Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat Saarbrücken, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-255).

This research has attempted to better understand property crime victimization by studying the important role of community structures, while controlling for the following demographic variables: age, gender, race, and income. Three different types of analyses were used: (1) bivariate analysis; (2) multivariate analysis, and (3) path analysis. Bivariate analysis was used in order to gain a better understanding of the following zero-order relationships: (1) the relationship between the structural characteristics of communities and property crime victimization; (2) the relationship between the structural variables and the mediating variables--guardianship and neighborhood cohesion; (3) the relationship between guardianship and property crime, and (4) the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and property crime. Most of these relationships were found to be in the expected direction. The multivariate analysis was conducted by running three separate regression models. Model 1 included only the structural variables of community size, racial heterogeneity, and residential mobility. In Model 2, demographic variables were added in order to see how this addition would impact the effects of the structural variables on property crime victimization. Model 3 included both the structural and the demographic variables, along with guardianship and neighborhood cohesion. This additional regression model was used in an attempt to discover the effects of guardianship and neighborhood cohesion on property crime victimization. Path analysis was used in order to find out the direct and indirect effects of the structural and demographic variables on property crime victimization. Many of the findings of this research were not consistent with past research. There appears to be other important factors which were not included. For example, guardianship and neighborhood cohesion did not mediate the effects of the structural and demographic variables. The thesis concludes with alternative explanations for these and other inconsistent findings. / Master of Science

The problem of this study concerns the perception of the seriousness of corporate and property crime by groups from various social classes and groups with diverse exposure to prison. Hypotheses relating sex, race, age, exposure to prison, and social class to the perceived seriousness of the two types of crime are presented. In order that these hypotheses be tested, the 211 respondents from prison- and the 182 respondents from the general population ranked five corporate and five property crimes according to seriousness. The findings reveal no significant differences by sex, race, and age. Within all social classes and all categories of exposure to prison, no significant differences between the perceived seriousness of corporate and property crimes.exist.

This study investigates changes in rates of property crime in the United States from 1958 to 1993. Predictor variables include changes in rates of economic factors (inflation, technological/cyclical/frictional unemployment), arrest rates for property crimes disaggregated by race (ARPCDR), interaction of ARPCDR and technological unemployment, alcohol offenses, interaction of alcohol offenses and poverty, drug abuse violations, and interaction of drug abuse violations and poverty. Changes in poverty, population growth, and police presence are employed as control variables. The Beach-McKinnon Full Maximum- Likelihood EGLS AR1 Method (accompanied by residual analysis) is used to test seven hypotheses. Significant positive effects upon changes in aggregate property crime rates are found for five predictors: (a) inflation, (b) cyclical unemployment, (c) frictional unemployment, (d) the interaction of white arrest rates and technological unemployment, and (e) the interaction of rates of alcohol offenses and poverty. To explain changes in property crime rates, further research should decompose aggregate rates particularly those pertaining to the economy. Also, the relationship between the interaction of poverty and drug abuse violations, at the aggregate level, and changes in property crime rates should be clarified. This research has important policy implications related to the impact of social, economic, and educational issues on mainstream society and its criminal elements. Law makers should consider this type of research in all macro and micro-oriented policies.

Univ., Diss.--Saarbrücken, 2003. / Literaturverz. S. 241 - 255.

University of Macau / Faculty of Law

Univ., Diss.--Lausanne, 2004.

This research explores whether women offenders who committed property crimes suffer from feminization of poverty, and social deprivations as asserted by the economic marginalization theory. Social deprivations include being a single parent with dependent children at home, being the main financial supporter of a household and being primary caretaker to minor children.