...Social disorganization, illustrated by Shaw and McKay, is the theory based on understanding crime through examining the context of neighborhoods within a city. After studying a map of the city of Chicago, it was found that delinquency is concentrated in specific areas. This area where crime is concentrated (as ascribed by Park and Burgess) is known as Zone 2 the zone in transition. Shaw and McKay found that crime is concentrated in zone 2 and as you move out into zones 3, 4, and 5 delinquency decreases accordingly. Park and Burgess separated Chicago into concentric zones. Zone 1 is the central business district and is served primarily as industrial space. Zone 2 is the zone in transition. This is where crime is most likely to occur because it is where social conditions cause disorganization. Migrants and immigrants come to this zone upon first moving into the city. Zone 3 is the working class. People here have jobs that enable them to live on outskirts of the city. Zone 4 is comprised of single family homes and is named the residential zone. Even a lesser amount of crime is committed here. Zone 5 is the commuter zone which is suburban still however it is approaching rural areas. Zone two, as stated earlier, repeatedly had a higher amount of crime. Shaw and McKay concluded that “delinquency was caused by the nature of the environment in which immigrants lived rather than by some characteristics of the immigrant groups themselves.” (Schmalleger). There are four main components...
Words: 1044 - Pages: 5
...According to Thomas (1920) social disorganization is defined as, "The process by which the authority and influence of an earlier culture and system of social control is undermined and eventually destroyed” (). The purpose of social disorganization theory is to help one understand why there are different crime rates in different communities. The theory believes the absence of community organization leads to these varying rates. Social disorganization theory bases the attributing variation of crime and criminal behavior on the absence of communal relationships and communal institutions, such as church (Social Disorganization Theory, n.d.). Social disorganization was first developed in the early 1900s. Chicago was the home to a large immigrant population. The new immigrants did not learn the social rules; as a result it led to a state of disorganization (Social Disorganization Theory, n.d.). Currently our country faces the same issues with illegal immigrants crossing over the boundaries illegally. Some people argue immigrants should not be allowed to cross the border and others argue that immigrants should be allowed to cross the border as long as they follow the laws. I believe some people are afraid if illegal immigrants are allowed to cross the bounder the state will become a state of social disorganization. There are two characteristics that contribute to social disorganization. The two important characteristics are the low-income levels earned by the residents...
Words: 854 - Pages: 4
...CJA/384 Criminal Organizations May 6, 2013 Social Disorganization To more fully understand the far-reaching effects of organized crime, it is important to understand the many factors that may be involved. One important factor is to understand what causes criminal organizations not only to form, but to thrive in the United States. One factor that can help explain the prevalence of organized crime is the theory of social disorganization. What is Social Disorganization Social disorganization can be difficult to accurately define and many variations exist regarding what social disorganization entails. According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Center (NCJRS), social disorganization can be defined as the inability for community members to work together to solve problems and achieve shared values (2013). Understanding what causes social disorganization is crucial in trying to find ways to minimize it. One of the factors involved that may help to explain how social disorganization develops includes a high rate of population turnover. When people move in and out of communities, individuals do not establish roots or strong community bonds. Another factor that is involved is diverse ethnic groups living within close proximity (NCJRS, 2013). According to Lyman & Potter (2007), some researchers believe that crime is more prevalent in urban areas because of high rates of poverty, high levels of unemployment, and many single-parent households. If this is the case,...
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
...Social Disorganization; Question-and-Answer Definition Social disorganization is the process by which social relationships become disorganized; social organizations can also refer to behaviors and institutions. In every society, community or institution (e.g. learning institutions), every member has a certain role to play in accordance to the status assigned. When members fail to execute their roles according to the social laws in place, or neglect their responsibilities in the society, there becomes disorder, which eventually becomes social disorganization. Because of this type of disorganization, members fail to agree on certain issues affecting their societies or institutions; causing the relationship between these two are broken. Clearly due to the disunity and lack of respect for one another, as a result of social disorganization, crimes become apart of society. The question becomes what is the possible relationship between social disorganization and organized crime. Relationship between social disorganization and organized crimes In establishing the relationship between social disorganization and organized crimes, it is important to define and understand both social disorganization and organized crime. As the name suggests, organized crime refers to crimes carried out by structured or centralized groupings in a society. Some of these groupings have a name and a leader. Reasons for carrying...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
... ST. JOSEPH Social Disorganization An assignment Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course SOCI 325 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY INSTRUCTOR: Mr.Lloyd Johnson By Tekeisha Charles 9th February 2016 Approval............................ Question 1 Why is the social disorganization theory for the most part, relegated to specific areas in the society? Social disorganization is defined as an inability of community members to achieve shared values or to solve jointly experienced problems (Bursik, 1988). It is also said that you represent and portray where you come from; but that is not true. According to the social disorganization theory, the theory directly links crime rates to neighborhood ecological characteristics of communities, and a core principle is that place matters; in which social institutions succeed or fail in maintaining order in public places. Arguably, the success of a given neighborhood or community is based upon the effective collective use of skills, resources, focus, and energy to solve problems and enhance the quality of life in order to deter criminal activity. Social disorganization theory argues that because of failures in the skills and networking abilities of community organizations, whether they be educational, business, law enforcement, social services, health care, or religious organizations, a specific neighborhood or community can experience high crime rates through a breakdown in social order and a lack...
Words: 839 - Pages: 4
...Social Disorganization Q & A What is social disorganization? Social disorganization is best described as the social breakdown in society that offers an explanation to causation in criminality. Several theories are in place to support the notion of social disorganization as causation to criminal deviance, relating to social aspects: Sutherland’s differential association theory asserts that criminal behavior is learned through created social norms of society. These norms are then perpetuated through the strength of these social ties and the weakening or destruction of lawful relationships, which bond functional social organizations together (Jensen, 2003). He further affirms that criminal activities are more likely to take place in areas where lawlessness is held in higher regards than lawfulness and that criminals are guided by many of the same principles as societies that operate under lawful guidelines, with the exception of the means to which goals are met (Lyman & Potter, 2007). Other theories such as relative deprivation, socioeconomic stratification, and differential opportunity all emphasize the breakdown in society causes undue stress, which in turn causes criminal behavior. Social disorganization is essentially the social collapse of society, where lawlessness becomes the norm, as a result of mitigating social factors. How does social disorganization relate to organized crime and its evolution? Social disorganization and the evolution of organized crime work...
Words: 811 - Pages: 4
...Social Disorganization CJA/384 May 2, 2013 Social Disorganization The study of the causes of criminal behavior and delinquency has been around for many years. Many of the theories revolve around that many criminals are a product of their environment. The social disorganization theory is not much different than those theories in that aspect. Social disorganization can be described as the inability of a group of people living amongst each other who cannot or will not get along mainly because of their cultural differences. These cultural differences mainly occur in the poverty-stricken areas, where criminal behavior has even more room to thrive. Relation to Organized Crime Social disorganization and organized crime can be linked in many ways depending on the theory being used. With social disorganizations theory that criminal behavior starts in the community and a reflection of the people’s surroundings, areas with large cultural differences and poverty are perfect breeding grounds for organized crime. Areas that have a population of mostly poor residents are more likely to have criminal activity such as drugs, theft, and gangs. With crimes starting and spreading in these areas they turn into a way of life for the people living in them. With so many cultures living in such small areas the fight to stay alive becomes a violent multicultural one. Gangs and drugs are one of the oldest versions of organized crime that is still alive today and is directly reflected by...
Words: 946 - Pages: 4
...Social Disorganization Question and Answer The topic social disorganization is known to be an aspect of involving behavior patterns in criminals to socioeconomics or the environment that surrounds a human being. “A state of society characterized by the breakdown of effective social control resulting in a lack of functional integration between groups, conflicting social attitudes, and personal maladjustment” (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2012) The way that society is structured and the values of its citizens in various environments have a great effect on the disorganization of the society which leads to the development of crime. When it comes to disorganized societies, they are characterized by different aspects such as poverty, population, and the movements of the citizens which in most cases are not controlled. There is a theory of social disorganization that tries to explain the origin of social disorganization and the reasons it is involved with higher crime rate in neighbour hoods especially with youth who are raised in poor societies where delinquency is popular and it would be easy to participate in the life of crime. “Social disorganization theory specifies that several variables—residential instability, ethnic diversity, family disruption, economic status, population size or density, and proximity to urban areas—influence a community's capacity to develop and maintain strong systems of social relationships” (NCJRS, 2003). Social disorganization was created from the...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...Social Disorganization Summary CJA/384 Criminal Organizations In some instances, individuals can become a product of his or her environment. Low income and poverty stricken communities tend to lack adequate education, health care, and community programs, thus creating social disorganization. This paper will define social disorganization, identify and discuss two theories in association with social disorganization, and expound on how social disorganization relate to organized crime and its proliferation. Social Disorganization “[S]ocial disorganization theories suggest that a breakdown in social norms and opportunities has occurred and that the resulting frustration causes people to choose criminality as their only source of success” (Lyman & Potter, 2007, p. 81). Typically, delinquency or criminal behavior is approved because of a subculture within disadvantage communities. One of the core principles relating to the social disorganization theory is an individual’s environment is a factor when influencing an individual’s involvement in criminal activities. “[A]reas characterized by economic deprivation had high rates of population turnover, since these were undesirable residential communities, which people left once it became feasible for them to do so. Socio-economically deprived areas also tended to be settled by newly arrived immigrants, which resulted in the ethnic and racial heterogeneity of these areas” ("Review Of The Roots Of Youth Violence: Literature...
Words: 707 - Pages: 3
...Social Disorganization Theory (SDT): Does it explain Chicago homicide? The increase of homicide rate in Chicago in the mid-1990s despite the downward trend of violent crime rates nationwide (Horton, 2002) has been a prominent focus of several criminological investigations. Given Chicago’s consistent high homicide rate in the past decade, particularly reaching its peak in 2008 with 513 murders and 2012 with 506 murders, the homicide phenomenon in Chicago undoubtedly remains a major subject of the discourse in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Particularly alarming is that in 13 days from the beginning of the year, as of January13, 2013, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has already reported 21 murders. Although it shows 9% decrease compared to 23 murders in 2012, it reflects 50% increase compared to the 14 murders in 2011 for the same time period. Is the situation in Chicago indicative of a socially disorganized community? It is noteworthy that majority or at least 70% of said homicide incidence involved Black victims and offenders. Walker, Spohn, and Delone (2012) argue that the high involvement of Black people in the criminal justice system can be explained by discrimination and structural inequalities in the American society. The community structural factors and other social factors as they relate to crime serve as the common theme in the readings subject of this critique. Most specifically, this critique examines Sampson and Groves’ (1989) research...
Words: 1555 - Pages: 7
...Interestingly, severe crime has fallen sharply throughout the past 25 years (Gramlich). But even with that, there has always been law breaking behavior throughout time. It is something that no matter the place or time, people will always try to go against with the law. Now there are many reasons and theories as to why people break laws. There are many theories such as social control, social learning, routine activities and life course but for this pastirculare case I’m going to be focussing on why people break laws based on Social Disorganization theory. If we look in the whole city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Homicide Map, the Social Disorganization Theory can be applicable. The reason why it this theory can apply to Los Angeles is because the three main factors of this theory does occur in Los Angeles since it is very popular but other than the state of California has both the ultrarich and the worst poverty rate in America (Tobar). This is mainly because of cities like Los Angeles since it is kind of looking like a “Third World” City. In order for crime to happen according to the Social Disorganization Theory, one of the main structural socioeconomic factors shaping...
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...Social disorganization will be used to explain that disruption in society encourages crime. Even though individuals stay at home for the purpose of being safe, their lives are still at risk. Residents are not even safe in public during the day. One victim, Delroy Smith, was paralyzed simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Trench Town has now been forgotten by its government and the communities are still at war with each other and Delroy Smith is just one of the victims of this never ending war. This is because each gang always retaliates after an attack. Smith went on to giving an example of an incident he knew about. A man fired shots at the rivalling community. When they found out who he was, they killed him and burnt...
Words: 896 - Pages: 4
...Most theories of crime focus on the individual, but social disorganization theory focuses on the community. According to this theory, some communities experience high levels of crime while others do not. Problem solving is needed for a successful neighborhood or community to prevent high rates of crime and deviance. Quality of life and strong social actions also deter delinquency. This theory explains why crime committed by lower class communities is more prominent than neighborhoods from communities in better economic areas. An element of social disorganization theory is poverty. A lack of wealth can be due to lack of employment opportunities. When employment opportunities increase, we see residents flee to more secure and stable communities. When employment opportunities remain low, this is the beginning of economic deprivation. When economic deprivation occurs, social disorganization occurs which can lead to crime. Poverty can have a big influence on crime. When there are not any positive opportunities like employment, people may turn to other methods to put food on the table. The Chicago School of Criminology refers to work conducted by faculty to understand why crime and delinquency rates are higher in...
Words: 455 - Pages: 2
...White Collar Crime is committed by professionals generally in the context of their employment. White Collar Crime includes Ponzi Schemes, Insider Trading, Bribery, etc. White Collar Crime is looked at with three different theories, the Control Theory, the Social Disorganization Theory and the Strain Theory. The Control Theory “suggests that there are inner and outer controls which impact an individual’s decision to commit crimes. If these controls are not present, then a person will be more likely to commit crimes. This theory focus on why people do not commit crimes.” The Social Disorganization Theory “examines the environment in which people grow up. The further away from the inner city business districts and slums areas, the less likely people are to commit crimes. It is the degree of social disorganization that exists in the inner-lying communities that increase the likelihood of criminal behavior.” The Strain Theory “explores the frustration that occurs when society deems...
Words: 584 - Pages: 3
...A social issue (also called a social problem or a social ill) is an issue that relates to society's perception of people's personal lives. Different societies have different perceptions and what may be "normal" behaviour in one society may be a significant social issue in another society. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues. Some issues have both social and economic aspects, such asimmigration. There are also issues that don't fall into either category, such as wars. Thomas Paine, in Rights of Man and Common Sense, addresses man's duty to "allow the same rights to others as we allow ourselves". The failure to do so causes the birth of a social issue. Personal issues versus social issues[edit] Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range of their peers and relationships.[1] On the other hand, social issues threaten values cherished by widespread society.[1] For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent[2] in the U.S. as of October 2012 is a social issue. The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective, however, when a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue. Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people being fired is likely to generate social issues. Caste system[edit] Caste system in India resulted in most oppressed Untouchables on earth for the past 3000 years . UK recently banned caste system[1] and US is...
Words: 789 - Pages: 4
