Abstract
This paper examines Social Disorganization Theory as an explanation of homicide. The explanation is delineated and criticisms of the theory are discussed. The paper concludes that the theory is sound in explaining homicide but insufficient in explaining several phenomena associated with homicide.

From the Paper
"Siegel states that there are several theoretical explanations for homicide but that none is definitive primarily because of difficulties associated with empirical research on homicide ..."

Tags:Social Disorganization Theory, Homocide

Abstract
This paper explains that the social disorganization theory attributes the variation in crime over time to a breakdown in community institutions, such as families, churches, schools and local governments. When these institutions breakdown, crime is encouraged. The paper then reviews more recent applications of this theory, which hold that the social disorganization theory refers more to a breakdown in a community's culture, especially in the area of morals, rather than to a breakdown in community institutions. The paper concludes that both the social and cultural interpretations of the social disorganization theory are good places for the police to start understanding the crimes in their communities.

From the Paper
"There is also another avenue to discuss with relation to today's society and the problems police face. As discussed, social disorganization theory refers to the idea that social conditions can influence people's behavior. In today's society, especially provincially, a real influence on people's behaviors is technology, the internet and cellular phones specifically. When looking at social disorganization theory, the discussion often revolves around knowing one's, or not knowing one's neighbors."

Tags:breakdown bond moral variables, community policing

Abstract
This paper looks at how criminal street gangs have created social disorder in various parts of the United States, prompting policymakers and politicians alike to face an unpleasant truth; they must realize the tremendous task ahead of them in preventing and suppressing gangs and their illegal and violent activities. It discusses how gangs are often of the majority of "urban minority underclass" and how they are often a result of dismal socioeconomic and social conditions. It concludes that social disorganization plays a major part in why youth of today (and even yesteryear) have and will continue to join gangs.

Outline
Abstract
Etiology
Prediction and Prevention
Recommended Criminal Justice Responses
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Establishing public social control in schools to help bridge the gap between police and children and help them promote a collective efficacy in their community could be the first step. The other might be that churches, schools, and afternoon programs establish specially designed programs that help keep children away from trouble. The third policy might be that peers, families or relatives help to be involved. Promoting self-awareness and trust within the community will help keep collective efficacy down. Neighbors who look out for one another have a better chance of keeping out crime. Having trust in their public servant, (i.e. the police) will establish cohesiveness between the community and police. Community-watch programs can thus be established and lower the crimes within the community because there is trust amongst the community as well as with the police and vise versa."

Tags:youth, poverty, police, community

Abstract
Juvenile delinquency is a contemporary term for an old problem. One of the oldest relevant studies of the phenomenon is "social disorganization" theory, which was developed by the Chicago school of sociology in the 1920's. The paper shows that this theory posits that there exist areas in a city in which traditional institutions have little or no control. This was studied in Chicago using a system of "Concentric Zones" which demonstrated that most of the crime in the city occurs within certain areas that are typically associated with poverty. The paper discusses studies done by Shaw and McKay in the 1940s which used this theory to show a strong association between census tracts and crime rates. The paper describes the theory and analyzes it, showing the arguments of those schools who utilize the theory as well as its critics.

From the Paper
"She felt that court appearance was too narrow of a metric to judge delinquent behavior in children. She argues that the customs of diverse cultural groups are such that irrespective of the location of the groups in the city the proportions of their populations who come before the courts will inevitably vary. Robison's concept of delinquency is broader than Shaw's, and extends to cover behavior, which is generically described as anti-social. She argues that that the higher the parental income the fewer the child's chances of coming into court. Robison's arguments would appear reasonable in its universality: view of the fact that the efficiency of various cultures in controlling the behavior of individuals can scarcely be measured in the same way."

Tags:central, business, district, transitional, zone

Abstract
This paper discusses the circumstances and identity of the killer dubbed "Jack the Ripper." The paper examines possible theoretical frameworks within which we can gain insight to the true motives and circumstances of the event. It specifically discusses the psychoanalytic theory and the social disorganization principles and how they contributed to understanding "Jack the Ripper's" killing spree.

From the Paper
"The East End London killing spree of 1888 has become infamous in popular culture and history. An unknown serial killer, known to this day only as "Jack the Ripper" engaged in a series of grisly murders. His profile was that of a serial killer, with a specific victim--East End prostitutes. The historical events concerning Jack the Ripper and his murders have been overshadowed by the enormous public fascination with the case, particularly its unresolved status. To this day, no one knows who Jack the Ripper was, but the search for and debate over his identity has given rise to an entire branch of criminal justice research known as "Ripperology." The actual identity of the murderer will likely never be known. All that exists are facts about the victims and the crimes themselves, all else is conjecture. Using the known facts of the case and the little that is certain about the killer, motives can be easily extrapolated. Jack the Ripper's brutal and misogynistic killings were driven by behaviors that can be explained by psychological theories, particularly Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory; while the social disorganization theory explains how the social conditions of London's East End at the time provided an atmosphere where his motives could be carried out."

Tags:serial, ripperology, East, End, prostitutes, murder

Abstract
This paper examines how theories on crime have been devised by numerous disciplines including economists, psychologists and sociologists were among them. It provides a definition and an overview of social disorganization theory, social control theory and opportunity theories in relation to drawing on the work of Shaw and McKay (Chicago School) and Burgess' zonal theory of city development as well as the opinions of Hobbes, Nye, Reckless, Huschi and Burke.

From the Paper
"In further support of the theory of social disorganization is the Chicago Area Project, established by Clifford Shaw, which aimed to put some organization back into these areas. It encouraged locals to form committees to fight crime and held recreational activities for youths to get them off the streets and give them something other than crime to do. An evaluation by Schlossman, Zellman and Shavelson in 1984 concluded that it had effectively reduced incidences of reported juvenile crime."

Tags:chicago, control, crime, criminology, community, city, development

From the Paper
"Who joins the gang? On the surface this question seems to have a clear answer. However, answers often pertain to individual characteristics due to the individual nature of the question. Most people assume that potential gang members are plain hoodlums, or people who desire and even accept criminal activity as a way of life. For this reason calculated solutions to the gang problem frequently revolve around methods of dealing with the individual such as counselors or the youth authority and even prison. But as time has told these are ineffective. Recent media attention of gang activity illustrates this failure. Consequently the need for a different approach emerges. One of the initial steps in the process of understanding all of the dynamics of the gang problem lies in recognizing the gang issue as a social one. At this point (...)"

Abstract
This paper examines dysfunctional attachment, especially the D (disorganized) form, as an a priori factor in the psychology of heroin addicts and as an impact on the therapeutic relationship. The author points out that Goodman and Hans (1999) investigated infants exposed to methadone in utero did not differ from comparison infants in indexes of proximity-seeking at reunion but did display higher scores on indexes of disorganized and avoidant behavior and lower scores on indexes of contact-maintaining behavior. The paper relates that because some people who can control their habit, indulging in heroin only on weekends, all addictions may not be allied to dysfunctional attachment patterns.

From the Paper
"Carswell et al (2002) investigated a social control model for dealing with serious addiction in youthful abusers. They noted that some "argue that delinquency and substance abuse are learned behaviors produced by continued exposure to multiple risk factors associated with problems or deficits within the individual, family, peers, school, and community." Among these was conflict-ridden families, arguably resulting in dysfunctional attachment patterns. They investigated whether the standard protective factors-supportive parental relationships among them-were mitigating factors for both the dysfunctional behaviors and resulting abuse problems."

Tags:priori, therapeutic, studies, control, family

Abstract
The paper explains that criminology is the study of criminal behavior through a scientific means to seek a method for best diverting the mass society from committing criminal acts. The paper looks at various views of criminology, including those of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, Cesare Lombroso's notion of determinism, the Chicago School's view, the routine activities theory, the social disorganization theory and finally, Durkheim's ideas. The paper suggests that today, criminology should turn its focus toward the minority poor communities in seeking the root cause of the sentencing disparity prevalent in minority areas.

Outline:
Introduction
Classical Criminology
Determinism
The Chicago School's View of Criminology
Routine Activities Theory
Social Disorganization Theory
Durkheim's Anomie
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"The beginnings of criminology in the United States began with the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution and is a theory relating to criminal behavior of individuals. The theoretical framework of criminology within this view is one that is straightforward and simple and states that the individual, upon having been informed of a specific penalty for the commission of a crime will inherently weigh the options. Measurement of the options is based upon the potential present and future pleasure weighed against the potential present and future pain for having committed the crime, been caught and punished. There have been various theories posited to attempt to pin down precisely the precise theoretical framework that identifies the method to fulfill the 'aim' of criminology, which is to 'speak truth to power'."

Tags:Beccaria, Bentham, Lombroso, Chicago, School, routine, activities, social, disorganization, Durkheim

Abstract
This paper explains that the Chicago school theory, a legacy in the field of criminology, hypothesized in the 1920s and 1930s, states that where social institutions, norms and values are no longer functioning, high rates of violence, drug abuse, poverty and disease occur. The author points out pitfalls in this theory such as (1) gangs do not only exist in communities with few personal binds between residents and, even within ghettos, there are dependable residency patterns and strong community member ties and (2) the theory is based on spherical reasoning that is, social disorganization is the reason of criminal behavior, and crime is an indicator of social disorganization. The paper relates that the Chicago School theory fails to grasp that the contemporary street gang is planned as a business usually a drug-dealing business; therefore, this theory can no longer be used to understand these gangs.

From the Paper
"A number of the initial work in the crime appeared from the University of Chicago in the 1920's. The job done at this school recognized long traditions of theories to help explain why crime occurs, and what to do regarding it. It incorporated the work of Robert Park, Ernest Burgess, Frederick Thrasher, and in later years the Chicago School theory of Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay. The crime deterrence plans appeared from this work, such as the Chicago Area Projects which ran for over half a century, were based on a simple notion: the finest unit of analysis to study crime was the neighborhood and the interrelationships of diverse groups within the neighborhood, such as the street gang. The ecology of crime approach used the neighborhood as the level of analysis, and it conceptualizes the neighborhood as a communal ecosystem."

Tags:neighborhood, drug-dealing, disorganization, business, spherical-reasoning