NCJ Number
214970
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2006 Pages: 303-316
Date Published
May 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study used data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the census to investigate the relationship between indicators of interracial and intraracial economic inequality and violent crime rates, including White-on-Black, White-on-White, Black-on-White, and Black-on-Black offenses.
Abstract
Overall, the study findings are consistent with J.R. Blau and Blau's (1982) relative deprivation thesis, which holds that increases in economic inequality, particularly race-based inequality result in increased crime by Blacks. Secondary support was provided for P.M Blau's (1977) macrostructural theory of intergroup relations, which predicts that increases in race-based inequality produces less interracial crime. Cities with large income disparities between Whites and Blacks had higher rates of violent crime, controlling for other factors. The White-on-Black crime rate tended to be lower in cities with lower levels of residential segregation. When cities experienced greater disadvantage, the White-on-Black crime rate was magnified. Cities with a large population and a large Black population had higher rates of White-on-Black crime. The White-on-White crime rate was likely to be higher in cities with a small Black population. As the percentage of Blacks in the population increased, the Black-on-White crime rate decreased. In cities where White-to-Black economic inequality was pronounced, Blacks were much more likely to be victimized by other Blacks, holding constant other factors. The Black-on-Black crime rate was not higher in cities with high levels of Black-to-Black economic inequality. Data for this study were obtained from the NIBRS and the census for 91 cities in 15 States for the year 2000. The sample included only cities of at least 25,000 people and a Black population of at least 2,000 people. 3 tables, 10 notes, and 43 references