ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING CRIME ON THE CAMPUS

• NCJ Number: 47739
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 47-52
• Author(s): L R MCPHETERS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS WORK WAS PRESENTED AT THE MEETINGS OF THE OPERATIONS RESEARCH SOCIETY OF AMERICA, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., MAY 1977

Annotation

A SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION MODEL FOR ESTIMATING CRIME AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IS DEVELOPED AND USED TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT CRIME ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IS SYSTEMATICALLY RELATED TO CERTAIN INDEPENDENT VARIABLES.

Abstract

THE MODEL IS DEVELOPED WITH CRIME DATA FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S 1975 UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS; BUDGET DATA, STUDENT POPULATION, AND OTHER DATA SUPPLIED BY THE SECURITY DEPARTMENTS OF 38 UNIVERSITIES; AND UNEMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. OF THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES TESTED, THE PROPORTION OF STUDENTS LIVING IN DORMITORIES AND PROXIMITY TO URBAN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT OF CRIME ON CAMPUS, WHICH IN TURN IS AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF CAMPUS SECURITY EXPENDITURES. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT CLOSING CAMPUSES TO NONSTUDENT LIKELY WOULD REDUCE CRIME RATES, BUT AT THE COST OF A GREAT DEAL OF PERSONAL FREEDOM ASSOCIATED WITH LIFE IN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH PREVENTION MEASURES BY POTENTIAL VICTIMS MIGHT BE ENCOURAGED BY CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICES, MANY SECURITY OFFICES REPORTED THAT CAMPUS INDIFFERENCE TO CRIME WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)