Social Disorganization Theory

Using criminological terms and concepts, focus on a jurisdiction, neighborhood, or geographic locale with which you are familiar. Regarding a human behavior which you select to focus on in that geographical space, write two concise yet comprehensive paragraphs on how social disorganization theory can inform your understanding of behavior and place, and one weakness which would find your understanding somehow lacking, and why. Then write two equally compelling paragraphs on how routine activities theory would foster your understanding, and one weakness which might leave your understanding lacking, and why.

his paper examines multiple factors that help determine reasons for why there is such a great amount of people relapsing back into criminal behavior once released, which only leads them into a federal or state prison. Recidivism can be perceived into different category’s based upon the why factor. Criminal acts that result in rearrests, and reconviction or return to prison with or without new a new sentence during a three-year period following the prisoner’s release is considered recidivism. There are many different reasons why a person goes back into prison once being released, whether by choice or force or even just nature of habit. Many studies have been conducted to find a pattern or reason on why recidivism is so common. Available

Social disorganization theory was established by Shaw and Mckay (1942) in their famous work “Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas”. The main argument of the social disorganization theory is that, the place where people live will influence the individual’s behavior, and this may lead them to crimes. More precisely, certain characteristics of the neighborhood/community will strengthen or weaken the informal social control within the community, and this has mediating effect on crimes.

One might wonder why is this, namely, offenders are being released with no bearing as to what to do with themselves once they are released due to lack of education, coping skills, lack of obtaining employment due to their criminal background. Another factor of ex-offenders re-offending is due to the time of their conviction. If one has been sentenced to a lot of time one may be disconnected from love ones in the addition, to the era of the times of their release.

The film American Me shows how Montoya Santana rise from being a minor criminal as a youth who turns into the leader of a feared and violent Latino gang. This paper will show how he turned into a violent gang leader by using social disorganization theory to analyze his life in prison.

Individuals with a criminal record re-offend mostly because of status discrimination which in turn leads to high unemployment rates. Having a criminal record in today’s society is damning when trying to find employment. Opportunities for an education are slim due to this, leaving them only their shot to gain entry into the workforce. A slew of jobs requiring specific things like licenses are barred from the formerly incarcerated. When released back into society prisoners have to once again try to adapt to a society that has been changing in their absence. Put back into the world with only their clothes and little money they might have had. Often at times with little education or employment prospects it seems that they would just end up back in jail. They head somewhere familiar ensuring that they will be accepted and taken in. Back to their neighborhood and back to old friends they haven’t seen in years. Convicts return back to those bad influences. In order to combat this drug treatments, housing, job training, classes and peer groups are established to assist them. Once released, convicts have many tools at their disposal for getting the help they need but it depends on what state they’re in and on the person. Will they seek help though? Will they themselves willingly avoid what got them into trouble in the first place; from returning home only hoping for the best without trying? With the fear of constant failure and

Bursik (1988) states that, “… there persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of man’s imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control (p. 97). The concepts of social structural theory are based on the foundation of strain theory and social disorganization theory. The aspects of society can cause criminality, because of the various circumstances that are preventing opportunities for prosperity. Social structural processes are happening because of the various roots society has created for crime to take place, the various neighborhood effects of crime, and structural barriers that antecedents to crime. Also, individuals go beyond measures to coordinate with society new procedures; however, if that means committing a crime is a result, then all measure will be met.

It is difficult for offenders to re-enter society after being in prison because most of the time they are released back into the environment that encouraged the deviant behavior in the first place. After being released from prison, felons are surrounded by the people who helped them commit crimes or neglected them when they needed help. Most of the times they go back to

Shaw and McKay (1942) focused their research on the rapidly expanding city of Chicago Illinois in the early 1900’s. Cullen and Agnew (2011) stated that the population of Chicago expanded from 1 million people in 1890 to double that size within 20 years. According to Cullen and Agnew (2011) it was in this era of rapid expansion that researches begin to think differently about crime. Cullen and Agnew (2011) stated that the researchers began to think that the understanding of crime may not be found in the studying of an individual criminal traits but the study of the traits of the environment in which a criminal lives and interacts. According to Cullen and Agnew (2011) this led to a question in which researchers thought a possible solution of

There are many factors regarding this issue. However, the most obvious contributor to recidivism is the difficulties that those released offenders have to face in getting a job. The world is continuously changing with a fast pace, those who cannot adapt with such pace are not likely to thrive and survive in this society. In case of these offenders who are incarcerated for year without any interaction and contacts with the outside

The recidivism rate is important to research to see if released prisoner’s re-enters prison or jail and with or without new sentence within a three-year period. I would like to know if there are any specific reasons why people continue to commit crimes. Is it because they are institutionalized, they don’t have anywhere to live and this is place for food and shelter, is it because they don’t know how to do anything else, is it a combination of these things or something else. I would also like to know if rehabilitation is possible and why recidivism is imperative.

Social disorganization is a theory brought up from the Chicago School of Thought in which is explained as being ecological rather than individualistic. Social disorganization is not about what people do however it is about a community not being able to come up with moral consensus. In social disorganization individuals cannot agree overall on how the neighborhood should be enforced. This does not necessarily mean that the individuals are immoral or bad people, but they simply cannot come to an agreement as a whole. Social disorganization is a control based theory and has three major processes, which is heterogeneity, residential mobility, and poverty. There were two processes that were seen to increase the likelihood of social disorganization. Areas categorized by economic deficiency were inclined to have high rates of population turnover (Bursik, 1988). For example if there are minorities or immigrant groups living in a certain area because that is the living condition they can afford, in order for population turnover to occur heterogeneity and residential mobility needs to take place. Whether people are kicked out or too poor to afford the living conditions in that area is in favor of disorganization because poor conditions result in high levels of poverty leading to factors such as high unemployment rates. These rates decrease as people move further out into the residential living areas and the suburbs.

In addition to social reasons there are also economic reasons for people to commit crime. Some of these reasons are poverty and lack of job. There are people who have a large family to maintain but do not have enough money to do so. There are some people who cannot find jobs. This will drive a person to steal. People don’t have to do illegal things in order to maintain their family people can try to get government benefits. If people cannot afford their kids what they want can drive their kids to go and steal what they want. Lack of jobs can get people to get aggressive. It also makes people to take the wrong direction. There are people that do drug trafficking or do illegal jobs for someone else such has kidnapping, committing murder, and etc. People that commit these crimes end up in prison. But even though they do go there they

Criminal justice professionals utilize social disorganization to predict future trends in criminal behavior. Many factors influence and control social disorganization; this paper will explain exactly what social disorganization is, as well as its relationship or connection to organized crime and criminal behavior. Today’s corrupt political groups can have a direct and immediate effect on social disorganization, as well as organized criminal activity (" Social Disorganization and Rural Communities", 2003).

In the early 1800’s, Chicago, Illinois was beginning its journey to becoming the fastest growing city in U.S. History. Chicago grew from a population of 5,000 to more than two million from the early 1800’s to 1900. Chicago’s growth was due to its central location as well as advancements in transportation. These advancements allowed for easier and more bountiful shipment of goods and easier migration of people, particularly immigrants and first-generation Americans. This rapid growth caused a plethora of problems that Chicago was not adequality prepared to deal with. During the early to mid-1800’s, Chicago did not have social agencies that could prevent or address these problems. Due to the lack of social agencies (including police departments) the citizens of Chicago were unable to resolve these problems on their own, mainly because there was “…no common language…” and no shared values (Tibbetts & Hemmens, 2015, p. 262) The effects of Chicago’s growth provided an example of Durkheim’s prediction concerning the chaos that ensues when an area experiences rapid urbanization and industrialization. The leaders of Chicago looked for answers on how to resolve their city’s problems and found help from sociologists at the University of Chicago. These sociologists and their theories evolved into what is now known as the Chicago School, best known for the theory of Social Disorganization.