Disorganization Along the Urbanization Spectrum

• In Event: Advances in Rural Criminology I

Abstract

Criminological research has long suffered from urban bias, but recent research has begun to explore the applicability of urban-centric theoretical approaches to rural areas. The current study engages with this issue by assessing the generalizability of the social disorganization framework to predict violent crimes in both urban and rural areas across the U.S. Using negative binomial regression, this study analyzes a national sample of 2,705 counties to examine key structural predictors of crime, including socioeconomic disadvantage, residential stability, and ethnic heterogeneity. In addition, it assesses the role of collective resources—an under-assessed factor in rural crime research. Independent models are estimated to explore these relationships, offering insight into the structural and communal factors that shape crime patterns across counties. Results indicate that structural disadvantage and residential stability were associated with increased levels of violent crime and a more complicated relationship of ethnic heterogeneity with levels of violent crime. Further, the results suggest the importance of collective resources for crime may differ in urban and rural areas. While social disorganization theory remains a valuable framework for understanding violent crime in both urban and rural geographic contexts, its explanatory power is stronger in urban areas. This study highlights the need for theoretical refinements to better capture the mechanisms that drive crime outside of urban environments.

Authors

• Isaac Carson, Louisiana State University

• Michael S. Barton, The University of Alabama