There are many risk factors for youth regarding the development of a criminal behaviour. The purpose of this study is to examine how youth from families with low socio-economic status have a bigger risk of becoming criminals because of their low socio-economical background. The study is mainly focusing on the risk factor; low socio-economics and risk factors that are related to low socio-economics such as housing conditions and school. It’s a literature study that is based on previous research that is going to be interpreted by two different criminological theories. To give the reader an overall picture we are going to examine other risk factors as well. The result of the study shows that low socio-economics is an undeniable risk factor for developing a criminal behavior. It also shows that the residential area and the structural organization in the residential area can have a huge impact on the youth living there. Many times the whole area is a low socio-economic area which previous studies show is a usual risk factor. Meanwhile the structural organization in a residential area can sometimes make a risk factor while in other areas, it can be a protective factor, depending on how the structural organisation looks. The result also shows that children and youth in schools in these low socio-economic areas, present lower grades than the ones in other neighbourhoods. School results play a big role in the development of a criminal behaviour - low results are a big risk factor while good results can be a protective factor.