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

Wesley G. Skogan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1992

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Skogan, Northwestern University professor of political science and urban affairs, defines disorder as those elements of urban life which merely border on crime or constitute crimes so minor that police tend to disregard them: public drinking, vandalism, littering, verbal harassment of passersby, panhandling and prostitution. In addition to these are sundry physical disorders, such as abandoned housing, ill-kept buildings, broken streetlights and garbage-filled lots and alleys. Perhaps minor in themselves, such disorders, the author claims, can and do spur serious crimes. Skogan details efforts to counter or reduce disorder in Houston, Newark, Chicago and Minneapolis, particularly through the use of so-called community policing, which has met with some small success. His book, though of interest to public officials and police brass, is closer to a sociology textbook than a work for general readers.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Progressive police departments are adding to their crime-fighting, call-answering 911 functions an emphasis on problem-oriented community policing. They help to organize communities to deal with problems of housing, health, social service, disorganization, and disorder in general. Skogan summarizes five studies of disorder and community decline and concludes that there is no quick fix for disorder in urban neighborhoods. While Skogan's findings are generally disappointing, his book is not. Skogan is known in the field for his previous studies of crime and the urban environment, and this book will add to his reputation. Anyone interested in improving police-citizen relations and developing programs to control urban disorder will find insights here. --John Broderick, Stone hill Coll., North Easton, Mass.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (May 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520076931
• ISBN-13: 978-0520076938
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Supplement to "Broken Windows", June 9, 2000

By 

R. Tomlin "waukegan" (Waukegan, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disorder and Decline: Crime and the Spiral of Decay in American Neighborhoods (Paperback)

This book is a good compliment to "Fixing Broken Windows" by George Kelling and Catherine Coles. The latter book is essential reading for anyone interested in improving a declining neighborhood. This book, while useful in many respects, serves better as a supplement to some of the other work that's out there.

The book certainly addresses an important subject and provides common sense, sometimes seemingly obvious, but often ignored directions on how to make our neighborhoods safer and more stable places to live.