Social Structure Theories

Emphasize role of the environment

Address group-level differences in crime

Three major types:

Social Disorganization Theory

Subcultural Theory

Strain Theory

Social Disorganization Theory

Park and Burgess 'The Chicago School'

• How did huge influx of immigrants impact Chicago?
• Concentric circles
• Individuals are socially/economically organized across these zones.
• Inner zone characterized by social disorganization (5 zones)
• Spatial assimilation model
• What is social disorganization?
• Socially disorganized zones have more crime.

Shaw and McKay

• Wrote Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas (1938)
• Delinquency rates much higher in transition zones regardless of which ethnic/racial group lives there.
• For same ethnic group, rates of delinquency were lower in non-transition zones
• Cultural Transmission Theory

Criticisms?

More recent developments

Hot spots of crime (Sherman)

Broken Windows Thesis (J. Q. Wilson)

The Blue Revolution (William Bratton)

Discussion Question

How have the principles of social structure theory influenced social policy during the twentieth century? What programs can be traced to the concept that improving neighborhood conditions can reduce crime?