The police and social threat: Urban transition, youth gangs, and social control

Abstract

Based on a study of U.S. cities of 25,000 or more, this paper describes the impact of urban decline from 1970–1980 and the magnitude of youth gang problems on municipal fiscal commitment to policing. After statistical controls are imposed for the city's crime rate, revenues and demographic characteristics, the results indicate that urban transition and recognition of youth gang problems influence municipal police funding. Implications are drawn concerning the extent to which police are called upon to manage social threats that rise from the ashes of urban decay.