NCJ Number
16377
Date Published
1975
Length
301 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE TYPES OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES THAT CAN HAVE DELETERIOUS OR SALUBRIOUS EFFECTS ON THE COMMISSION OF CRIME.
Abstract
THE REACTION OF PEOPLE TO CRIME CAN REINFORCE AND EXACERBATE THE CRIME PROBLEM STATES THE AUTHOR OF THE IMPACT OF CRIME. HE CONTENDS THAT STREET CRIME WOULD DECLINE IF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS WERE CLOSER, IF INTERACTION AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY WAS MORE FREQUENT, AND IF SOCIAL BONDS WERE CLOSER. BEGINING WITH A REVIEW OF THE COSTS OF CRIME, DIRECT COSTS SUCH AS LOSS OF MONEY IN ROBBERIES, AND THE INDIRECT COSTS SUCH AS THE REFUSAL OF THE PUBLIC TO SHOP IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AFTER DARK ARE DESCRIBED. A SECTION ON THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND CRIMINALS REVEALS THE AUTHOR'S CONTENTION THAT THE LABELING PROCESS ADVERSELY AFFECTS BOTH CRIMINAL AND COMMUNITY. THE AUTHOR GOES ON TO DISCOUNT DURKHEIM'S THEORY THAT CRIME BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND A CONDENSATION OF THE AUTHOR'S PREVIOUS STUDY ON COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THE CRIME PROBLEM FURTHER STRENGTHENS THIS REBUTTAL. A DISCUSSION OF DEFENSIVE RESPONSES TO PERCEIVED CRIME THREATS ANALYZES PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS SELF-DEFENSE AND REVEALS THAT PEOPLE WILL TRY ALMOST ANYTHING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM VICTIMIZATION. THE EFFECTS OF INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL AND PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE LAW ON THE CRIME RATE ARE DISCUSSED. TWO CHAPTERS DEAL WITH INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSES TO CRIME AND INCLUDE NARRATIONS ON VIGILANTES, CIVILIAN POLICE PATROLS AND BYSTANDER RESPONSE AND APATHY. EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHIC MATERIAL APPEARS THROUGHOUT AND APPENDIXES PRESENT DEOMOGRAPHIC AND STATISTICAL DATA. (SNI ABSTRACT)