NCJ Number
108222
Date Published
1984
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the effects of Atlantic City's casino gambling on crime in 69 communities in the region, with attention to the export and import of crime (crimes committed in the suburban municipalities by outside criminals and crimes that suburban criminals commit in Atlantic City).
Abstract
Following the ecological explanation of criminal behavior and the economic-school pioneers, this study explains the domestic generation of crime by the social characteristics and physical environment of the criminal and the opportunity cost in committing crime. The study reasoned that any deviation of each municipality's actual crime rate from its predicted value was due to net import of crime from Atlantic City. Findings indicate that wealthy localities in the region attracted more criminals related to the casinos than did the less wealthy communities. Distance and police operations had a limited deterring effect when crime opportunities were significantly great. Criminals from poorer localities operated in Atlantic City, with crime opportunities stemming from gambling and visitors with large amounts of cash. The level of all property crimes committed by nonresidents diminished as the distance from Atlantic City increased. The share of violent crimes and vehicle thefts diminished for 'imported' crime as the distance from Atlantic City increased. The share of burglaries, larcenies, and robberies increased, however. The level of policing is related to a locality's wealth. 5 tables and 29 references.