Losing Legitimacy - Street Crime and the Decline of Social Institutions in America (Paperback)

In the past fifty years, street crime rates in America have increased eightfold. These increases were historically patterned, were often very rapid, and had a disproportionate impact on African Americans. Much of the crime explosion took place in a space of just ten years beginning in the early 1960s. Common explanations based on biological impulses, psychological drives, or slow-moving social indicators cannot explain the speed or timing of these changes or their disproportionate impact on racial minorities. Using unique data that span half a century, Gary LaFree argues that social institutions are the key to understanding the U.S. crime wave. Crime increased along with growing political distrust, economic stress, and family disintegration. These changes were especially pronounced for racial minorities. American society responded by investing more in criminal justice, education, and welfare institutions. Stabilization of traditional social institutions and the effects of new institutional spending account for the modest crime declines of the 1990s.

General

Imprint:	WestviewPress
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	November 1999
First published:	2000
Authors:	Gary LaFree
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 16mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	259
ISBN-13:	978-0-8133-3451-6
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Crime & criminology > Causes & prevention of crime Books > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history
LSN:	0-8133-3451-9
Barcode:	9780813334516

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