The study examines race-specific rates of robbery and homicide by juveniles and adults in over 150 U.S. cities in 1980. The results show that the scarcity of employed black men increases the prevalence of families headed by females in black communities. In turn, black family disruption substantially increases the rates of black murder and robbery, especially by juveniles. These effects are independent of income, region, race and age composition, density, city size, and welfare benefits and are similar to the effects of white family disruption on white violence. It is concluded that there is nothing inherent in black culture that is conducive to crime. Rather, persistently high rates of black crime appear to stem from the structural linkages among unemployment, economic deprivation, and family disruption in urban black communities. 1 figure, 26 footnotes, and about 80 references. (Author abstract modified)
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Declines in victims calling the police in 21st-century America: how the trends vary by race/ethnicity and racial-immigration contexts
- Evaluation of ForenSeq Signature Prep Kit B on Predicting Eye and Hair Coloration as Well as Biogeographical Ancestry by Using Universal Analysis Software (UAS) and Available Web-tools
- Relations between youths’ community violence exposure and their physical aggression: The protective role of adults