DB questions
ismails95
12GroupDifferences.pptxHOW CAN WE EXPLAIN GROUP DIFFERENCES IN DELINQUENCY?
JD: Causes and Control (12)
1
Introduction
Focus on communities rather than individuals
Provide model to explain group differences in delinquency rates
2
Community Characteristics & Delinquency
Crime rates higher in some communities
What types of communities?
Characteristics of high-crime communities
economic deprivation
residential instability in that people frequently move in and out of community
family disruption
high percentage of African-American and/or Latino residents
association between race/ethnicity and community crime rates due to third variables like economic deprivation, residential instability, and family disruption
poor African-Americans more likely than poor whites to live in such communities
3
Prevalence of High Poverty Communities
Increase in numbers of such communities and people living in them from 1970 to 1990
1. migration of working and middle class African-Americans to more affluent communities
2. government housing policies placed public housing projects in poor inner city communities
3. major changes in economy
decline in low-skill jobs paying a decent wage
manufacturing jobs moved to suburban areas or overseas
wages in manufacturing jobs become less competitive
increase in low-skill service sector jobs
4
24% decrease in numbers of people living in such communities from 1990 to 2000
Why?
strong economy during 1990s
federal housing policies encouraged replacement of public housing projects with mixed-income housing
concern as to whether this trend will continue
5
Why Are Deprived Communities Higher in Crime?
Attract or select crime-prone individuals
Characteristics of community cause individuals to engage in crime
1. higher in strain
goal blockage
less access to jobs, especially well-paying jobs
less able to achieve social status, especially “masculine status”
loss of positive stimuli/presentation of negative stimuli
family disruption
school problems
criminal victimization and child abuse
fewer legitimate coping resources and increased anger
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2. lower in control
less effective direct control
less likely to provide juveniles with stake in conformity
less likely to socialize juveniles to condemn delinquency and exercise self control
reasons for less control
trouble finding decent work so lack skills and resources necessary to assist others in community
less likely to have close ties to neighbors and community
less likely to support or form community organizations
3. foster social learning of crime
delinquent groups more likely to form
develop beliefs favorable to delinquency
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Community Crime Rates
Dependent variable: economic deprivation, residential instability, and family disruption increase crime rates
Independent variable: increase in crime rates affects other factors
1. businesses and residents move out of communities
2. property values fall
3. poorer individuals move into community
4. reduction in control, increase in social learning for crime and increase in strain
Reciprocal relationship between crime rates and community characteristics
8
Overview of Leading Theories of Delinquency
Each theory presents different image of delinquent
1. strain theory
angry and frustrated because of problems or strains and unable to cope through legal channels
2. social learning theory
believes delinquency desirable or justifiable response to particular situation
3. control theory
unrestrained
4. labeling theory
branded as “bad,” rejected and mistreated by conventional others
Combination of theories provides more complete explanation of delinquency
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