Offender Presence, Available Victims, Social Disorganization and Sex Offense Rates

The present study examines the utility of social disorganization theory for identifying community characteristics associated with varying rates of sex offenses both in general and against children. Measures of economic deprivation, community stability, cohesion, informal social control, presence of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tewksbury, Richard (Author)
Contributors: Mustaine, Elizabeth Ehrhardt ; Covington, Michele
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2010
In: American journal of criminal justice
Year: 2010, Volume: 35, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 1-14
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Keywords:
Child victims
Victims
Sex Offenses
Social Disorganization
Description
Summary:The present study examines the utility of social disorganization theory for identifying community characteristics associated with varying rates of sex offenses both in general and against children. Measures of economic deprivation, community stability, cohesion, informal social control, presence of known offenders, and available opportunities are used in one urban county (Louisville, KY) to identify characteristics of census tracts with high rates of sex offenses. Results show that social disorganization theory is a moderately useful explanation for sexual offenses against adults, but not for sexual offenses against children.
ISSN:1936-1351
DOI:10.1007/s12103-010-9070-6