NCJ Number
59603
Journal
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE ANNALS Volume: 217 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1941) Pages: 38-45
Date Published
1941
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A CULTURAL EXPLANATION OF URBAN-RURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF CRIME, AS REFLECTED IN OFFICIAL STATISTICS FOR THE NATION AND FOR MINNESOTA IN THE LATE 1930'S, IS DEVELOPED IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN 1941.
Abstract
THE INFERENCES ABOUT URBAN AND RURAL DIFFERENCES THAT CAN BE DRAWN FROM OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS ARE LIMITED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS (E.G., THE RURAL PREFERENCE FOR INFORMAL CONTROLS). HOWEVER, IT DOES APPEAR THAT, WHILE THERE IS NOT MUCH URBAN-RURAL DIFFERENCE IN THE RATES OF SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON, URBAN AREAS HAVE A FAR GREATER PROBLEM THAN RURAL AREAS WITH THE MORE COMMON CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF HIGH CRIME RATES IN CITIES RESTS ON TWO HYPOTHESES: (1) THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SELECTIVE MIGRATION FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY OF INDIVIDUALS LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIMES; AND (2) THAT THE CITY ITSELF INFLUENCES THE LIVES OF ITS INHABITANTS IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES CRIMINALITY. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT POPULATION MOVEMENTS IS INSUFFICIENT TO WARRANT CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THEIR EFFECT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF CRIMINALITY. A MORE PROMISING EXPLANATION LIES IN THE COMBINATION OF SITUATIONAL FACTORS, SOCIAL PRESSURES, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATIONS THAT DETERMINE INDIVIDUAL LIFE PATTERNS. IN BOTH CITY AND COUNTRY, MOST PEOPLE HAVE MEANINGFUL CONTACT AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH PEOPLE WHOSE STANDARDS ARE THE SUBSTANCE OF LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. IN CITY CULTURES, HOWEVER, THE CHANCES ARE GREATER THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WILL CONTACT AND BE INFLUENCED BY GROUPS WHOSE CODES ARE MARGINAL OR CRIMINAL, AND WHO ENCOURAGE RATHER THAN DISAPPROVE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IN THE RURAL CULTURE, THE INDIVIDUAL IS MORE LIKELY TO BE PROVIDED STANDARDS, AND CONCEPTIONS OF PROPRIETY THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. STATISTICAL TABLES ARE INCLUDED.