NCJ Number
5343
Journal
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 62 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1971) Pages: 543-547
Date Published
1971
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROPOSED METHOD TO DESCRIBE CRIME INCIDENCE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT SOCIAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS URBANIZATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS RATIO OF CRIMES TO POPULATION.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS AGREE WITH DURKHEIM'S MOTION THAT SOME CRIME IN ANY GIVEN SOCIETY IS A NORMAL PHENOMENON. IF THIS NORMAL CRIME RATE CAN BE DETERMINED, THEN INCREASES CAN BE VIEWED AS EITHER GREATER OR LESSER THAN EXPECTED. THE AUTHORS PROPOSE A FORMULA TO CORRELATE NUMBER OF CRIMES PER POPULATION UNIT AND THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME. THIS FORMULA WAS APPLIED TO A COMMUNITY WITH AN INCREASED CRIME RATE OF ALMOST 50 PER CENT OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE CONDITIONS FOR CRIME HAD INCREASED AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE AS THE CRIME RATE. THUS THE CRIME RATE, THOUGH INCREASING ABOUT 50 PER CENT WAS ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED AND THEREFORE THE INCREASE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED EXCESSIVELY MORBID.