NCJ Number
174970
Journal
Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Social Psychology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: July 1997 Pages: 1-35
Date Published
1997
Length
35 pages
Annotation
Because researchers have been intrigued over the past 25 years by the relationship between social development and crime but empirical study findings on understanding crime in specific developing regions have been questioned, this study addresses crime and development in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Abstract
National data for the three countries were collected from police agencies, social data were collected from the United Nations, and economic data were obtained from the World Bank. Crime trends were examined, and criminal incidents were grouped into violent (homicide, felony wounding, and rape) or property crime (burglary and larceny) categories. Findings suggested current models did not adequately or fully explain crime in the three countries. Even with significant cultural, social, legal, and geographic similarities among countries, differences were observed in the magnitude of crime reported and in crime trends over time. Possible reasons for the inapplicability of current models are discussed, and additional and alternative approaches toward understanding crime in the region are suggested. 39 references, 6 endnotes, 2 tables, and 18 figures