NCJ Number
94226
Date Published
1984
Length
339 pages
Annotation
Basic shifts in urban growth patterns since World War II have increased the vulnerability of a growing number of urban subareas to transformation into high-crime neighborhoods.
Abstract
Study data came from Los Angeles County's highest crime neighborhoods over the 26-year period from 1950 to 1976. Crime trends were examined in relation to trends in land use and in demographic, socioeconomic, and subcultural characteristics. The rate of transformation to a high-crime area sharply accelerated only during the late stage of the neighborhood transformation. Property crimes were the main forms of offense at each stage of development, except during the initial stage when personal crimes briefly exceeded property crimes. Crime increases were associated with shifts from owner-occupied to renter-occupied housing, from single to multiple dwelling units, a rise in residential mobility, rising proportions of single-parent families and unattached individuals, and socioeconomic change. These changes occurred in a progression rather than simultaneously. Crime control intervention efforts should center on emerging high-crime areas rather than on areas which have long-established patterns of high crime levels. Data tables, maps, 64 references, and appendixes presenting additional data are included.