Randy L. LaGrange

The Elderly's Fear of Crime A Critical Examination of the Research

Research on fear of crime reveals that the pervasiveness and intensity of fear in the United States is substantially higher among the elderly than younger persons. The relationship between age and fear of crime is seemingly paradoxical because the elderly tend to be least often victimized. This article critically assesses much of the research on fear of crime among the elderly. Our analysis shows that (1) several of the standard fear of crime measures are poorly operationalized and (2) estimates of the extent of fear of crime are highly dependent on the type and quality of operationalization. We conclude that the amount of fear experienced in the everyday lives of most older persons has been overstated. Implications for policy and suggestions for further research are offered.

Are older people afraid of crime

Abstract Despite the volume of research on fear of crime among the elderly, the measurement procedures most frequently used are of questionable validity because of theoretical and methodological shortcomings. A conceptual framework for analyzing perceptions of crime is presented to avoid the empirical pitfalls in much fear-of-crime research Two recent articles published in the gerontological literature on fear of crime are critically reviewed to illustrate the nature of the problem and to demonstrate that policy recommendations regarding fear of crime among the elderly may be seriously misdirected, given the type of research that has been conducted. Suggestions for improving research on this subject are offered so that programmatic and policy decisions may be soundly developed.

An Assessment of Gender Effects in Self Report Delinquency

Abstract This paper investigates the relative effect of parent, school, and peer influences in male and female delinquency. The theoretical framework is a combined control theory and differential association theory. Self-report data on 304 male and female adolescents are examined. The data demonstrate that males have significantly weaker “bonds” to their parents, the school, and to their peers than females. Males also report engaging in significantly more delinquency. However, a control theory explanation of the gender differential in delinquency is not supported. Differences in the gender role identity of males and females (i.e., masculinity and femininity) also are unable to explain the gender differential in delinquency. The data lend greater support to a differential association explanation of gender differences. The implications of the findings and some alternative explanations of the gender differential are discussed.

Down home criminology: The place of indigenous theories of crime

Comparative criminology continues to develop at an accelerated pace. Today, cross-national empirical studies of crime are quite common and comparative theories of crime, such as the Durkheimian-modernization theory, Marxian World Systems/Dependency theory, and ecological opportunity theory have been formulated. There also have been several cross-national analyses of American theories of crime, yet very little attention has been given to theoretical developments unique to the historical, cultural, and social structural characteristics of lesser known societies. The central thesis of this article is that criminology can benefit from the theories and concepts formulated outside the United States. The purpose of this article was to examine theoretical developments and concepts indigenous to various societies and to compare them with theories prevalent in American criminology. The benefits of integrating non-American theories and concepts with dominant American theories of crime are discussed.

Place and Crime Integrating Sociology of Place and Environmental Criminology

Standard sociology and criminology have not been sufficiently sensitive to the unique characteristics that places have. It has been implicitly assumed that one place (be it a neighborhood, census track, or metropolitan area) is interchangeable with another, given certain demographic and economic variables. This article attempts to recast environmental criminology within a sociological framework known as the “sociology of place.” The unequal spatial distribution of crime makes it an ideal candidate for analysis within this sociological framework: crime is universal, yet spatially concentrated; targets everyone, yet not everyone equally; is socially constructed, yet has a very real physical reality to it. The article addresses the important linkage between crime and place.

Theoretical development of comparative criminology: Rekindling an interest

Comparative criminology is making an impressive imprint in academic circles. This is evident by the burgeoning number of studies, journal articles, books, college courses, symposia, and conferences devoted to comparative issues. Our reading of existing literature, however, indicates the comparative field is overly descriptive and oriented to the pragmatic rather than theoretical. Comparative criminology is not theoretically sophisticated. This paper assesses the current state of theory in the comparative field and offers some preliminary suggestions for correcting the theoretical void. Colemans (1991) theory of white‐collar crime and Gottfredson and Hirschis (1990) general theory of crime are presented as examples of theoretical frameworks with potential comparative applications. Implications for future development of comparative criminological theory are discussed.