has access to, people would be more supportive of them… smh.. the irony