Strangers in the Neighborhood: Violence and Neighborhood Boundaries

Abstract

New Orleans experienced elevated rates of violent crime throughout the thirty years between 1985 and 2015. Violence was disproportionately represented in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. This study explores the lived experiences of residents from one such neighborhood, using individual interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. The data indicate that neighborhood boundaries vacillated between rigidly defensive and porous, which impacted residents’ ability to enact collective efficacy and thus to create a milieu that either positively or negatively influenced the likelihood of violence. With a long history of institutional and social neglect, the community initially viewed outsiders as invaders which resulted in rigidly defended boundaries. As the community emerged from social marginalization and was able to enact collective efficacy, its boundaries became more porous and resources flowed into the community. As a result, violence decreased, further enhancing collective efficacy and boundary porosity in a virtuous cycle. This suggests that crime prevention and response models that engage residents and decrease marginalization may decrease cynicism, open boundaries, and improve collective efficacy, thereby reducing neighborhood violence.