NCJ Number
85825
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 64 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (February-March 1981) Pages: 18-28
Date Published
1981
Length
11 pages
Annotation
An analysis of aggregate crime rates of 17 West German cities with over 300,000 inhabitants examined total crime rates and violent crime rates in relation to demographic data and suicide rates.
Abstract
Derived from reports based on the 1970 census, from police crime reports, and from municipal statistics, data reflect the years 1970 to 1973. The study sought to ascertain if differences in the amount of crime among cities are a function of their differing population size, if other factors can be identified that influence varying crime rates among urban centers, and if these factors are similar to conditions associated with intra-urban variations of the crime rate. Results showed that total crime rates do correlate significantly with city population size. High correlations were also found between indicators of family disorganization (divorce rates) and social pathology (suicide rates) as well as with high social rank of the population (occupational categories). The latter correlation is surprising and contrasts with other studies associating large working class populations with high crime rates. This was particularly striking in the findings regarding industrial centers of the Ruhr area, where the total crime rate, the suicide rate, and the divorce rate were all low within a high laborer population. The correlation between high population density and violent crime was not borne out, although it was evident that the context of a high aggregate crime rate is conducive to more violent crime as well. Tabular data, footnotes, and a bibliography are provided.