Keywords

Crime -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Sociological aspects, Crime -- New York (State) -- New York -- Sociological aspects, Ethnic neighborhoods -- Illinois -- Chicago, Ethnic neighborhoods -- New York (State) -- New York, Homicide -- Illinois -- Chicago, Homicide -- New York (State) -- New York, Italian Americans -- Illinois -- Chicago, Italian Americans -- New York (State) -- New York, Organized crime, Robbery -- Illinois -- Chicago, Robbery -- New York (State) -- New York, Social control

Abstract

This study examines the impact of white ethnic concentration on robbery and homicide in Chicago and New York City. As one of the first to disaggregate white ethnic populations, this study has the expectation that Italian-American concentration will have a stronger influence on robbery and homicide than any other white ethnic concentrations. This study is founded on prior qualitative research suggesting that the reputation of Italian-Americans influences the behavior of outsiders in their communities. The data show there is a significant and negative relationship between Italian-American concentration and the violent crimes robbery and homicide. This relationship only exists for white ethnic concentration with robbery. These patterns occur across both cities at three different aggregate levels. The results indicate that there may be particular characteristics about Italian-American ethnic concentrations which have dampening effects on the frequency of homicide and robbery in their communities; it is speculated that a reputation for Mafia involvement is one of the protective factors.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2012

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Corzine, Harold

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Sociology

Degree Program

Sociology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004407

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004407

Language

English

Release Date

August 2012

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences, Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Included in

Sociology Commons

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