Low Socio-Economic Status

Socio-economic status (‘SES’) refers to the relative social and economic position of a given individual, or group of individuals, within the larger society. Common measures of SES are associated with material markers such as income, consumption, wealth, education and employment. Poverty is another measure of economic and social position in society.

Economic factors such as interests rates, inflation and the rising cost of living, the labour market, insecure, inappropriate or unaffordable housing, an inadequate social security system and social factors such as domestic and family violence and intergenerational disadvantage have all been identified as drivers of poverty. It is estimated that one in seven people live below the poverty line, but some groups are more vulnerable than others. Poverty is intergenerational and causes significant lifelong harm. Poverty and low SES may have impacts on:

• childhood development, education and employment;
• health and disability;
• social exclusion;
• homelessness and housing instability; and
• increased risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

The 2013 Senate Inquiry into the Value of a Justice Reinvestment Approach to Criminal Justice in Australia found that

as criminal behaviour is closely associated with disadvantage in living standards, health, education, housing and employment, the ‘failure to adequately address these issues in many urban and rural communities in Australia has ensured that people in these communities are more likely to offend and be put in prison’.

Serious disadvantage associated with low SES is caused by a number of factors, beyond income alone, that are outside the control of individuals. This indicates that a ‘social determinants’ approach to health and justice – implementing measures that address the structural drivers and criminalisation of poverty along with strengths-based, person-centred, and place-based approaches – will be integral to improved outcomes.

Evidence of low SES and poverty in sentencing proceedings has potential relevance to: assessment of moral culpability; moderating the weight to be given to general deterrence; determining the weight to be given to specific deterrence and protection of the community; and shaping of conditions to enhance prospects of rehabilitation. It may also be relevant to other sentencing issues and principles including a finding of special circumstances.