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Modeling violent crime rates: A test of social disorganization in the city of Tshwane, South Africa

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  • Breetzke, Gregory Dennis

Abstract

Tests of social disorganization theory are commonplace in international criminological literature. Indeed a plethora of studies had emerged over the past seventy years examining and extending the theory throughout much of the developed world. The testing, however, of the landmark theory's key propositions in Africa in general, and South Africa in particular, is in its infancy. This study aimed to address this shortcoming by analyzing associations between various census measures of social disorganization and violent crime rates in the city of Tshwane, South Africa. Overall, marginal support was found for the social disorganization theory: violent crime in Tshwane was associated with certain measures of socioeconomic deprivation, and residential mobility. The study not only demonstrated the applicability of certain elements of Western criminological theory to contemporary urban South Africa, but also revealed important differences in the ecological dynamics of violent crime across differing cultural contexts.

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  • Breetzke, Gregory Dennis, 2010. "Modeling violent crime rates: A test of social disorganization in the city of Tshwane, South Africa," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 446-452, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:38:y::i:4:p:446-452
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    1. Freisthler, Bridget, 2004. "A spatial analysis of social disorganization, alcohol access, and rates of child maltreatment in neighborhoods," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(9), pages 803-819, September.
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    1. Breetzke, G.D. & Pearson, A.L., 2015. "Socially disorganized yet safe: Understanding resilience to crime in neighborhoods in New Zealand," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 444-452.
    2. Sibisi, Muntuwenkosi & Warria, Ajwang', 2020. "Challenges experienced by probation officers working with children in conflict with the law in the Johannesburg Metro Region (South Africa)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Andresen, Martin A., 2013. "Unemployment, business cycles, crime, and the Canadian provinces," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 220-227.
    4. Kabeya Clement Mulamba, 2021. "A Spatial Analysis of Property Crime Rates in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 89(3), pages 329-347, September.

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