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GEOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CRIME, 1968

NCJ Number
17114
Journal
JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1971) Pages: 204-213
Author(s)
K D HARRIES
Date Published
1971
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A SERIES OF COMPUTER-GENERATED MAPS IS PRESENTED THAT ILLUSTRATES THE STATE-LEVEL DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEAR 1968.
Abstract
THE MAPS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO BROAD GROUPS - THOSE RELATING TO CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. IN THE VIOLENT CRIME GROUP, DISTRIBUTIONS ARE SHOWN FOR MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AND ASSAULT. THE DOMINANCE OF THE SOUTH IN TERMS OF HOMICIDE IS PARTICULARLY STRIKING. BURGLARY, LARCENY OVER 50 DOLLARS, AND AUTO THEFT ARE THE PROPERTY CRIMES REPRESENTED. WESTERN STATES, AND VARIOUS HIGHLY METROPOLITAN STATES (SUCH AS NEW YORK) GENERALLY EXHIBIT THE HIGHEST PROPERTY CRIME RATES. SUMMARY TABLES SHOW THE STATES WITH EXTREME (HIGH OR LOW) CRIME RATES. STATES WITH THE LOWEST RATES GENERALLY LACK LARGE METROPOLITAN NODES, WHILE THE CONVERSE IS TRUE, WITH CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, AND MARYLAND HEADING THE LIST OF STATES WITH HIGH RATES IN MULTIPLE CRIME CATEGORIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)