These tensions lead to negative emotions, such as frustration and anger. These emotions create pressure for corrective action, and criminality is one possible response. Crime can be used to reduce or escape tension, take revenge on the source of tension or associated targets, or alleviate negative emotions. (Agnew, 2010) This becomes a problem for today's youth because if these stressors take over their minds and they fall into crime, it leads them down a slippery slope that can lead to future financial problems due to limited or no employment opportunities. Researchers have called for more attention to be paid to variables linking unemployment to crime. In particular, it has been suggested that people's interpretation of their labor market situation plays an important role in determining their responses to that situation. Using general strain theory, this research examines the role that unemployment plays in the criminal behavior of 400 homeless street youth. Of particular interest is how these young people interpret their experiences in the labor market and how these interpretations and experiences together influence their criminal behavior. The results reveal that the effect of unemployment on crime is mainly mediated and moderated by other variables. In particular, unemployment is conditioned by casual external attributions that lead to anger over unemployment, which in turn leads to crime. The direct effect of