Social Organizations in Urban Neighborhoods

Browning, Feinberg, and Dietz (2004) attempt to explore why certain areas and neighborhoods have higher levels of crime and look at the type of social structure established in the area. The authors look at both the interplay between social organization and collective efficacy in attempting to explain crime levels in neighborhoods. The authors point out that social networks not only support collective efficacy but may also serve to give avenues to criminals. The authors attempt to examine how collective efficacy is able to work within social networks against crime. For more.

Neighborhood Clubs

This particular study shows the pros and cons of "neighborhood clubs." In the case of this study a neighborhood club is a support group within the neighborhood that looks at children's feelings toward violence. In addition, it offers multi-cultural support by including children with different ethnicities. For more information about the success of these neighborhood clubs click here.

Community Policing in Urban Neighborhoods

Xu, Fiedler, and Flaming (2005) attempt to look at the efficacy of community policing in reducing crime in neighborhoods. The article points out that community policing organizes community members and strengthens community bonds and relationships. The study also compares the idea of community policing with collective efficacy to see which idea has a stronger role in reducing crime. The study also examines the relationship between crime levels and neighborhood disorder. For more.

The Link between Disadvantage and Crime

Kubrin and Weitzer (2003) examine how neighborhood structural and cultural factors have an impact on homicides that involves retaliatory killings. The authors examine cultural factors regarding homicide in St. Louis, Missouri and notice that economic problems, issues with police, and the neighborhood culture are all factors that influence retaliatory killings. The study shows how violence is dealt with in certain urban neighborhoods. The authors are able to gain an understanding about how cultural and neighborhood factors influence the type of crime in urban neighborhoods. To read the entire article click here.

Community Involvement Against Crime

Bowen, Gwiasda, and Brown (2004) attempt to look at how community efforts can be used as the primary prevention in high levels of crime rates in neighborhoods. This article focuses on the idea that community members by engaging themselves in their neighborhood can serve to prevent violence in their neighborhoods. The article also comments on the fact that certain policies and values within neighborhoods that perpetuate racism and biases actually contribute to levels of violence and crime. For more.

Neighborhood Efficacy in Chicago

This study speculates that neighborhood efficacy reduces violence because of friendly support between residents. In other words, this is seen through neighbors watching each other's children, providing playgroups, and intervening in altercations in the neighborhood. Therefore, violence may not be due to issues such as race, but rather due to lack of residential stability. The results of this study show that residential stability does reduce violence. For more.

The Social Disorganization of Neighborhoods

Triplett, Sun, and Gainey (2005) attempt to explore how social disorganization theory affects a neighborhood’s ability and willingness to put forth a certain level of social control. The article attempts to examine the linkage between ability and willingness related to social control. The social ties that determine levels of informal social control are also examined in this study. The authors also incorporate Sampson’s idea of collective efficacy when they discuss the willingness of individuals to put forth levels of social control. See more.