NCJ Number
133467
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 88,90,92,95
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The proposed model of geographic crime patterns relates geographic variables connected to social disorganization to crime.
Abstract
The model indicates that social disorganization is reflected in demographic characteristics, housing characteristics, and population mobility. Studies based on the National Crime Survey of victims indicates that the extent of urbanism, housing density, and poverty are significant predictors of violent and property crime. Housing density is related to criminality both in urbanized and in less populated areas. Other studies reported that the decline of inner city population, poor and vacant housing, and shifting population compositions all contribute to sustained criminal activity. This relationship also holds for areas outside the inner city. These criminogenic characteristics of the inner city have been shown to have appeared and persisted into the outlying suburban areas over the last three decades. Consequently, the traditionally accepted gradient of crime reduction as a function of distance from the center of a city no longer applies in many metropolitan areas. The proposed model has been extensively validated throughout the United States. Consequently, the determination of projected crime risk or foreseability is now possible for any geographical unit in the Nation.