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

2. 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:

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. Social Structure

8. How Many Continents are There?

9. 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?

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

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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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.

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

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

24. 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.

25. Problems with the UCR
It only includes the crimes the police know about.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

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

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

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

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.