NCJ Number
146012
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1993) Pages: 400-411
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The author discusses how criminology can stay on top of changing times by being attuned to social indicators.
Abstract
Two historic examples, one positive and one negative, illustrate the importance of social indicators. Without them, criminological theories are uninformed and become outmoded. Attunement entails developing 1) social indicators that precisely measure movements of people and things over time and space; 2) indicators specific to the study of crime; and 3) taxonomies of crime-relevant situational factors, which in turn enhance development of social and crime indicators. In a social indicators program for criminology, the retail industry would likely be the initial indicator, due to several converging factors. Ten categories of social indicators, specific factors, and their relevance to crime prediction are outlined. The categories are: 1) Population and the family; 2) Health and nutrition; 3) Housing and environment; 4) Transportation; 5) Education and training; 6) Work; 7) Social security and welfare; 8) Income, productivity, and consumption; 9) Social participation; and 10) Culture, leisure, and use of time. 1 table, 3 endnotes, and 35 references