Objective: This study examined the relationship between neighborhood social
structure, alcohol outlet densities and violent crime in Camden, New Jerse
y. Method: Data pertaining to neighborhood social structure, violent crime
and alcohol density were collected for 98 block groups, and analyzed using
bivariate, multivariate and spatial analyses. Results: Each type of analysi
s showed that those areas with high alcohol outlet densities experienced mo
re violent crime than low-density areas, after controlling for neighborhood
social structure. In the multivariate regression analysis, alcohol outlet
densities explained close to one fifth of the variability in violent crime
rates across block groups- more than any one of the neighborhood structural
variables included in the analysis. These findings were replicated in the
spatial analysis, which also showed that alcohol outlet densities contribut
ed significantly to violent crime within target block groups but not in adj
acent block groups. Conclusions: High alcohol outlet density is associated
with high rates of violent crime in this urban community. Spatial analysis
suggests that alcohol outlets elevate the rate of violent crime within the
immediate neighborhood context, not in surrounding neighborhoods.