Essay On Crime In Public Housing

Few studies have linked disorder and crime to public housing projects however, the common perception is that they are violent and dangerous places (Pavnich & Hill, 2014). There have been few attempts to measure crime in public housing. Even the largest public housing complexes typically represent small fractions of the specific geographic units that official crime statistics are keep (Holzman & Piper, 1998). Therefore, the knowledge of the volume and type of crime in public housing and how crime in public housing compares to that found in other neighborhoods is inadequate (Holzman & Piper, 1998). The geographic parameters of official crime statistics compiled by local law enforcement agencies usually make the measurement of crime in public

housing difficult (Holzman & Piper, 1998).
Very little research exists on crime in public housing and the research that does exist is mostly based on neighborhoods or areas where public housing projects are likely to exist. There are three areas of issues with the research on public housing, first there are spatial and temporal differences in crime rates throughout public housing sites, next crime rates are not stagnant but are dynamic and have “crime careers’ and last it the idea that various problems exist in calculating population denominators in public housing (Pavnich & Hill, 2014). Crime is perceived as being so prevalent in public housing areas that the area has high spatial and social concentrations of poor people. There is also the lack of informal social control in the socially disorganized neighborhoods where public housing is located (Pavnich & Hill, 2014).
Today, it would be safe to say that research is lacking on crime in public housing areas not because of car window sociology or the lack of interest because it doesn’t directly affect white suburbanites, a population from which the majority of criminal justice professors are drawn but because of the area and population itself.

Most crime in public housing goes unreported. The information obtained from police departments for research will not make a true representation of the actual types and amount of crimes. Those living in public housing often feel that they will not be assisted even if they do report crimes to the police therefore most crime goes unreported. Another problem with research is the fact that those living in public housing often are not willing to fill out surveys or do self-reporting. Unfortunately, crime has become a way of life for many of the population who live in public housing and there are career criminals who are feared in these areas and will not be crossed making true research information incorrect. Public housing occupants with low income have no other place to go and often live with overcrowding of occupants that go unaccounted for again causing a false indication of numbers. One last thought, illegal immigrants will occupy these housing areas and are not willing to divulge even the slightest information to researchers along with

authorities.
Reference

Holzman, H. & Piper, L. (1998). Measuring crime in public housing: Methodological issues and research strategies. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14(4), 331

Paynich, R., & Hill, B. (2014). Fundamentals of crime mapping (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA:
Jones & Bartlett.