Chapter 8 of Vold’s Theoretical Criminology discusses social disorganization that can occur in some neighborhoods due to numerous circumstances. The concept of social disorganization originated in the Chicago School of Criminology, which attempts to link crime directly to neighborhood ecological characteristics (Snipes et al, 2019). Social disorganization is defined as the inability of community members to achieve shared values or to solve jointly experienced problems (Ncjrs.gov, 2003). Social disorganization is a theoretical perspective that explains the ecological differences in levels of crime based on structural and cultural characteristics shaping the nature of the social order across communities (Rengifo, 2017). The overall point of social disorganization is that a person’s location plays a much larger role in predicting criminal activity than one’s own personal characteristics. This theory focuses on how environmental factors can push individuals to commit crime more so than the other theoretical perspectives we have learned about thus far in this course.

There are many factors discussed throughout chapter 8 of the text that act as instigators of social disorganization that eventually result in crime. Community characteristics that can be found in a socially disorganized neighborhood include poverty, high rates of residential instability, ethnic diversity, population density, economic status, and the lack of individuals putting effort into making the area a safer place (Ncjrs.gov, 2003). Peer-reviewed research has shown specific observations of these characteristics existing in these communities that act as contributors to individuals living there turning to crime. One example that was found among researchers studying urban areas struggling from poverty was juvenile violence often grows higher as rates of residential instability increases (Snipes et al, 2019, p. 187). This is due to the inhabiting population constantly changing, leading to the residents developing fewer ties to the environment and people around them there, thus they do not feel the need to participate in community organizations (Ncjrs.gov, 2003). Sampson’s theory of collective efficacy supports this idea of the negative results of residences not working to benefit their neighborhoods as a whole by maintaining order (Snipes et al, 2019, p. 188). Sampson described collective efficacy as the neighborhoods ability to maintain order in public spaces, and the areas that possess the factors mentioned throughout this paragraph lead to the members of the neighborhood having no collective efficacy over their community (Snipes et al, 2019). Researchers have found that ethnic diversity can also play a role in social disorganization due to the lack of shared experiences, lack of communication shared among the groups, and the overall differences in customs and traditions each group may hold (Ncjrs.gov, 2003). The placement of these areas where people live can also cause frustration and social disorganization within high crime areas. The economic status of an area also plays a role in the creation of social disorganization, but this is less consistent in examples of scholarly research. Researchers like Robert Park and Ernest Burgess established the idea of concentric zones which showed that areas like Zone 1 in their theory are often left to deteriorate and are where the lower income housing is often found (Snipes et al, 2019, p. 181). This zone showed to have a high rate of poverty, as well as, very high rates of residential instability. Clifford Shaw also made some interesting contributions to the theory of social disorganization, he concluded that many parents and neighbors in a socially disorganized neighborhood may either accept or approve of delinquent behavior of the children around them. Sampson and Groove proposed this could be for many reasons like that of parents working multiple jobs in order to take care of their families financially which leaves them unable to properly supervise and discipline their children (Ncjrs.gov, 2003). This is a very common situation that fits under the category of family disruption that causes social disorganization as well.

As for personal experiences that happen in the area that I live, there are definitely some of these varying issues that can cause social disorganization in the community. I live in an extremely small community that does not attract big populations of people to come live or just visit because it is lacking in different social attractions that people enjoy in communities. My hometown has very few restaurants and businesses within it which is leading it to somewhat struggle economically. We typically have to travel a couple towns over to get groceries and go out to eat at restaurants. Many people living in my small-town struggle financially as well which undoubtedly leads to other frustrations which can lead to committing crimes. There is not much to do in town to keep youth busy in constructive ways outside of school, which can lead to youth getting themselves into trouble for things like that of underage drinking. I also believe that many of the people in my community lack in the category of collective efficacy because many do not concern themselves with putting in little additional efforts into helping the community. However, there are many quite amazingly generous people living in this community that work hard to make sure that people have clothing and food. Since the pandemic begun, the school in our community has passed out free milk and other food items to help struggling families. The Holy Bible states “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed” (English Standard Version, Proverbs 19:17, 2016).

References

Ncjrs.gov. (2003). Social Disorganization and Rural Communities – Community Correlates of Rural Youth Violence. https://www.ncjrs.gov/HTML/ojjdp/193591/page1.html.

Rengifo, A. F. (2017). Social Disorganization. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396607-0008.xml.

Snipes, J., Bernard, T., & Gerould, A. (2019). Vold’s theoretical criminology (8^th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (2016). Oxford University Press.