Despite recent theoretical attention to social capital and its impact on a range of public problems, including crime, few studies have evaluated the relationship between crime rates levels social capital across populations. That research gap is due, in part, the absence macro-level empirical indicators capital. In this article, we measure as latent construct with aggregated voting organizational membership data, survey data social trust, examine its homicide for nationally representative...

Drawing on a systematic assessment of the accumulated empirical literature and interviews with 25 race sentencing scholars, this paper argues that standard approach adopted in research r...

This research uses data from the Area‐Identified National Crime Victimization Survey to examine influence of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on likelihood police notification by victims violence. The results indicate that does not significantly affect among robbery and aggravated assault victims. However, a significant curvilinear effect is observed for simple implications these community‐level crime theoretical perspectives are discussed.

This research examines the effects of social context on support for death penalty using individual‐level data from 1974–98 General Social Survey (GSS), which have been linked with aggregate‐level homicide rates and sociodemographic, political, economic characteristics. Consistent instrumental, threat, constructionist perspectives, this study finds that residents areas higher rates, a larger proportion blacks, more conservative political climate are significantly likely to penalty, net...

Prior studies demonstrating a relationship between racial context and levels of crime control have not explicitly examined the factors that may account for this relationship. The authors advance literature by examining whether geographic differences in black economic political threat explain effects %black segregation on police size. They also examine potential mediating roles whites' fear antiblack prejudice. results show perceived more than one‐third effect find significant positive size...

After tracking one another closely for decades, the U.S. robbery rate increased and burglary declined in late 1980s. The authors investigate impact of crack on this divergence using a two-stage hierarchical linear model that decomposes between-and within-city variation crime rates 142 cities. Given its prominence discussions criminal violence, homicide offending is also examined. Net other influences, cities with higher levels use experienced larger increases decreases burglary. Cities...

Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Children, we examined impact community socioeconomic status on four dimensions adolescent and young adult premarital sexual activity—the timing first intercourse, frequency number different sex partners, likelihood engaging in unprotected intercourse. We found significant positive effects a multiitem index disadvantage all but net controls for demographic adolescents their families. None most commonly cited explanations neighborhood...

Although many efforts have been made during the past several decades to increase reporting of crime police, we know little about nature long‐term crime‐reporting trends. Most research in this area has limited specific types (e.g., sexual assault), or it not taken into account possible changes characteristics incidents associated with police notification. In article, advance knowledge trends by using data from National Crime Survey (NCS) and Victimization (NCVS) methods that take factors...

Robert Putnam comprehensively analyzes the multidimensional nature of social capital and makes a persuasive argument for its relevance to various community problems, including violent crime. However, systematic empirical evaluations links between multiple dimensions violence are limited by lack adequate measures. Using data from Social Capital Benchmark Survey, authors model relationships several homicide rates 40 U.S. geographic areas. Their findings show that many forms highlighted in...

Renewed interest has occurred in the United States around racially biased policing. Unfortunately, little is known about effects of neighborhood social context on black adolescents' experiences with In current study, we examined whether perceptions policing against adolescents are a function racial composition, net other neighborhood‐ and individual‐level factors. Using two waves data from 763 adolescents, found that most frequently discriminated by police predominantly white neighborhoods....

Research Summary: Police officials across the United States often claimed credit for crime reductions during 1990s. In this article, we examine homicide trends in three cities that mounted widely publicized policing interventions 1990s: Boston's Operation Ceasefire, New York's Compstat, and Richmond, Virginia's Project Exile. Applying growth‐curve analysis to data from 95 largest U.S. controlling conditions known be associated with violent rates, find trend 1990s did not differ significantly...

Over the past 50 years, researchers in United States and abroad have debated inherent inequities within justice systems that contribute to underreporting of crime police. Our review summarizes existing knowledge about victim reporting outlines new directions theory empirical research situate this work a broader perspective on help-seeking. We begin with short historical development its implications for social policy. then critique major explanations victims’ behavior outline integrated...

While prior research demonstrates that living in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood increases young women's risk of premarital childbearing few studies have explored the mechanisms account for this effect. And tested Wilson's (1987) hypothesis pronounced racial difference can be attributed largely to differences environments. Using longitudinal data from National Survey Children, we find over one-third positive effect socioeconomic disadvantage on timing first birth attitudes and...

Although numerous studies have examined the influence of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on quantity violence, little attention has been devoted to whether such conditions also shape quality violence. Drawing Anderson's (1999) influential ethnography, we derive several hypotheses about how nature violence differs across neighborhoods with varying conditions. Using data assaults and robberies from area‐identified National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), our analyses reveal support...

This paper describes and evaluates some fundamental facts about the contemporary crime drop, summarizes major explanations that have been offered for it, assesses validity of these in light observed trends. In contrast with much recent literature, we argue locus drop 1990s is not wholly consistent available data while New York City experienced substantial decreases, its uniqueness has exaggerated. We suggest it important to partition elsewhere into global more localized shifts, offer...

The traditional “jurisprudential model” of law views the application legal sanctions primarily as a function facts case and rules that govern proceedings. Sociology scholars have challenged this model on theoretical grounds, arguing persuasively is variable often yields patterns parallel broader considerations community social organization collective sentiment. authors' analysis evidence certainty severity for murder cases are heightened where capital more plentiful, religious fundamentalist...

Rates of street crime have dropped substantially over the past several decades, but important nuances this decline are underappreciated and reasons for it remain unclear. We suggest that narrow conception change adopted within criminology has hindered field's capacity to develop a stronger scientific understanding trends. Criminology focused heavily on within-person changes in crime, devoting comparatively little attention aggregate rates. In review, we make case integrating research trends...

Abstract Extant research has provided support for the micro‐level predictions of rational choice models crime. Yet, a central feature perspective in broader social sciences—that it is multilevel focus, situating individuals within community structures—has been neglected criminology. In this article, we discuss and test model that links structural characteristics to several individual expectations preferences relevant Using data from Pathways Desistance study, find objective levels...

Using data from prosecutors' files in a sample of 33 U.S. counties, we examine how victims' conduct and demographic characteristics affect the disposition murder cases at various stages criminal justice process. We find that age past do not significantly influence legal outcomes cases, but their race, gender, time incident so. Although these effects vary across decision-making considered, they generally are consistent with claim killings disreputable or stigmatized victims tend to be treated...

Many observers have attributed recent increases in violent crime rates to the arrival of crack cocaine on urban scene. However, little hard evidence exists support this contention. This study examines relationship between arrestee use and homicide, robbery, burglary for 24 cities participating Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) Program. To isolate effects among arrestees rates, analysis incorporates controls additional city-level characteristics, including population composition selected indicators...

Longitudinal data from 1,128 respondents in the National Survey of Children are used to examine factors that help explain higher rates school dropout and lower high graduation socioeconomically distressed communities. The authors find approximately one third observed positive effect community socioeconomic disadvantage on discontinuation can be explained by educational behaviors peers, a result broadly consistent with epidemic models neighborhood effects. A smaller proportion impact status...

This research assesses the empirical validity of classic anomie theory articulated by Robert Merton and important contemporary extension his work encompassed in Messner Rosenfeld's institutional theory. Using a unique aggregate‐level data set, our investigation reveals that, consistent with theoretical expectations, instrumental crime rates are significantly higher areas where both strong commitment to monetary success goals weak legitimate means exist. The tendency for this “goals/means”...

This study probes the interconnections among distrust of government, historical context, and public support for death penalty in United States with survey data area-identified samples white black respondents. Multilevel statistical analyses indicate contrary effects government on blacks whites, fostering whites diminishing it blacks. In addition, we find that presence a “vigilante tradition,” as indicated by history lynching, promotes but not Finally, to Zimring's argument The Contradictions...

More than four decades ago, the Kerner Report chronicled violent disturbances of 1960s and predicted that United States was rapidly moving toward two racially separate unequal societies. Resulting concerns about black white inequality form a critical chapter in history sociological research. Few studies, however, explore trends racial rates violence. Has gap between violence significantly narrowed since 1960 and, if so, why? Drawing on recent work assimilation literature race inequality, we...

Objective We examine whether there is a significant effect of foreclosure on robbery and burglary across neighborhoods, this varies systematically cities. Specifically, we consider several city‐level attributes—overall rates, levels socioeconomic disadvantage prior vacancy the degree recent new housing construction, affordability, quantity quality policing—moderate relationship between neighborhood crime. Methods our research questions with rich database foreclosure, crime, other attributes...