Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2005
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department / School
Sociology and Rural Studies
Abstract
This study is an application of the theory of social disorganization in the understanding of crime rates in two metropolitan counties in a rural state. This theory, grounded heavily in the work conducted by Park, Burgess, Shaw, and McKay, examines the relationships between neighborhood factors, based on zip code data, and rates of property and violent crime among juveniles. The relationships are tested using crosstabulation and discriminant analysis statistics, and employs secondary data from the South Dakota Department of Corrections. The results reveal that a number of the social disorganization variables tested are applicable to a county zip code analysis. Of the social disorganization variables tested, poverty, age ratio, and percentage of individuals living in a different home within the same zip code during the last 5 years were the most important. This analysis reveals that further research should explore all counties within South Dakota.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Crime -- Sociological aspects -- South Dakota -- Minnehaha County
Crime -- Sociological aspects -- South Dakota -- Pennington County
Juvenile delinquency -- South Dakota -- Minnehaha County
Juvenile delinquency -- South Dakota -- Pennington County
Social structure
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
126
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Hesse, Mario L., "An Empirical Examination of the Relationship Between Neighborhood Disorganization and Crime as Applied to Two Separate Metropolitan Counties in South Dakota" (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1190.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1190