Disorder and Decay: Crime and the Spiral of Decay

Wesley G. Skogan, in Disorder and Decay: Crime and the Spiral of Decay in American Neighborhoods, examines the causes of crime in inner-city neighborhoods and the suggested solution of community policing. Skogan bases his work on a study by two political scientists and "academic policing experts." James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, who wrote about the sources of neighborhood crime, the physical and social deterioration of urban areas, and the vicious cycle of fear and decay and crime in such neighborhoods. Skogan, a Northwestern University professor of political science and urban affairs, examines a number of studies which were generated by the first article by Wilson and Kelling which was written in 1982. The studies covered forty inner-city areas in six cities overall. After his analysis, Skogan concludes that the process known as community policing would be the best approach to preventing not only crime but the conditions in which crime flourishes.

Skogan then examines community policing not only in theory but in action, including analyses of specific programs implemented with varying degrees of success in Houston and Newark successfully. He finds greater success in Newark, and argues reasonably that community policing will work better the sooner it is implemented (that is, before the area is completely crime-ridden) and the more homogeneous the neighborhood is (that is, while there is cohesion among the area's residents which can be used to fight crime). The book d

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dents, and outward, to extract from powerholders the development resources they cannot generate internally (186). Skogan's approach, then, is far more pragmatic than ideological, which is a major strength of his book. He is far more intent on understanding the problem and finding effective solutions, while maintaining a humane perspective, than with critiquing competing theories. Instead, his generalized approach accepts that conflict theory has a place in understanding crime, but he does not agree that coercion should be a central approach to crime, unless absolutely necessary. Over the long run, community policing is based on strengthening the social structure of the neighborhood rather than simply attacking criminals as if they were a pack of invading rats. In other words, a neighborhood with good citizen-police relations, with strong citizen groups organized around common problems and seeking long-term solutions, with signs of urban decay quickly eliminated, will be a neighborhood which deters crime by its very nature. Skogan's perspective is that people can be passive or active, just as criminals can be brazen or frightened, and just as police can be vicious or humane. Community policing is a reasonable solution because

Category: Government - D