Title

Community characteristics and child sexual assault: Social disorganization and age

Authors

Authors

E. E. Mustaine; R. Tewksbury; L. Huff-Corzine; J. Corzine;H. Marshall

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Crim. Justice

Keywords

TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS; OFFENDER REGISTRATION; COLLECTIVE EFFICACY; MORANS-I; VIOLENCE; NOTIFICATION; MALTREATMENT; ABUSE; POVERTY; IMPACT; Criminology & Penology

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the utility of social disorganization theory as an explanation for community rates of child sexual assault. We explore the sources of preteen ( < =12) and teen (13-17) sexual assault victimization. Methods: Drawing on 1,172 child sexual assault incidents reported to law enforcement agencies in Orange County, Florida in 2004-2006, the present study assesses whether social disorganization theory can explain variation in amounts of preteen and teen sexual assault across census tracts. Social disorganization is assessed using measures of economic disadvantage, collective efficacy, and social cohesion, along with measures of population density, violent crime and presence of sex offenders in the community, and gender-related socioeconomic standing. Results: Economic disadvantage is positively related to the amount of both preteen and teen sexual assault. Surprisingly, immigrant concentration is negatively related to both preteen and teen sexual assault. Housing density is positively related to preteen sexual assault and the presence of registered sex offenders is positively related to teen sexual assault. Conclusion: Social disorganization provides a moderate explanation for community variance in the amount of preteen and teen sexual assault:Also, sources of child sexual assault are different between younger children and older adolescents. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Journal of Criminal Justice

Volume

42

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

173

Last Page

183

WOS Identifier

WOS:000333004100010

ISSN

0047-2352

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