NCJ Number
36989
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 23 Issue: 5 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 567-580
Date Published
1976
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE IMPACT OF NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTIONAL LIFE ON BOTH THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF RIOT-RELATED EVENTS DURING A 1968 SUMMER RIOT IN RICHMOND AND NORTH RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.
Abstract
THE RIOT ZONE CONSISTED OF THREE LOW INCOME DISTRICTS, TWO OF WHICH - IRON TRIANGLE AND SOUTH SIDE - ARE LOCATED IN RICHMOND WITH THE THIRD ZONE, NORTH RICHMOND, PARTLY INCORPORATED IN RICHMOND. IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT DELINQUENCY IS LIKELY TO BE LESS FREQUENT, LAW-VIOLATING BEHAVIOR DURING A RIOT TENDS TO DECLINE MORE RAPIDLY, AND STRONG FORMAL AND INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONAL TIES ARE MORE LIKELY CHARACTERIZE RACIALLY STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE RACIALLY STABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS INSTANCE WAS NORTH RICHMOND. THE STUDY MADE USE OF THREE METHODS OF GENERATING DATA: THE SOCIAL SURVEY, INFORMANT INTERVIEWING, AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. RESULTS SUGGEST THAT RIOTS REPRESENT A DIRECT CONTINUITY RATHER THAN A SHARP DISCONTINUITY WITH PREEXISTING SOCIAL CONDITIONS. EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED THAT PATTERNS OF NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT DURING THE EIGHT RACIAL DISTURBANCES RESEMBLED PRIOR NEIGHBORHOOD DELINQUENCY PATTERNS. IN THE TWO RACIALLY CHANGING NEIGHBORHOODS, THE INCIDENCE OF PRE-RIOT DELINQUENCY WAS HIGHER THAN IN THE MORE RACIALLY STABLE ONE, WHILE DURING THE COURSE OF THE RIOT, THE INCIDENCE OF RIOT-RELATED VIOLENCE ESCALATED IN THE FORMER AND DRAMATICALLY DECLINED IN THE LATTER. THE ADEQUACY OF A SOCIAL CONTROL MODEL TO EXPLAIN SIMILARITIES BETWEEN DELINQUENCY AND RIOT-RELATED ACTION IS EMPIRICALLY TESTED AND THE STRENGTH OF FRIENDSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL TIES IN THE LOW DELINQUENCY AREA IS EXPLORED. RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH A GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT THE 'IRRATIONAL' OR 'BIZARRE' FEATURES OF COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR EPISODES HAVE BEEN UNDULY EXAGGERATED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)