Voluntary Organizations and Neighborhood Crime: A Longitudinal Examination of Organizational Presence, Organizational Resources, and Crime Rates

• In Event: The Consequences of Change for Neighborhood Institutions and Social Control

Abstract

Objectives: Although previous studies have examined whether the presence of voluntary organizations impact neighborhood crime rates, voluntary organizations’ differential capacity to affect crime has been virtually unaccounted for. This study examines the independent effects that the number of voluntary organizations and the total amount of income they possess have on neighborhood crime, over time. Methods: Drawing upon a unique dataset of Los Angeles census blocks from 2000 to 2010, I utilize fixed-effects negative binomial regression to estimate a series of crime models. Results: The number of voluntary organizations and the total amount of income they possess in the focal block, respectively, have no statistical influence on most crime types the following year. Yet, both aspects of voluntary organizations exhibit crime-reducing influences when accounting for their broader spatial impact (within a ½ mile radius of the focal block), and controlling for numerous factors that have been shown to be associated with crime rates. Conclusions: For the number of voluntary organizations, this suggests that increasing the opportunities for residents to utilize organizations can reduce crime in neighborhoods. For the income of voluntary organizations, it appears that increasing organizations’ capacity to reduce crime can translate to lower crime in neighborhoods as well.

Author

• James Wo, University of Iowa