Collective efficacy is a neighborhood-level concept in which community members create a sense of agency and assume ownership for the state of their local community. This concept is one of several forms of formal and informal social control that predict the overall functioning of a community. In this book, the authors examine collective efficacy and crime in eight Miami-Dade County, Florida neighborhoods, based on data they collected from across the country and in the Miami-Dade neighborhoods themselves. They discuss findings relevant to the theory of collective efficacy itself, ramifications for its use within communities, and make recommendations for future research and for translating these results into actionable, crime prevention activities.

This book on systematic social observation (SSO) methodology provides detailed, step-by-step guidance for researchers on using the method. It identifies varieties of approaches and uses of SSO, the different steps used when performing SSO, and the benefits and challenges associated with using SSO. The chapters discuss different aspects related to SSO, such as: Access to the field or footage Ethics, including informed consent with data collection Use of body-worn camera footage for SSO It is ideal for criminology and police researchers looking for assistance outlining their research frame.