NCJ Number
126567
Journal
Canadian Journal of Sociology Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1989) Pages: 372-376
Date Published
1989
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses theoretical and methodological differences between Hagan and Lenton's theories for Canadian-American differences in homicide rates.
Abstract
According to Lenton, Hagan proposes different explanations for different types of crimes: structural conflict for crimes of low societal consensus and value differences for crimes of high societal consensus, using homicide as the consensus crime. However Hagan claims his theory for Canadian-American differences in homicide rates fuses structural and cultural components. Lenton argues that the structural component is not present in Hagan's theory, and that he attributes the differences to dissimilarities in values developed out of unique historical experiences of each country simulating a consensus theory. Methodological issues include ratio measure of differences such as year to year differences in homicide rates, time trends of Canadian and American homicide ratio, and value differences. Lenton further argues that value differences are highlighted to the exclusion of racial differences and class inequality in Hagan's theory. Racial composition and class inequality as well as other contemporary social organization differences between the two countries need to be included in theoretical explanations for differences in crime rates between America and Canada. 3 notes and 8 references