The Impact of Voluntary Organizations on Probationer Arrest Rates in the State of New York

• In Event: Local Institutions and Social Control

Abstract

Criminological theory and communities and crime research suggest that voluntary organizations reduce crime rates in communities. Yet probation, a community-based criminal punishment, has not been fully studied in existing research. Accordingly, this study examines the longitudinal relationship between certain voluntary organizations and probationer arrest rates in counties of the state of New York. We utilize data from several sources, including the U.S. Census, and New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (2006-2012). We estimate a series of fixed-effects models that focus on change within counties/communities rather than across counties. The implications of our findings will be discussed in terms of probation with community justice and placeload perspectives.

Authors

• Jihye Park, University of Iowa

• James Wo, University of Iowa