Disorder and Decline: Crime and the Spiral of Decay in American Neighborhoods

Much has been written about crime and its economic causes, but very little attention has been paid to the social and environmental factors stimulating the appearance and spread of crime. Urban sociologist, Wesley Skogan explores the deterioration of neighbourhoods in American cities, analyzing the connections between physical decay, disorderly public behaviour and concomitant increases in fear and crime. The author comments on a wide range of recent research on policing and community development in addition to offering the results of his own research.