SOCIAL-INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY CRIME - EXAMINING THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBOR NETWORKS

The social disorganization perspective assumes that social interaction among neighbors is a central element in the control of community crim e. Moreover, social interaction among neighbors that occurs frequently , such as every day, is assumed to be most effective. This analysis te sts that assumption by exploring the consequences of frequent and infr equent interaction. I construct 10 alternative measures of social inte raction and separately examine the effect of each on the rates of thre e serious crimes across 60 urban neighborhoods. Findings suggest that type of interaction matters. Getting together once a year or more with neighbors has the most consistent and generally strongest effect on b urglary, motor vehicle theft, and robbery. Further this form of intera ction mediates a significant proportion of the effect of ecological ch aracteristics on community crime. Implications for community crime res earch are discussed.