Systematically Addressing Inconsistencies in the Rural Social Disorganization and Crime Literature
نویسندگان
چکیده
The rural criminological literature has recently experienced an increased interest in structural theories of crime, with social disorganization theory being the primary emphasis. This article summarizes and synthesizes the existing literature that specifically tests social disorganization theory in rural communities, focusing on consistencies and inconsistencies in the findings as well as theoretical and methodological questions that have been raised. We then describe how we (the authors of this article) have taken steps to systematically address some of these questions. Finally, we offer suggestions for research advancements in this area.
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