MACRO SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF BURGLARY

• NCJ Number: 13920
• Author(s): P RICHMAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 69 pages
• Grant Number(s): AC3-73-JL
• Sponsoring Agency: Missouri Law Enforcement Assistance Council
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DISSERTATION - SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMUNITY WHICH CREATE THE VULNERABILITY TO CRIME AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT GENERATE THE CRIMINAL.

Abstract

THE FOCUS IS ON THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF A SPECIFIC GROUP AS OPPOSED TO THE INTENT OR MOTIVATION OF A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. IN FACT, THE INDIVIDUAL BURGLAR IS CONSIDERED EXPENDABLE TO THIS ENTIRE ANALYTICAL SCHEME, IN THE SENSE THAT HE IS MERELY ATTRACTED TO THE COMMUNITY BY CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND, IF APPREHENDED, IS IMMEDIATELY REPLACED BY ANOTHER BURGLAR WHO IS SIMILARLY ATTRACTED TO THE AREA. IN LIKE MANNER, THE VICTIM IS OF INTEREST ONLY IN THAT HE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A GENERAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLASS, STANDARD OF LIVING, STYLE OF LIFE, OR SEX/AGE GROUP. THE FACTS RELATIVE TO THE CRIME WHICH HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED PERVADE A SOCIAL ORDER, TRANSCEND THE INDIVIDUAL, AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, EXERT TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE OVER HIM. THUS, THESE ARE, BY DEFINITION, SOCIAL FACTS. THE PAPER CONSISTS OF FOUR PARTS. FIRST A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE IS PRESENTED, BEGINNING WITH DURKHEIM IN 1897 AND SHOWING HOW SIMILAR SOCIOLOGICAL MODELS HAVE BEEN USED TO EXPLAIN THE ETIOLOGY OF OTHER SOCIAL ACTS. EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE REVIEW SHOWS WHY THIS TYPE OF MODEL WAS USED TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER MODELS, PARTICULARLY THE SOCIAL PATHOLOGY PERSPECTIVE WHICH VIEWS SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE. SECOND, A METHODOLOGICAL SECTION OPERATIONALLY DEFINES BOTH THE VARIABLE UNDER STUDY (BURGLARY) AND A SELECTED SET OF SOCIAL FACTORS. A FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE IS STATED IN TERMS OF A GENERAL HYPOTHESIS AND A SERIES OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESES WHICH CAN BE TESTED. THE PROCEDURES USED TO GATHER AND ANALYZE THE DATA ARE ALSO EXPLAINED. THE THIRD SECTION IS AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA, DEMONSTRATING BOTH GRAPHICALLY AND STATISTICALLY THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BURGLARY AND THE SELECTED SET OF SOCIAL FACTORS. A FINAL SECTION SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) UNIVERSITY CITY