The Criminalization of Poverty


Prof. Dr. John Rook
Canadian Poverty Institute, Ambrose University of Calgary, Canada

Abstract:
Youth aging out of the welfare system are increasingly confronted with a high risk of homelessness and nowhere to go, especially in times of crisis with a high risk to offend and no crime and/or substance abuse buffering factors. The presentation targets the relationship between poverty and crime and helps to identify policies and legislations contributing to the perpetuation and the cyclical nature of poverty and crime and identify policy gaps and policy alternatives to address underlying contributors to crime that lead to solutions.
Prof. Dr. John Rook, Simon House Recovery Center, Calgary, Canada
Prof. Dr. John Rook
Founding Director, Canadian Poverty Institute at Ambrose University, Calgary (Canada), currently President and CEO, Simon House Recovery Center, Calgary (Canada), adjunct professor, University of Calgary. BA in Psychology, Doctorate from Oxford University, Past President, Calgary Homeless Foundation, Chair, National Council of Welfare (2007-2012), a federal body reporting to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, proposing recommendations for improving the lives of Canadians. Dr. Rook was awarded with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Award (2016).
A popular speaker at conferences, Dr. Rook tackles topics related to poverty and policy change, he has a talent for unraveling the theoretical. He has a practical sense for the realities of poverty from some of his own life experiences as well as from decades of working in the field.
Dr. Rook has spend his whole career in the field and has a brilliant expertise to unvail the connection between poverty and crime especially for young people who age out of the child welfare system and are ending up on the streets in increasing numbers.

Monday 12th of June 2023
3:00 - 3:45 pm
Room: Mahler Saal III