The Effects of Corruption and Organized Crime on Homicide Rates Cross-Nationally

• In Event: 562 - Regular Session. Law, Society, and Violence

Abstract

Both elite deviance, committed by the upper echelons of society, and organized crime threaten development and the rights and security of people across and within nations; however empirical research on these topics is limited, especially in relation to conventional crime. This study addresses this gap in the literature by testing hypotheses derived from David Simon’s symbiotic theory of elite deviance, which posits that direct and indirect relationships exist between elite deviance, organized crime, and conventional crimes (2008).
To test the research hypotheses, this study uses homicide rates, corruption and organized crime measures from 114 nations. Preliminary findings suggest that empirical linkages exist between elite deviance, organized crime and conventional deviance at the cross-national level. These data suggest the level of corruption and organized crime within a nation may be better predictors of homicide than conventional explanations of violent crime (e.g., modernization/development, opportunity theories). Furthermore, organized crime partially mediated the relationship between corruption and homicide. This implies that the criminogenic effect of elite deviance on non-elite deviance operates indirectly through organized crime. This study provides avenues for future research into the social processes that influence the crime rate within nations.

Author

• Carol L. S. Trent, St. Francis University