Spatial analysis is statistically and substantively important for macrolevel criminological inquiry. Using county‐level data the decennial years in 1960 to 1990 time period, we reexamine impact of conventional structural covariates on homicide rates explicitly model spatial effects. Important findings are: (1) strongly clustered space; (2) this clustering cannot be completely explained by common measures similarity neighboring counties; (3) noteworthy regional differences are observed...

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...

The National Crime Victimization Survey is used to examine factors that encourage and inhibit victims of domestic violence from calling the police. Victims are less likely than other types call police because their privacy concerns, fear reprisal, desire protect offenders, but they more for self‐protection perceive assaults as serious. As a result these offsetting factors, just assault

This article examines the effects on national homicide rates of political efforts to insulate personal well-being from market forces. Drawing upon recent work by Esping-Andersen and institutional-anomie theory crime, we hypothesize that levels will vary inversely with "decommodification labor." We develop a measure decommodification based patterns welfare expenditures include this in multivariate, cross-national analysis rates. The results support our hypothesis lend credibility perspective....

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the thesis a "subculture violence" by examining realtinships among region, racial composition, and homicide rate for sample 204 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). subcultural has been partly discredited previous studies based on samples American States. These report no effect either region or composition once socioeconomic democraphic variables have statistically controlled. My results SMSAs, however, are quite different. Both southern...

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to report findings concerning the relationship between poverty, inequality, and homicide rate for a sample 204 SMSAs. A measure family income inequality exhibits moderate zero order correlation with rate, but effect becomes insignificant in regression analysis. second economic measure, that size poverty population, also partial significant sign quite unexpectedly negative. Additional unexpected results include strong effects measures Southern regional...

This research considers the relationship between levels of racial inequality and homicide rates for a sample 154 U.S. cities. We identfy four causal processes that have been cited in theoretical literature to explain link criminal violence. These diflerent explanations imply distinctive relationships different types disaggregated by characteristics victims offenders. Accordingly, we examine effects on racially rates, as well total rates. also introduce factor scales alleviate common problem...

This paper presents an analysis of the relationship between levels economic inequality and homicide rates for a sample 26 neighborhoods in Manhattan, New York. It argues that are more appropriate units studying than larger political statistical because likely to constitute meaningful frames reference social comparisons. The principle hypothesis is high degree neighborhood will give rise relative deprivation homicide. results series multiple regression analyses fail support this hypothesis....

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...

This research examines the effects of economic discrimination against social groups on national rates homicide....I hypothesize that nations with intense and pervasive will exhibit comparatively high levels homicide exceed those income inequality. Regression analyses using both INTERPOL World Health Organization data support hypotheses. Indicators are significantly positively related to despite fairly extensive controls for other theoretically relevant characteristics....These results...

The revised National Crime Victimization Survey is used to examine the effects of victim's relationship offender on whether assaults are reported police by either victim or third parties. results indicate that offender‐victim affects third‐party but not reporting. former effect occurs in part because parties unlikely witness involving people ongoing relationships, particularly couples, and reluctant report minor (i.e., those involve a threat no actual attack weapon). We discuss possible...

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...

A good deal of research in recent years has revisited the relationship between immigration and violent crime. Various scholars have suggested that, contrary to claims classic Chicago School, large immigrant populations might be associated with lower rather than higher rates criminal violence. limitation this area is that it been based largely on cross‐sectional analyses for a restricted range geographic areas. Using time‐series techniques annual data metropolitan areas over 1994–2004 period,...

In one of the more important studies in criminological literature over past decade, Sampson and Groves analyze data from 238 British neighborhoods to test mediating effect indicators social disorganization variables on relationship between structural community characteristics crime. this article, authors recognize that advances statistical theory software allow for a detailed analysis Groves's integrated community-level disorganization. Using covariance structure modeling (LISREL), results...

This research examines the anomalous « null effects » of sex ratio on rates violent crime in previous macrolevel research. The AA. propose a model wherein expected positive criminal violence relatively large numbers males is suppressed by negative indirect via family disruption. Several hypotheses are derived from and tested with race-specific data robbery homicide offending for sample 153 American cities. results largely support our expectations. exhibits relationships indicator disruption...

The purpose of this paper is to use the recently developed “routine activities” approach help interpret patterns homicide in a major metropolitan area—Manhattan, New York We argue that routine activities perspective suggests several distinctive hypotheses about relationships among sociodemographic characteristics victims, temporal features situation, and probability being involved different kinds homicide. More specifically, we hypothesize age, sex, race, marital status, employment along...

The purpose of this paper is to apply a “routine activities” approach explain the relations between macro-level indicators leisure activities and rates serious crime. We hypothesize that volume typically take place within households will exhibit negative with crime, whereas are usually conducted away from yield positive associations Regression analyses for sample largest Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) in United States provide strong support these hypotheses. A “household...

The purpose of this paper is to formulate and test a Durkheimian model societal development homicide. Relying heavily on Anthony Giddens' recent reinterpretation the Division Labor, we argue that has no overall effect homicide rate primarily because egalitarian changes accompanying make for new forms social solidarity. Our theory leads us predict there will be significant zero-order relationship between homicide, positive partial measures moral individualism negative measure equality results...

We used data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods to examine extent which individual, family, and contextual factors account for differential exposure violence associated with race/ethnicity among youths. Logistic hierarchical item response models 2344 individuals nested within 80 neighborhoods revealed that odds of being exposed were 74% 112% higher Hispanics Blacks, respectively, than Whites. Appreciable portions Hispanic-White gap (33%) Black-White (53%)...

Using data on interracial marriage and violent crime for a sample of 25 metropolitan communities, this article tests several hypotheses derived from Blau's theory social structure. Consistent with theoretical predictions, moderate, positive correlations are found between rates crime. The also explores the relationship dimensions structure identified by Blau-group size, heterogeneity, intergroup inequality ("consolidation"), segregation-and these two forms association. Both influenced...