Lesson 2 – The Social Construction of Crime: Myths and Reality Robert Wonser Introduction to Criminology Crime and Delinquency

2013 UCR Preliminary Crime Data, Select California Cities State City   Population1 Violent crime Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated assault Property crime Burglary Larceny- theft Motor vehicle theft Arson2 CALIFORNIA ANAHEIM 2012 344,526 605 8 47 216 334 4,901 725 3,400 776 12 2013 614 6 39 237 332 5,111 784 3,536 791 16 BURBANK 105,057 117 13 60 44 1,221 167 962 92 96 10 31 55 1,180 158 912 110 4 LANCASTER 159,155 468 23 155 284 1,773 540 1,016 217 43 403 108 266 1,705 500 1,032 173 LOS ANGELES 3,855,122 9,178 151 477 4,409 4,141 43,051 7,979 27,766 7,306 8,163 133 380 3,849 3,801 42,127 7,938 27,111 7,078 454 OAKLAND 399,487 3,702 53 135 1,949 1,565 12,485 3,114 6,033 3,338 97 4,104 45 89 2,541 1,429 12,258 2,616 6,298 3,344 71 OXNARD 201,797 289 150 1,909 401 1,269 239 19 327 7 161 153 2,533 516 1,733 PALMDALE 155,294 395 2 21 264 1,633 507 994 132 362 11 126 221 1,742 606 955 181 PASADENA 139,382 1 77 1,735 440 1,181 114 28 80 123 1,832 515 1,186 131 SAN DIEGO 1,338,477 2,719 27 172 726 1,794 15,286 2,782 9,371 3,133 86 2,514 143 686 1,666 15,767 3,043 9,579 3,145 SAN FRANCISCO 820,363 2,767 38 1,601 1,073 17,987 2,643 12,910 2,434 104 3,278 22 40 1,989 1,227 22,181 2,799 16,535 2,847 120 SANTA CLARITA 179,248 164 51 102 1,344 290 924 130 35 88 1,391 387 881 9 SIMI VALLEY 126,686 5 17 996 204 727 65 81 56 893 195 628 70 THOUSAND OAKS 129,171 78 20 957 144 762 74 936 182 697 57 VENTURA 108,511 1,753 1,307 112 138 15 50 72 1,917 372 1,427 118 Source:http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/preliminary-semiannual-uniform-crime-report-january-june-2013

Overdramatization of Crime Does the media depict crime accurately? Crime stories used because they capture viewers/readers Most dramatic crime is interesting in TV/movies

Crime Waves When the media devotes much attention to small number of crimes Creates false impression that crime is rampant/common Often occurs even when crime rate is falling This is one way crime is socially constructed

The Social Construction of Reality Thomas Theorem: If people define situations as real, then they are real in their consequences. What did we say about whether or not crime is rising? Does California exist empirically?

Social Constructionism Doesn’t Just Apply to Crime Everything is socially constructed. What color are red onions? What color is the sky? Why doesn’t a lettuceburger exist?

Social Structure

How Many Continents are There?

Opinion and Crime Opinions about criminal justice stem from: New media TV/Movies Race This can be a problem What does a ‘criminal’ look like?

Overreporting of (Violent) Crime Simply reporting many stories about crime Crime stories rank #3 in local newscasts (behind weather and traffic) Example: Homicide

Crime Myths False beliefs about crime Racial/Ethnic minorities Youths Virtuous victims

Other Problems in Media Coverage Selecting people to interview based on reporter’s point of view Use of value-laden language Presenting misleading data Neglect of white-collar crime Lack of social/historical context

Media Bias Misleading depictions of aspects of crime Effects public understanding of crime Example: Violent crime

Effects of Media Coverage Public ignorance Public fear/concern Obscuring underlying forces Diversion from white-collar crime Racial/Ethnic stereotyping

Fear of Crime Crime is threatening Especially by strangers According to the GSS, 33.7% of respondents would be afraid to walk in their neighborhood alone at night Fear of crime stems from structural and individual factors

Structural Factors and Fear of Crime Fear of crime is linked to various community characteristics Lower social integration Dilapidated housing Urban areas Areas with higher non-white populations

Individual Characteristics and Fear of Crime Higher fear of crime linked to: Elderly Females African-Americans and Hispanics Mixed results on link between prior victimization and fear of crime

Consequences of Fear Weakens community social ties Leads to mistrust of others Leads to population turnover Threatens economic viability of neighborhoods

Seriousness of Crime Ranking criminal acts important Reflect cultural values about life and property Are related to punishments for those acts Americans are punitive towards those who break the law.

Views About the Police In general, satisfaction with police linked to: Those stopped by police for traffic violations Young people of color Those living in high-crime communities Ex: stop and frisk http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/03/new-york-has-essentially-eliminated-stop-and-frisk-and-crime-is-still-down/

Stop and Frisk The tactic involves stopping and questioning people on the street, and in some instances, searching them. In 2011, 87 percent of those stopped were black or Latino, and about the same percentage were innocent of any crime, according to data from the New York Civil Liberties Union. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/20/stop-and-frisk-media_n_6191898.html

Stop and Frisk NYC’s crime rate hit a 20 year low, after stop and frisk stopped.

Crime is Patterned Crime is not random! He was in “the wrong place at the wrong time”…

Primary Sources of Crime Data How do we know what we know? Official Records: Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Validity of the UCR 60% of victims do not report crime Police only discover 3-4% of all crime Police choose to record reported crimes Police paperwork burden LO 1: Discuss the various forms of crime data.

Problems with the UCR It only includes the crimes the police know about. http://news.yahoo.com/police-facebook-cocaine-super-dollar-store-165930347.html

Primary Sources of Crime Data National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) Improvement over UCR 46 specific offenses 22 crime patterns Incident, victim, and offender information 20 states have implemented 12 states finalizing data collection LO 1: Discuss the various forms of crime data.

Primary Sources of Crime Data National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Annual survey of victims Addresses “non-reporting” issue Information regarding victims, offenders, and crimes. Validity of the NCVS LO 1: Discuss the various forms of crime data.

Primary Sources of Crime Data Self-Report Surveys Given in groups Anonymous Additional questions about attitudes, values, and behaviors. Validity of Self-Reports Honesty of self-reporting participants “Monitoring the Future”Survey Consistent Longitudinal Learning Objective 1. Be familiar with the various forms of crime data.

Primary Sources of Crime Data LO 3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.

Crime Trends Contemporary Trends Crime rates are declining from peak in 1991 Violent crimes and thefts have declined Trends in Victimization Decrease in victimization across all age groups Significant decrease among teenagers What the Future Holds Increase in numbers of elementary school aged children Could indicate a future increase in crime as children reach teenage and young adult age LO 2: Analyze recent trends in the crime rate.

Crime Trends Explaining Trends in Crime Rates Age structure Immigration Economy/Jobs Abortion Gun availability Gang membership Drug use Media Aggressive law enforcement Incarceration Cultural change LO 2: Analyze recent trends in the crime rate. LO3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.

Explaining Crime Patterns Race and Crime Institutional racism Racial threat theory, racialization occurs when Whites use their disproportionate power to implement state-control over minorities and, in the face of a growing minority population, encourage more rigorous, racialized practices in order to protect their existing power and privileges Racial profiling LO3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates. H. M. Blalock, Toward A Theory of Minority-Group Relations, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, USA, 1967.

Crime Patterns Ecology of Crime Day, season and climate More crimes are reported during summer months Temperature Weather effects may have an impact on violent crime rates Regional differences Large urban areas have higher rates of violence LO3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.

Crime Patterns Use of Firearms According to the NCVS firearms are typically involved in 20 percent of robberies 10 percent of assaults 5 percent of rapes Two-thirds of murders On-going debate about gun control LO 2: Analyze recent trends in the crime rate. LO3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.

Crime Patterns Social Class, Socioeconomic Conditions, and Crime Instrumental crimes Expressive crimes LO3: Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.

Crime Patterns Age and Crime ‘Aging out’ of crime Age and biology Street crime primarily committed by young people Crime peaks at ages 17-18 Criminal offending declines with age LO 5: Know what is meant by the term aging out process.

Chronic Offenders/Criminal Careers Delinquency in a Birth Cohort Wolfgang, Figlio, and Sellin Classic longitudinal study that tracked a cohort of boys over an 18 year period Other research: 6% of offenders are responsible for most serious crimes committed This group seldom desists Common among: Lower educated Those with few job opportunities LO 6: Be familiar with the concept of chronic offending and know its causes.

Chronic Offenders/Criminal Careers What Causes Chronicity? Early onset Implications of the Chronic Offender Concept “three-strikes” LO 6: Be familiar with the concept of chronic offending and know its causes.