NCJ Number
171183
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1996) Pages: 43-59
Date Published
1996
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A survey conducted in a southern city with a population of 24,261 tested the assumptions of both the routine activities theory and social disorganization theory as explanations of property crime victimization at the individual level.
Abstract
The research collected information from 274 households in both high-crime and low-crime neighborhoods in 1996. Results revealed that routine activities theory explained 28 percent of the variance in property crime in the socially disorganized, high-crime area, but it explained only 11 percent of the same variance in the low-crime area. Separate measurements were used to establish the level of social disorganization in the two geographical areas. The beta coefficients revealed that in the high-crime area, those most likely to be property crime victims were white, single homeowners who were not at home from 6-11 p.m., who had relatives living in their neighborhoods, and who interacted with their neighborhood. These findings indicated more support for routine activities theory in social disorganized areas than in socially organized areas, but the support for routine activities theory was weak at best. Findings also suggested that establishing neighborhood watches may help property crime victimization by increasing the guardianship of residents' property regardless of whether or not the individuals are at home. Tables, figure, and 30 references (Author abstract modified)