Social Disorganization Theory Research Articles

Impact of Urban Slum Violence on Work in Slum Areas of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract Regular violence pervades the slums in Port Harcourt, a metropolitan city where people inhabit for the purpose of work, among other reasons. The curiosity to understand the relationship of work with this violence is felt by the researchers who, from the review of relevant literature, observed that intellectual response to the issue dealt with political violence and effects on social development. The researchers therefore observed an existing gap in knowledge of the relationship between urban slum violence and work in the slum areas of Port Harcourt. Four research hypotheses were posed to guide the study. The study adopted the social disorganization theory in the explanation of the variables of the study. Simple random sampling method was adopted in the selection of the respondents of the instruments of the study, and some slums in the city were selected randomly. The study adopted cross-sectional research design and generated data through survey. The data for the study was generated through the administration of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion. Sample size of 400 was determined by the Taro Yamane statistics. We analyzed data of the study using descriptive statistics. Thus, chi-square statistics was utilized in testing the hypotheses of the study. The qualitative data were organized into conceptual themes and categories. The study concluded that urban slum violence hinders school activities, business activities, fishing activities and employment opportunities for people in the slum areas of Port Harcourt. Thus, the study established that urban slum violence has a negative impact on work in the slum areas of Port Harcourt. Hence, policy recommendations were made.

The Social Disorganization Theory Approach as a Crime Prevention Effort in Sumenep, Indonesia

Child marriage is a global social phenomenon that has even been identified as a crucial issue of child protection in the 21st century and has been addressed by various countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Indonesia itself has declared a child marriage emergency because by 2020 it was included in the 10 countries with the highest number of child marriages in the world, ie, about 1,220,900 children with early marriages were scattered in 22 provinces, one of which is East Java with 6084 cases in 2020, with the largest percentage in Madura Island and one in Sumenep Island with a total of 1723 cases. The Havana Convention of 1990 states that the elimination of the causal factors of social problems in a society is the most effective means of addressing the social problems themselves and must be an integral part of social defense itself. This paper is driven to identify and analyze the determinant causal factors of child marriage in Sumenep. It is written based on empirical legal research with a socio-legal approach, which prioritizes primary data obtained from the results of interviews and questionnaires and is analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The results show that the causal factors of child marriages in Sumenep are dominated by cultural practices such as the “tan-pangantanan ” tradition, which is also promoted by the government as part of the preservation of local traditions, the conceptual shift of ' Tompangan ' Tradition, excessive fanaticism toward Muslim Priests (Kyai), low education, economic gain, and the worriness of free sex.

The Social Disorganization Theory Approach as a Crime Prevention Effort in Sumenep, Indonesia

There was an increase in crime rates along with an increase in the number of tourism visitors in Sumenep Regency in the 2017-2019 period. The increase in crime rates mainly occurred in areas that have new high demand tourist objects. The increase in crime is mainly in several forms of crime that can be categorized as social pathology. The increase in crime in tourist sites can be viewed from the point of view of social disorganization theory, namely criminological theory which sees the relationship between crime and geography. This study uses a socio-legal research method that examines the correlation between an increase in the number of tourists and an increase in crime rates in Sumenep and attmpts to prevent crimes committed by the Sumenep Police by using a social disorganization theory approach. There is a concrete correlation between the increase in the number of tourist visitors and the increase in crime according to social disorganization theory, and secondary prevention is carried out by carrying out three prevention policies.

Social disorganization, collective efficacy, bullying perpetration, and victimization: An empirical test

ABSTRACT The current study offers a test of social disorganization theory to assess the effects of neighborhood-level factors on bullying perpetration and victimization. The study offers a quasi-replication the Sampson and Groves (1989) model and integrates proxy measures consistent with prior research to test the theoretical framework on bullying outcomes. Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2019 were used to analyze a sample of adolescent youth between the ages 12 and 17 (n = 8,584). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the effects of indicators consistent with social disorganization and collective efficacy on varying levels of bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. Results suggest that indicators of social disorganization (i.e., low-SES, neighborhood decay) increases the odds of bullying perpetration/victimization. Additionally, collective efficacy reduces the odds of both bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. Ecological factors beyond the context of school environments appear to be influential to bullying outcomes.

Associations between small-area sociodemographic characteristics and intimate partner violence in Montréal, Québec.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects many individuals and can have a significant impact on their health and well-being. In order to inform prevention strategies, several studies have focused on the determinants of IPV. However, knowledge on the association between neighbourhood characteristics and IPV remains scarce. The social disorganization theory posits that certain neighbourhood characteristics are associated with violent behaviours. This theory has been used to explain spatial variations in IPV, but most studies have been conducted in the United States. Little is known about the effect of neighbourhood factors in urban contexts outside of the United States. Using police data from 2016 and 2017, this study estimated the association between sociodemographic characteristics of neighbourhoods (socioeconomic status, single-parenthood, residential instability and ethnocultural heterogeneity) and IPV victimization in Montréal, Québec. Results suggest a neighbourhood-level variation in IPV, and that neighbourhood-level characteristics are associated with IPV victimization. Specifically, the likelihood of IPV is higher in neighbourhoods with the lowest SES level (OR = 2.80, 95%CI: 2.47-3.17, p < 0.001) and the lowest level of residential instability (OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.70-0.93, p = 0.003) as well as the highest proportion of single-parent households (OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.65-2.15, p < 0.001). Although neighbourhood-level interventions to reduce IPV are rare, our results highlight the importance of developing such preventive strategies. Prevention programs targeting high-risk neighbourhoods may prove effective in reducing IPV.

Analyzing the Effects of Political Power on Criminal Behavior among Political Elites in Nigeria

This study explores the correlation between political power and criminal behavior among political elites in Nigeria. It utilizes a qualitative methodology, including a thorough examination of existing literature, to understand the nature and consequences of criminal behavior in Nigeria. The study finds that socioeconomic inequality is a key factor influencing criminal behavior, and factors contributing to criminal behavior among political elites include weak law enforcement, corruption, and a culture of deviance. The study applies theoretical frameworks such as strain theory, social disorganization theory, rational choice theory, and elite theory to analyze the effects of political power on criminal behavior among political elites. Institutional factors play a significant role, and the level of transparency within institutional frameworks plays a crucial role in shaping the behavior of political elites. Criminal networks and power consolidation pose ongoing challenges for the government, with various criminal activities prevalent in Nigeria. The study recommends strengthening law enforcement and the legal system, enhancing transparency and accountability, combating corruption and bribery, strengthening oversight institutions, addressing socio-cultural factors, fostering international collaboration, promoting public accountability and civil society engagement, and establishing strong institutions to mitigate the influence of political power on criminal behavior. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the close connection between political power and criminal behavior in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for interventions and reforms to address this issue.

Law Enforcement Murdered in the Line of Duty: A County-Level Analysis of Contributing Factors

The current study examines the macro-level covariates influencing law enforcement officers (LEOs) shot and killed in the line of duty. Social disorganization theory, as well as literature on police training, police presence, and gun availability, creates the theoretical framework underpinning the current investigation. LEO firearm deaths between 2011 and 2019 were obtained from the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), aggregated to the county level, then merged with county- and state-level data from secondary sources. Negative binomial regression was utilized to examine the effect of social disorganization, police training, police presence, and gun availability on LEO firearm deaths. Of the social disorganization measures, resource disadvantage is found to have the strongest impact on LEO firearm deaths. While population instability and density also significantly increase these deaths, ethnic heterogeneity has a significant negative effect. Furthermore, police presence has a protective effect against these murders, while gun availability increases these deaths. Limitations of the study, along with policy implications and suggestions for future research, are discussed.

An empirical study of social disorganization theory in China

Social disorganization theory has been tested for several decades in different countries, especially in the United States and Britain. With rapid urbanization, China is facing the similar issue of disruption of neighborhood organization in transitional zones as other countries have experienced. To test the applicability of social disorganization theory in China, this study examined the impact of both neighborhood structural characteristics and organizational characteristics of communities on victimization, utilizing a sample from a small rural-urban town in Zhejiang Province, China. The findings indicated that local dialect competence, residential mobility, and attitude toward the police were significantly associated with individual victimization. Therefore, social disorganization theory is supported based upon the current sample. Limitations and future studies are also discussed.

Latino Paradox or Black Exception? Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in the 21st Century

George Floyd’s murder by a Minnesota police officer sparked outrage, protests, and a re-evaluation of racial inequities in America. Within criminology, we argue, that re-evaluation should include the Latino Paradox, the idea that Latino communities are an exception—a paradox—in that, while they face economic deprivation, they also possess a magical something that makes them resistant to social problems like crime. Unfortunately, this compels the more delicate question; what is the deficiency in Black communities that makes them so vulnerable to crime? However, as we argue here, the Latino Paradox forces a false comparison. Its assumptions with respect to crime are factually incorrect, it demeans Blacks by neglecting their historical context, it romanticizes the Latino experience, and it misdirects policy making. It also leads to lazy theorizing by suggesting that the Latino Paradox forces a re-evaluation of a major criminology theory, Social Disorganization. Indeed, Social Disorganization Theory can adequately explain past and present links between immigration and crime. In light of these problems, it is time to drop the Latino Paradox as an explanation for the race/ethnic differences in crime.

Indigenizing Social Disorganization Theory: An Exploration of Victimization in Native Communities

Prior research that is grounded in social disorganization theory has found that community characteristics impact victimization. Despite the robust literature using social disorganization theory, very few studies have used this theory to examine violence and victimization in Indigenous communities. The following study examined counties in 14 states that fully or partially contained reservation land ( N = 251) to determine the applicability of this theory to a unique population. Findings indicate that social disorganization theory can be used to predict victimization in Indigenous communities. In addition, a more culturally tailored model (i.e., Indigenized model) predicted victimization slightly better than the traditional model, however, the difference between the models was not significant. We conclude with a discussion of our findings and offer future directions for research.

Measuring perceived racial heterogeneity and its impact on crime: An ambient population-based approach

Social disorganization theory has significantly contributed to understanding the relationship between community characteristics and crime. It is based on the assumption that the residents of a community define the characteristics of the community. In particular, Shaw and McKay discover that racial heterogeneity could disrupt the local community's social organization and account for crime and delinquency. While residents play the most important role in defining the characteristics of a community, non-residents who frequent a community could also affect the community. The perceived racial composition is likely to be different from the makeup of the residential population. Drawing from the recent big data which could capture residents and non-residents, this paper proposes an innovative racial heterogeneity index based on the ambient population. The effectiveness of the new index is illustrated by using negative binomial models, to explain street crime. The findings show that the ambient population-based racial heterogeneity index outperforms the traditional one in explaining street robbery. Further, the new index positively impacts street robbery in a statistically significant fashion. Conversely, the traditional index shows no statistically significant influence. The study also reveals that the racial heterogeneity of ambient population in an area is mostly contributed by the visitors from the neighboring areas. Overall, the proposed ambient population-based racial heterogeneity is theoretically sound and effective in explaining street crimes such as street robbery. The novel approach and findings add new contributions to social disorganization and routine activity theories.

Depiction of Cattle Raiding and Rustling in Egara Kabaji’s ‘Mourning Glory’: An Analysis of Causes, Consequences, And Socio-Cultural Implications in Northern Kenya

Banditry and cattle rustling in northern Kenya have posed persistent security challenges and hindered the region’s development and social cohesion. This qualitative study delves into the multifaceted factors contributing to the perpetuation of these criminal activities, drawing insights from a purposive sampling of the Kenyan fictional novel “Mourning Glory” (2022) by Egara Kabaji and related research. The study was guided by Shaw’s and McKay’s Social Disorganization Theory. The analysis reveals a complex web of issues, including government reluctance, cultural practices, greed-driven commercialization, and cross-border arms trade. The study found that the government’s lack of resolve in addressing insecurity has eroded public trust, and past efforts have yielded little tangible results. On the other hand, cultural norms, influenced by traditional nomadic lifestyles and territorial competition, continue to fuel the practice of cattle raiding and banditry. For instance, the commercialization of raids for monetary gain, involving political leaders and organized crime syndicates, has escalated the violence and transformed it into a lucrative enterprise. Therefore, to combat these challenges and achieve lasting peace, this study suggests a comprehensive approach involving multi-stakeholder collaboration, community engagement, and conflict resolution. Finally, the study’s findings emphasize the need for Kenya to adopt a holistic and sensitive approach to address the complexities of banditry and cattle rustling in northern regions.

The Influence of Racial Minorities and Ethnic Heterogeneity in the Estimation of Homicide Rates in the Northeast Region of Brazil: Implications for Social Disorganization Theory in the Global South

Using social disorganization theory, the present study considers the concentration of racial minorities and the degree of ethnic heterogeneity to provide an estimation of homicide rates in the Northeast region of Brazil. Three hypotheses were considered: (1) there is a positive association between homicides and ethnic heterogeneity and black/indigenous populations, (2) the magnitude of ethnic heterogeneity is greater than race/minority groups on homicides, and (3) metropolitan regions will be associated with an increase in homicides. Through spatial modelling techniques, results indicate the plausibility of first and third hypotheses. Implications for homicide prevention and social disorganization theory in global south are discussed.

Guyanese Immigration, Homeownership, and Crime in Schenectady, NY: 2000–2017

The immigrant-crime relationship remains among the most intensely debated and contentious public policy concerns. In contrast to hypotheses under social disorganization theory and consistent with hypotheses under the immigrant revitalization perspective, most studies find the relationship of percent foreign-born with crime to be nonsignificant at the neighborhood level. Previous research focuses mostly on the importance of overall immigration or Latino immigration specifically in large immigrant destinations. The current study extends research on the immigrant-crime relationship to a non-Latino group in a smaller city by examining the relationship of Guyanese immigration with crime in neighborhoods within Schenectady, NY. We also investigate the association of homeownership with crime, which has received little explicit attention in the immigration-crime literature. Consistent with previous research, we find no significant association between percent Guyanese and crime. We find a negative and significant relationship between homeownership and crime. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

The impact of civil registration-based demographic heterogeneity on community thefts

Because of China's unique civil registration system (Hukou), using the proportion of floating population or domestic migrants as an index of racial/ethnic heterogeneity is a common practice to apply social disorganization theory to explain crime in Chinese cities. However, this method does not fully reflect the substantive connotation of racial/ethnic heterogeneity in Chinese cities. In this study, we add the heterogeneity of civil registration, i.e. Hukou, in addition to the proportion of floating population when studying crime in a big Chinese city. Following social disorganization theory, we use negative binomial regression models with theft data in 2017, the Sixth National Population Census data, and Point of interests (POI) to delineate effects of the heterogeneity of civil registration and proportion of floating population on thefts. We have four major findings: 1) the Hukou-based ethnic heterogeneity index can better illustrate the ethnic heterogeneity in the Chinese context and have a significant impact on thefts; 2) communities with more rental housing units tend to experience more thefts; 3) there are more thefts in communities that are under the jurisdiction of neighborhood committee; and 4) the agglomeration of Internet cafes, banks, supermarkets, and restaurants tend to exacerbate the thefts in communities. This study subdivides the community residents' civil registration categories to delineate racial/ethnic heterogeneity, explores its impact on community thefts, and constructs a more optimized indicator that better suits communities in China. This is a meaningful supplement to crime theory and existing methods in non-western societies.

A Cross-National Spatial Study of Crime Using Variables Informed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Cross-national spatial studies of crime are rare. Reasons are manifold but include the lack of standardization of variables across, often diverse, contexts. In this study, we propose a potential solution to this impasse by examining the spatial causes of violent crime across two axiomatically different contexts: Khayelitsha (in South Africa) and Fort Lauderdale (in the United States). In a departure from previous research, our variable selection for this study is guided by the Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, specifically ISO 37210 indicators—which relate to the Sustainable Development of Communities. We use these standards to operationalize the seminal spatial theory of crime, namely the social disorganization theory. Results show some similarity in the spatial risk factors associated with violent crime. We conclude by arguing for the benefits of using standardized variables in cross-national spatial crime research but also highlight the challenges of such an approach.

Comparing forms of neighborhood instability as predictors of violence in Richmond, VA.

Violence events tend to cluster together geospatially. Various features of communities and their residents have been highlighted as explanations for such clustering in the literature. One reliable correlate of violence is neighborhood instability. Research on neighborhood instability indicates that such instability can be measured as property tax delinquency, yet no known work has contrasted external and internal sources of instability in predicting neighborhood violence. To this end we collected data on violence events, company and personal property tax delinquency, population density, race, income, food stamps, and alcohol outlets for each of Richmond, Virginia’s 148 neighborhoods. We constructed and compared ordinary least-squares (OLS) to geographically weighted regression (GWR) models before constructing a final algorithm-selected GWR model. Our results indicated that the tax delinquency of company-owned properties (e.g., rental homes, apartments) was the only variable in our model (R2 = 0.62) that was associated with violence in all but four Richmond neighborhoods. We replicated this analysis using violence data from a later point in time which yielded largely identical results. These findings indicate that external sources of neighborhood instability may be more important to predicting violence than internal sources. Our results further provide support for social disorganization theory and point to opportunities to expand this framework.

The Mongrel Mob or Head Hunters? The association between neighbourhood-level factors on different types of gang membership in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Previous research has shown that gang members typically emerge from more socially disorganised neighbourhoods. What is less known however is whether members of different types of gangs emerge from the same types of neighbourhoods. In this study, we use the social disorganisation theory as a framework to examine the spatial risk factors associated with two different types of gangs in New Zealand: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and New Zealand Adult Gangs. Overall, we found some consistency in spatial risk factors associated with gang membership by type in New Zealand; however, certain variables were significantly predictive of one type of gang membership but not of the other. The overall performance of our models also differed marginally depending on the type of gang being examined. In fact, our findings suggest some non-uniformity in the extent to which the various social disorganisation factors impact gang membership rates by type. The implications of this finding are discussed in the context of an ever-changing gang landscape in the country.

Structural neighbourhood characteristics, perceived collective efficacy and perceived disorder: a multilevel study on fear of crime

Abstract This study examines whether residential stability and neighbourhood SES, two key neighbourhood structural characteristics from Social Disorganisation Theory (SDT), have a contextual effect on perceived social trust, perceived informal social control, and perceived social disorder and whether these contextual structural and perceptual measures are related to three measures of fear of crime, independent of population composition. Attention is paid to three well-known dimensions of fear of crime: risk perception (cognitive), fear (emotional) and avoidance behaviour (behavioural). The results demonstrate that neighbourhood residential stability is strongly related to perceptual measures of collective efficacy (perceived social trust and perceived informal social control) and perceived social disorder, controlling for demographic background characteristics and individual level social capital. The implications of these findings and avenues for future studies are discussed.

Non-police Intervention Consideration by Ethnic Minorities: The Case of Arab Citizens of Israel

ABSTRACT This study examined the factors affecting consideration of other ways than turning to the police, or non-police intervention, following potential victimization by members of ethnic minority. Performance, procedural justice, and social disorganization theories served as the study’s theoretical framework. The data were obtained from the 2019 Personal and Community Security Index Survey conducted in Israel and analyzed using logistic regression model. The analytical sample included 692 Arab citizens of Israel. Greater satisfaction with the police and high trust in the police were negatively associated with the consideration of non-police intervention. In contrast, perception of the increase in locality violence compared to the previous year and prior victimization were positively associated with the consideration of non-police intervention. The results imply that the police should improve their performance in Israel’s Arab society and direct efforts to the establishment more trustful relationship with its members, especially in localities experiencing increased violence.