There are competing theories of what drives crime in cities and neighborhoods. We will review them here briefly because a theoretically informed perspective can help us devise measures and policies to prevent and reduce crime by reducing the gap between perception (what we believe about crime) and reality.
One of the most recognized facts about crime is that it is not randomly distributed across cities and towns. To this end, there are three widely cited theoretical approaches that look at social and structural root factors to explain the dynamic causes of criminality. We have already talked about institutional anomie theories/social strain theories and conflict theories; however, there is another social structural theory that is important to address – social disorganization theory.
So What Exactly is Social Disorganization?
There are a lot of different ways we might express this. Bear in mind, proponents of the theory are trying to come up with a way to explain how social and institutional factors might work together in ways that contribute to the crime problem. That’s because social disorganization theory takes the position that weak societal institutions contribute to a deteriorated social environment, which in turn fosters crime, due in large part to dynamics that place constraints and limitations on individuals.
Social disorganization theory builds on concepts that were conceived during the first half of the 20th century by academic researchers, who were working in Chicago in the 1920’s. Among them, Ernest Burgess was a geographer, who was interested in land use patterns. After studying Chicago, he arrived at his now famous “Concentric Zones” model. Bear in mind now, this is only a model (not reality); it is meant to be a tool to give us a way to visualize different place, where we might make comparisons and see similarities as well as differences.
Park, Burgess, and McKenzie (1925) human ecology theories imagined that cities were spatially divided into zones. The circular zones were arranged around an urban core or “loop.” Each zone was distinguished by a combination of function and social characteristics (i.e. ghetto, zone of workers homes, zone in transition). The highest crime areas were found in what they identified as “transitional” zones. These were place that were typically undergoing change from commercial to residential use.
Later, Shaw and McKay (1942) put these theories to a test. As a result, they discovered that crime tended to be stable over time. This occurred despite the fact that ethnic composition of the population sometimes changed. Given this, they were interested in determining why crime persisted in some places but not others. Upon further study, they posited that three variables associated with social disorganization can explain variations in crime and other problems in communities: poverty, ethnic diversity, and family disruption.
This line of inquiry continues to attract scholarly attention, as researchers remain committed to the study of social disorganization and crime, where it is understood to be the result of dynamic inter-related social processes: invasion, conflict, accommodation, and assimilation (Muncie and McLaughlin,2001).
Social disorganization might thus be described as a state of society characterized by the breakdown of effective institutional social control, where this results in a further lack of functional integration between groups, conflicting social attitudes, and personal maladjustment. In a nod to Durkheim, we might also say that when communities demonstrate weak social ties (where there is a lack of opportunity to build social bonds), and they are inhabited by people who exhibit low levels of social control (due to the lack of ties/bonds), this produces social disorganization that is likely to lead to crime among other problems. Social disorganization is thus both a cause and an effect of crime.
More recently, contemporary criminologists and geographers have likewise shown that the distribution of criminal violence, especially property crime, adheres to spatially identifiable patterns, which emerge in cities. They report crime is highly spatially concentrated (Aselin et al 2000; Ratfliffe, 2003); that the vast majority of criminal violence in urban areas is concentrated within confined areas (Muggah, 2015). For more on this, read about the “Hot Spots” theory of crime.
Taken together, social disorganization theorists, argue that the functional organization of a city is not a random process. In light of this, crime is also not random. And that, furthermore, social life is impacted when individuals are confronted with rapid social change, accompanied by uneven development of culture, such that there is noticeable disharmony, conflict, and lack of consensus (Thomas and Znaniecki). The explanations given for this are that structural factors (i.e. deindustrialization, migration/immigration, and socioeconomic segregation) work together in ways that spatially concentrate people who are disadvantaged (i.e. poor, disabled, mental health issues, drug problems). This tends to weaken the social fabric of communities, makes it difficult for people to create and maintain social ties/bond, and it increases antisocial behavior, especially criminality.
What Can We Do About It?
Moving out the realm of theory into practice, research demonstrates time and again that children who live in impoverished and socially disorganized communities, where they cannot attend pre-school programs (because they cannot afford them or they are not available) that teach basic social skills, are more likely to engage in criminal activity. This ties directly to public policy and intervention action that might be taken to prevent these problems: fund pre-K education programs. Nonetheless, politicians and residents alike, who loudly profess to be “pro-law & order,” are the same ones who repeatedly vote to defund these programs. Why the contradiction?
Discussion
What sort of practical ideas or policies do you think should be put into place to address the risks implied by social disorganization theory?
Do you know of any particular communities in your area that exhibit problems like researchers describe?(leave a comment in the comment section).
How does economic development policy tie into all of this? What happens when almost all of a given area’s economic development consists of “big box” stores and chain stores? What kind of impacts do you think this might have on an area?
The social disorganization theory says that crime and delinquency are more likely to occur in communities with weak social cohesion, poor social control, and a lack of shared values. There are a few ideas or policies that should be put into place to address the risks implied by social disorganization theory. One of the first steps would be improving the physical spaces where people live, this can help make neighborhoods safer and more welcoming. This means fixing up parks, streets, and public areas, adding better lighting, and making places look nicer. When a community looks good and feels safe, people are more likely to take pride in their neighborhood, look out for each other, and work together to keep things in order. Also establishing or funding community centers that offer educational programs, job training, and social services can reduce isolation and help to build stronger social networks. I also believe that putting policies into place hat aim to reduce residential instability, such as affordable housing programs and rent control, can decrease the turnover and instability in neighborhoods. Stable housing allows for better social relationships between residents and helps create more predictable and safe environments.
To address the risks of social disorganization, policies should focus on building community ties. This could include investing in after-school programs, youth mentorship, and local social activities that foster a sense of belonging. Funding early childhood education, like pre-K programs, is crucial for providing disadvantaged children with the skills they need to avoid future criminal behavior.
In my area, McKeesport is a prime example of a community facing issues of social disorganization. The city has experienced economic decline, with the closure of steel mills and a loss of jobs, which has led to rising poverty rates. There’s also been a high turnover of residents, with many moving in and out, particularly immigrants and lower-income families, contributing to social instability. The lack of adequate public services, like youth programs or community centers, makes it harder for residents to form strong social ties. As a result, McKeesport has struggled with high crime rates and a sense of disconnect among residents. The community could really benefit from more investment in local programs that foster unity, improve public services, and create opportunities for residents to build stronger social bonds.
When a community relies mostly on big stores and chain businesses, it can hurt the local economy and make the community feel less connected. These big stores don’t help local businesses or bring people together. A better way to grow the economy is to support small, local businesses. They create jobs, help build pride in the neighborhood, and make the community feel stronger and confident, which can help reduce crime.
Policies that should be put into place should be to address the issues that happen in more disadvantaged communities (financial, social, food, etc). It is important to be able to help them out since they are most of the time being ignored from other communities since they might be known as “ghetto” or “slums” and no one wants to be associated as much. I would say the areas that are like that in Pittsburgh would be Mckeesport and some certain areas in downtown. Economic development policy ties into this with the fact that it could affect a lot of citizens’ course of their life, of how their future is going to be played out with the financial impact in their lives. It could be be both good and bad if that were to happen, it would be good because this would give a lot of job opportunities for a lot of people that need money, but it could also be bad because this might be the reason for gentrification in the neighborhood, resulting in having to kick out a so many low class citizens.
Throughout cities or areas that deal with social disorganization there are many ways to attempt to decrease the likelihood of the residents in these communities becoming offenders in the criminal justice system in their lifespan. The main way in these impoverished low income communities to fight off the chances of crime is by investing heavily into the education of the children in the neighborhoods, especially the children who have yet to reach high school. The only issue with this solution is where the funding will be obtained from since the money for the school districts come from the taxpayers that reside in the area. And if the community is residing in these low income neighborhoods it means that the amount of money that they give in taxes to the school is also low in retrospect to other school districts outside these areas of social disorganization. My answer to this dilemma is a program that focuses on federal funding for these school districts that do not have as much access to money as other districts.
I grew up in McKeesport where a lot of people are not provided the resources they need such as medical care, food supply ,dental and so on. This goes for more of the single parents struggling to help there households. I think what’s going down hill is the food cost and the jobs not paying there workers enough so people are having to work even more because of the cost of living is so high now and little benefits. I think people that put in all the hard work deserve way more with all the taxes they take out of each check and hard work and time they put into there daily jobs. Also, it states that the more disorganized the community is the more likely that the young people will grow up to commit crime which I definitely think is true because in my city there is a lot of crime and lower class people. If there are more chain stores it could have a impact on maybe more crime or could have a health affects but it could possibly make more jobs but could be a good and bad reaction.
There are multiple different ways you could address risks of social disorganization theory. One way is by adding better education opportunities, such as after school programs. Adding in community centers to a neighborhood could also be a good way to help people get away from crime because of the support that comes from these centers. Providing better and more affordable housing is a way that we can start to reduce the poverty rate. Having easier to access to getting jobs or even more support to local businesses is a way that can help improve the economic stability of the community. Living in McKeesport, I have witnessed as my community has gone through some of these same challenges that are associated with social disorganization, and by doing some of these strategies, it’s the safest way to improve the stability of the community.
To address the risks implied by social disorganization theory, communities can add a few practical policies. Community centers and different programs can strengthen a community by providing people with support and care. Providing children with affordable schooling and after-school activities can keep many kids entertained and out of trouble. Providing help economically with affordable housing, and better outreach programs can reduce poverty rates. Improving the look of a neighborhood could make people feel less isolated from society. In my area, McKeesport is known for its high crime rates. Providing an area like McKeesport with any of these things could make it a happier and safer place. When economic development focuses on big box stores and chains, it can harm local businesses, offer worse quality jobs, and send money out of the area. Local businesses and different types of economic development can lead to better jobs and a higher likeliness of happiness.
I feel that more educational and community building programs would result in a lessening of the crime rate. These programs would not only help community members improve intellectually, but also allow them to grow together as a unit. I feel like easier access to higher quality foods would definitely benefit communities suffering at the hands of social disorganization. A lack of proper nutrients is arguably just as detrimental to a human’s well being as a lack of education. I know many areas that exhibit structural problems which I feel contributes to their high crime rates. For one, the communities have less grocery stores and more sneaker/clothing stores with many popular brand names. Although one would think being so close to such nice brands is a privilege, having high priced fashion in lower-income neighborhoods can create a mass feeling of inferiority, which provokes rational-thinking beings to want to steal from these establishments or commit crimes in order to afford their products. Instead of higher quality goods, such as fresh meats and produce, these neighborhoods would be lined with fast food restaurants, such as KFC, McDonalds, or various Chinese takeout spots. The neighborhoods in question would look “run down”, bricks being dull and dirty, metal being rusted, and walls being covered in graffiti. I feel an organized, volunteer cleanup would also be a large help to lower the crime, seeing as it’s a group beautification effort. Furthermore, seeing a nicer looking neighborhood might prevent people from committing crimes in that area (because well-kept areas tend to also be well-protected).
To address the dangers associated with social disorganization, we need to concentrate on a combination of solutions driven by the community. It is important to prioritize funding for community education, specifically initiatives targeting young children such as pre-K and extracurricular activities. These things can help children in building social skills and avoiding problematic situations.
Making sure there are areas where people can gather, such as parks, community centers, or local events can also build stronger connections within the community. There also needs to be mental health assistance. Having access to services can really benefit families facing challenging situations. Also, having collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations can establish trust and enhance safety. In general, a combination of education, fostering community relationships, and providing economic opportunities is necessary to create a significant impact.
Economic development plays a part in all of this. When a community depends mostly on large chain stores, it frequently gets rid of small local shops, leading to the loss of neighborhood identity. The employment opportunities offered by these stores are typically low-paying, providing little assistance to residents. They fail to promote a sense of community as customers only visit to make purchases without engaging with others. It would be more effective to back local businesses in order to build up the community.
An idea to address the risks of social disorganization theory would be to provide things like affordable housing for low-income areas, incentives for those low income areas to keep people busy such as events and charities, and also a center in the community for these events or agencies to create parks or places for leisure. Yes I do know of some communities that exhibit these problems, its usually because they are low income and do not have a lot of programs for children that there are so many crimes. Economic development policies tie into all of this because rather than investing in communities, families, and small business their investments are with the “big box stores” which takes away a lot of resources from a community, it takes away money, commerce, and job quality which overall weakens the community.
In regards to social disorganization, the weakening of social communities can lead to an increase in criminality. In modern day there are few community centered places left for people to come together. When considering the youth, kids get involved in crime due to the influences in their environment. By providing accessible common place, where kids and teenagers can safely meet, you offer them an escape from stress and an alternative to getting involved with more dangerous activities.
It would also be beneficial to offer more funding to these communities, make sure they have access to proper food, health services, housing, clothing. Spending money on repairing the community parks and schools, fixing broken streetlights and sidewalks, all these things would help to reduce stress in these environments. When people are given the proper tools and resources they’re less likely to look for other ways to get them.
Providing subsidies to local businesses would allow for economic growth, for money to go back into the community, and encourage new shops to open. All of this would allow for more life and variety in the town. Increased options help prevent things like food deserts from occurring.
The social disorganization theory’s relevance to crime seems to be one of its primary problems. Ethnic groups, families, and faiths all seem to play a part in these civilizations’ difficulties with rising crime rates. This emphasizes the need for action in these neighborhoods since inaction might worsen the issue by increasing crime. There can be major repercussions when chain and big box businesses play a major role in an area’s economic development. It might result in fewer small enterprises in the area, which would lessen the range of jobs available and possibly encourage economic reliance. The community’s identity and ability to withstand changes in the economy may be impacted by this.
I think that in places where social disorganization theory occurs, there needs to be options for people, places where anyone can come and be apart of a healthy community that is focused on improvement. Having things like sports teams, after school programs, and adding more economic opportunities within the community with small businesses. It is so important to give people a way to interact and be a community together. When people label an area to be full of criminals, the people that live there aren’t going to be inspired to be something more. Having small local businesses are key to helping the economic development of the area. If you were to place a Target in the middle of a struggling area, the money target generates is not going to be put back into the area. Having an area where everyone is supportive and looking out for each other allows for so much positive reinforcement in the area. People wont be focused on crime as they have built a system that works to better everyone
There’s a lot of social disorganization theory I have seen while growing up in a low-crime area and median income in Freehold, New Jersey. In the area where I grew up in there were people from different ethnic backgrounds. A lot of the people living in my neighborhood were immigrants coming from their country in Mexico and other Hispanic countries. There are houses to live in in my neighborhood but the problem is the rent and purchasing a house is expensive. There is another neighborhood that is 5 minutes away from mine and most people live in apartments in that neighborhood because the rent is cheap there’s a lot of crime that happens in that neighborhood like drug dealing and robbery. I would sometimes walk there with my dad a couple of years ago and most of the stores and abandoned houses were starting to fall apart and overgrown grass. I sometimes don’t even like driving in that neighborhood because there’s a lot of crime that happens there at least twice a week There are a lot of places like this in Jersey such as Camden and some parts of north Jersey.
I think social disorganization theory really explains why crime happens more in certain neighborhoods. Crime hotspots emerge in areas where illegal activities are more prevalent and just seems normal to people living there. When that’s what you grow up with, it’s so hard to take another path, even if you wanna get out. The people and influences around you as a kid matter the most. Solving this requires making sure young kids get to experience life beyond just their neighborhood. Funding programs like affordable pre-K and after-school activities to expose kids who can’t typically access that stuff. A solution is ensuring kids can experience diverse perspectives through social programs which lessens the risk that crime seems unavoidable or acceptable. While pre-K costs too much for some families, extracurriculars can still make a difference by broadening horizons. Essentially, give at-risk youth alternatives to drug-dealing friends or gangs to show them that other options exist. Some won’t take another route but many just need to realize possibilities. Provide support systems beyond just their chaotic environments. It’s obviously way deeper an issue than this but kids slipping through the cracks due to money and location drives the cycle.
Social disorganization theory seems to be one of the biggest problems when it comes to crime. Whether it’s ethnic, religious, or family issues they seem to all be a factor on why these societies are having trouble with the rise in crime. This shows that something needs to be done in these neighborhoods, because if something isn’t done then the issue of crime could rise even more and become more of a problem. A policy that I believe would benefit these crime ridden places is community policing initiatives. I think that this would benefit the communities very well because if police officers are encouraged to engage with the community about non enforcement situations. Then the police could get to know the community on a personal level and have bonds with the citizens which can lead to a safer environment if they know the police will be around to protect them. Social disorganization has a large impact on crime and the way people live their lives. This brings up education, kids who live in these areas have a hard time going to school because they can’t afford them, or they are not available. Kids not going to school is also a large issue because without education they can’t be taught the right and wrong things to do. Which would lead them turning to tv, games, and people in the neighborhood for guidance.
Growing up in a low-income, high-crime area outside of Downtown Pittsburgh, I have seen social disorganisation theory playing out. The theory variables are recognised as poverty, ethnic diversity, and family disruption. In my experience, poverty and diversity were very visible factors. In the area where I grew up, most of the people living there were immigrants who had just moved to the country and African Americans. There were few houses, so most people were living in apartment complexes, exposed to criminal behaviour such as drug dealing and violence. I do, however, feel that we had a strong sense of community. Most of the residents within my specific apartment complex were very close and problems usually occurred with people that did not live there but were in the area.
Where I grew up, there were very few “big box” or chain stores within walking distance. The only chains we had were fast food restaurants, which people did not even go to regularly. In areas that are particularly dependent on small businesses and where people make their income from family-owned shops, it could be detrimental to add chain stores, causing instability or loss of jobs. Assisting in existing small businesses in the area, however, could be much more beneficial, ensuring jobs while benefiting resources that people have access to.
I believe that policies addressing poverty, as it is often associated with crime, can help settle the risks implied by the social disorganization theory. The theory explains how social problems and behaviors can impact and explain crime in a community. Better community resources and events can help better shape communities and provide activities for people to stay away from crime. Every society can have its own problems and needs. Some may need better education programs, where some may need environmental improvement. One particular area around me that I can associate with is Duquesne. I only live two minutes away from this community, so I have spent a lot of time here. My Grandma used to live in Duquesne, and I remember taking daily walks around what is now the ‘bad area.’ There are lots of abandoned houses and buildings, overgrown grass and bushes, and trash all around. There are also often many crimes in this area. I can remember going to small businesses around the area which are no longer running. A place where I once walked every day is now a place many are scared to even drive through. Economic development policy ties into this because it shows how ‘big box’, and chain stores can impact a community. There are not any chain stores in Duquesne that I know of, but there is a Giant Eagle within walking distance from the neighborhood. Large chains like this cause small businesses to shut down, which leaves a town like Duquesne without any quick and nearby grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. Not only does the community lose these businesses, but they are left with the abandoned buildings that cause the town to be looked at the way it is.
One thing that we can do is to invest a bigger portion of funds into infrastructure to restore older neighborhoods which have fallen into disrepair. On top of this, reigniting a community feeling to a neighborhood could be important in lowering risk for crime, as social disorganization claims that without social bonds crime increases as a result. To further lower this risk it is important to also contribute funds to school programs which socialize children, allowing them to build a strong foundation which will help prevent future anti-social behaviors. Economic development policy ties into this because historically, according to researchers, zones were baked into the structure of cities, where poor regions were often closest to central business districts, and neighborhoods of better quality were built outside of the city. As Shaw and McKay state, poverty is an important factor when determining crime in these areas. Big box stores contribute to making poor regions poorer as when they move in, their larger selection and cheaper prices run local stores owned by people in the community are run out of business, taking money out of the local economy, and giving less power to local business owners, who now if they are employed to not own the business and real estate behind their store. On top of this, sometimes stores such as Walmart decide that their store is no longer profitable, and will close, leaving nothing to a community too far in ruin to help themselves back up
What I find the most interesting about social disorganization is that it is indeed a cause and effect of crime. Communities that lack social organization, meaning that they show signs of poor social bonds, tend to to be the ones facing criminal activity the most. Consequently, these communities turn into a non suitable environment for a permanent home where it becomes very improbable for people to work together in harmony. More often than not these are the areas where chain stores and big companies thrive at the expense of local businesses. All the economy of the given area is basically at the hands of shareholders whose only aspirations are to fill their own pockets. In return we are left with areas with high rates of poverty and crime where people lack the motivation to improve.
Crime prevails in these kinds of communities due to the high flow of the population, hence why they are known as “zones of transition”. These areas need policies that support local businesses and opportunities to acquire property as well as preschool and afterschool programs. This would generate motivation to create social bonds and improve as a community as well as keep the younger ones away from criminal activities.
I think that this is something that the tax payers money should be going into. After school programs help adolescents have a safe space after a stressful day, especially if they may not have that at home. My final project for this class was about crimes related to children in foster care. I keep reading over and over that adolescents get into these situations because they don’t have a stable home, somewhere safe to go after school etc. Some people blame single parent households for this, because of the lack of money in the home. But I believe that it has more to do with that single parent having multiple jobs so they aren’t with the child after/ before school, so they get into trouble. Money does definitely play a part in it though; when children don’t eat 3 nutritional meals a day, it can spiral into things like acting out etc.
The social disorganization theory suggests that problems in a neighborhood, both social and institutional, can further lead to crime issues in that area. Things like weak community ties, lack of control by institutions, and a run-down environment play a role in crime issues. There are multiple ways for a socially disorganized society to deal with these problems. All communities have their own needs to thrive. If a neighborhood was experiencing economic decline, where people were facing high unemployment rates and lived in rundown homes, social connections would be weekend and resources would be limited causing crime rates to rise like drug abuse or property crimes. My whole family is from Mckeesport, and my grandparents have lived in their house since the 70s. They always talk about how Mckeesport was so nice and there were shops, locally owned businesses, and crime was typically not heard of often. Mckeesport is a good example of the social disorganization theory.
Social disorganization theory’s main goal is targeting to change those ecological factors that relate to cohesion and control or collect efficacy. The theory gives several actionable policy insights such as where to direct public funding to prevent crimes, how to govern urban cities, and which social values to uphold. For example, where I am from there is Manassas Park and Manassas they are within a 1 to 2 mile radius. I can be at my house in Manassas Park and one light away is Manassas. Manassas has had several issues with drugs and alcohol abuse, fighting, and gun violence for many years. The governor has tried many different ideas to try to lower the crime rate and drug abuse and it has gone down tremendously since 2020 but still a high issue and with this theory I think they can accomplish a lot more. The theory of economic development on how primitive and poor economies can evolve into sophisticated and relatively prosperous ones is of critical importance to underdeveloped countries, and it is usually in this context that the issues of economic development are discussed. I think with having big box stores and how it goes hand and hand with the economic development theory it will bring up the economy and the nearby neighborhoods and with those it will open up more jobs in small areas like Manassas for young teens to get jobs instead of resulting in criminal like behavior
Social disorganization theory seems to be one of the biggest problems when it comes to crime. Whether it’s ethnic, religious, or family issues they seem to all be a factor on why these societies are having trouble with the rise in crime. This shows that something needs to be done in these neighborhoods, because if something isn’t done then the issue of crime could rise even more and become more of a problem. A policy that I believe would benefit these crime ridden places is community policing initiatives. I think that this would benefit the communities very well because if police officers are encouraged to engage with the community about non enforcement situations.Then the police could get to know the community on a personal level and have bonds with the citizens which can lead to a safer environment if they know the police will be around to protect them. Social disorganization has a large impact on crime and the way people live their lives. This brings up education, kids who live in these areas have a hard time going to school because they can’t afford them or they are not available. Kids not going to school is also a large issue because without education they can’t be taught the right and wrong things to do. Which would lead them turning to tv, games, and people in the neighborhood for guidance.
I believe one way to address issues implied by social disorganization theory is to focus on community-building programs, like after-school activities for youth or neighborhood watch initiatives. In my area, there’s a neighborhood struggling with issues related to social disorganization, where crime rates are higher and community engagement is lower.
When an area’s economic development heavily relies on big box and chain stores, it can have significant impacts. It might lead to fewer local businesses, reducing job diversity and potentially fostering a sense of economic dependence. This could affect the community’s identity and resilience in the face of economic fluctuations.
I am not familial with any areas described, so take my reasoning with a grain of salt. I both see the merits of the economic development policy for socially disorganized areas, and the problems it could bring. I like the initial concept of introducing more working environments, because people without steady pay could gain that. But the result that the entire area becomes chain, seems to imply putting smaller bisneses under, which is the opposite of what I think should happen. I believe polices that allow new businesses to open, and allow old ones to continue. This would maximize job options for the populous, adding but not removing.
Social disorganization theory basically explains that, poor living conditions, and crime ridden areas brew more crime into the populous. Ways to combat this are to improve the community, and allow more options for jobs, this can allow the community to become more hospitable, and allow options for jobs. I haven’t had any experience with community’s like this, so I may come of as naive for this solution. The economic development policy touches on one of my solutions, and that is providing of jobs to reduce need for crime. So it is very relevant.
In the realm of social disorganization theory, economic development policies wield a pivotal influence. When a locale becomes saturated with “big box” and chain retail as a consequence of these policies, it precipitates consequential societal repercussions. A preponderance of such establishments curtails job diversity, relegating individuals to predominantly low-wage positions with scant prospects for professional advancement. This engenders elevated poverty rates and accentuates economic inequalities—elements closely correlated with heightened criminal activity, as postulated by social disorganization theory. Additionally, the encroachment of major chain outlets often results in the displacement of smaller, indigenous enterprises. This process fractures community cohesion, attenuating social bonds. The theory contends that the concentration of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in specific areas fosters an environment conducive to heightened criminality and broader societal issues. Furthermore, the ubiquitous presence of chain stores has the proclivity to homogenize neighbourhood landscapes, eroding distinctive community identities and inducing a sense of alienation—a phenomenon seamlessly aligning with the principles of social disorganization.
Social disintegration is indeed a very interesting topic to discuss. poverty, ethnic diversity, and family disruption are three variables that make up social disintegration. This reminds me of something I once learned about the connection between economic conditions and social problems. Often economic conditions can be somewhat indicative of social conditions. Crime and anti-social behavior are more likely to occur in a society with a down economy. A downturn in the economy can cause businesses to close and employees to lose their jobs. Loss of jobs and volatile social security are both factors that lead to more crime. This is indeed an inevitable situation as the world economy will not remain stable.
But leaving the situation unchecked will only make the problem worse. Governments should do more. More employment opportunities and business support than support and assistance for the disadvantaged. Essentially, the economy is the basis of all problems. Most of the conflicts will be alleviated and more solutions will be developed with a good economic base. In addition, the provision of educational resources is also very beneficial. Education is not only the foundation of economic development but also the building blocks of civilization in a community. Educational resources are equally important resources that are lacking in disadvantaged and disorganized communities.
Reflecting on my experiences as a young woman born in a low-income area of McKeesport, PA, and pursuing a major in psychology with a focus on children, I’ve observed firsthand the challenges and risks outlined in social disorganization theory. This theory suggests that a breakdown in social structures, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods, leads to higher crime rates and social problems. In response, there are several practical ideas and policies that could be implemented to address these issues.
To combat these issues, key measures include investing in education and youth programs, which provide safe spaces and positive influences for young people. Additionally, fostering community engagement through neighborhood initiatives empowers residents, reduces crime, and strengthens communal ties.
Economic development policies here often focus on large chain stores, bringing jobs and economic activity, yet sometimes at the expense of local businesses and community needs. Development should be inclusive and community-oriented, supporting local enterprises and integrating social services. Blending education, community participation, and diverse economic strategies are crucial for overcoming adversity and building a more robust, united community.
To address the risks implied by social disorganization theory, practical ideas and policies should focus on community-building initiatives and crime prevention programs. Increasing community engagement through neighborhood watch programs, social events, and educational campaigns can foster a sense of cohesion. Investing in education and skill-building opportunities, especially for at-risk youth, can contribute to long-term community resilience.
In my area, there are neighborhoods facing challenges resembling those described by researchers. High crime rates, limited access to quality education, and insufficient community resources contribute to social disorganization. I’ll leave a comment in the community section to discuss this further.
Economic development policies play a crucial role in addressing social disorganization. Overreliance on big box stores and chain stores can lead to economic disparities, job instability, and a lack of locally owned businesses. This can result in a weakened social fabric and diminished community involvement. Diversifying economic development by supporting small businesses, promoting local entrepreneurship, and investing in sustainable industries can help mitigate these negative impacts, fostering a more balanced and resilient community.
An idea that addresses the risks implied by social disorganization theory could be giving disadvantaged people more support. Free programs could be offered that help people with mental health issues and drug problems. Free programs to help children develop social skills could also be helpful. Another idea could be building community centers in socially disorganized areas. These centers could help people create and maintain social ties. This will lead to people engaging in less antisocial behavior like criminality.
Funding for local businesses could help fix social disorganization. Supermarkets and chain stores do not have ties to the area they are in, while local businesses do. Local businesses are more connected with the community and this makes people who go there feel more included and less likely to engage in antisocial behavior. When supermarkets are built in areas, they usually make local businesses lose customers or go out of business because supermarkets can sell the same things for cheaper. The supermarket can demand local tax exemption or they will leave. Since the supermarket is not paying local taxes, the area will not receive money that it could use to fund helpful programs and infrastructure. the supermarket decides to close and leave, then the area is left without local businesses to fill the gap in services and products that are gone. This will cause the area to be in a terrible economic state and cause crime to increase.
Social disorganization theory, which primarily stems from criminology and sociology, posits that crime and social problems are a result of the breakdown of social cohesion in communities. To address the risks implied by this theory, several practical ideas and policies can be implemented. One that can happen is community policing. Community Policing: Foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and communities, with a focus on community-based problem-solving. This approach promotes trust and collaboration, reducing crime. Another one is economic development. Economic Development: Invest in job opportunities and economic development in disadvantaged areas. When individuals have stable employment, they are less likely to engage in criminal activities. Education is another practical idea. Enhance educational resources in underserved communities. Quality education can empower individuals and create a pathway out of poverty, reducing the likelihood of social disorganization. Increase access to social services, including mental health support and addiction treatment, to address underlying issues contributing to social disorganization. Develop after-school programs and mentorship initiatives to engage and support young people, offering alternatives to crime. These programs are good ways for people to feel supported and staying out of trouble. This provides consistency in their lives that they might not get at home. Address housing insecurity to stabilize communities and promote social cohesion. Lastly, we can Restorative Justice. Implement restorative justice practices to repair harm and rebuild community bonds.
These policies aim to rebuild the social fabric of communities, ultimately mitigating the risks associated with social disorganization theory.
Economic developmental policy ties into all of this because the economic development policy revolves around price stability, high employment, and sustainable growth. When there is a big business coming in, there are going to be numerous new job openings because the company needs people to fill the roles. Which is their high employment. More openings means more people. Which would then fall into price stability, and sustainable growth. With the new location, they are franchising, which in turn grows their business. They have more buildings in more locations, getting their product to more people at once. Which then plays a part in price stability. If those businesses have the money to build a new building in a new location, they have the money from the other buildings to make that happen. Resulting in even more money because they have a whole new location with all new customers. When almost all of a given area’s economic development consists of “big box” stores and chain stores, it knocks out all of the small businesses. When the bigger stores come into towns, they take up a lot of space, and have a variety of things to buy. And due to the fact that they are generally large stores, they offer more job opportunities. So, they provide people with more jobs than there were before. On the other hand, it is running all of the small businesses out of business. Forcing them to close their stores, and find a different source of income. So they are either going to have to move, or they are going to have to work at the “big box” store that came into their town. Which then causes massive impacts on the area. There are more job opportunities for people who did not have any, maybe even bringing in new people because they needed a job, but forcing small businesses to close down, knocking those people out of jobs. If the business decided to make a deal that they are not going to pay taxes for a certain amount of years, then the community is not going to see any of the tax money they should be seeing because the business is not paying any of them. Another impact it could have on the community is that there are no longer the relationships there once were. If there are people who are not from the community working at the store, then there is not a relationship because the people of the community have no idea who that new person is. Also, all of those small business owners who had relationships with every person who walked through their door no longer have those relationships because they do not have a door for those people to walk through.
Social disorganization theory is one model that criminologists use to understand why certain areas have higher crime than others. I think that this theory is prevalent throughout the entirety of America because city planning and how people in American live in general tends to lump like people together. This means that the impoverished areas won’t develop into rich areas. Even in higher status neighborhoods like the suburbs, most people are stuck in the middle class. Another idea I found interesting is the “transitional zones” that the web post mentioned that are changing from residential to commercial zones. Something I’ve personally noticed is how dangerous and unfriendly most of American is today due to the massive corporate “big box” stores. It changes neighborhoods from communities to socially isolating places because of the physical parking lots and massive roads that are being added to small neighborhoods. Overall, it splits up people and takes away from small businesses, leading to higher crime. I think that the problem is too ingrained in American society to fix right away but spending more government money on education would help poor people’s children into proper social development, and possibly alleviate crime.
Ideas that I think should be in place to avoid the risks implied by social disorganization theory is for government to put their money towards better economic living for ALL PEOPLE. It seems today that systemic racism is still in place under policies and minorities are excluded from experiencing the benefits of a better living. A lot of times we go to places and we see different parts of neighborhoods. As you drive through neighborhoods, there is clear observation of a sort of separation in neighborhoods, where one is called “ghetto.” The point is that there are areas that appear to look better and have cleaner facilities and stores. In low income neighborhoods, there is more violence, due to there being less opportunities and resources for families. Therefore violent crimes are committed by young adults who have to break the law in order to survive in the poor environment they could afford. I think more aid should also be given to lower class families because we also see that individuals who grow up in poor areas often experience depression and mental illnesses. The effects could lead to some individuals becoming serial killers and murderers.
As long as I have been in college studying criminology there have been so many theories regarding ones way of acting as a police officer and a civilian. One of the biggest theories talked about was social disorganization. Institutional factors all play a role on how successful things work out when it comes to criminal acts. I learned in the book that a fellow previous offender was brought back into a neighborhood with gun prevalence. Several instances when his life was threatened it gave him thoughts on how impossible it will be living in that neighborhood without a firearm. Figures of that environment led him to the harsh reality of having to carry a weapon to feel safe. Other situations like drugs in communities leave others with a decision to make, either ignore them or sell/do them. Pressure from outer communities don’t help the cause. Several other scenarios drive crime rates through the roof.
The social disorganization theory can be expressed in many ways, it began to build on its concepts throughout the early 1920s. Social disorganization is a community’s ability to establish and hold a strong social system through certain factors affecting it over time such as; ethnic diversity, residential instability, population size, economic status, and proximity to urban areas. Each society and social structure has different problems and needs, so based on that we can not put out a universal plan that would fix every difficult complication that appears in society. Living in North Braddock for most of my life I have seen crime happen in front of me, however my community definitely is not as crime ridden as others around it. I am grateful for my community but I worry for the children that live around me when I see them walking around by themselves when they look no older than 10 years old. I would love to see North Braddock grow out of the crime rate it has now but without the entire community’s help, I don’t think any town or city could change its crime rate aspect.
The social disorganization theory is a way of thinking about crime that explains why crime rates vary depending on the structural and cultural elements that influence how people interact. People who live in socially unorganized neighborhoods are frequently in need and lack the resources to protect themselves against crime. I believe that some concepts or methods should need to be implemented since they can most effectively benefit the neighborhood’s youth. Children are more likely to have weak bonds to traditional society in societies where there is a lot of social disruption. Children will find it simpler to make friends with a bad crowd in these circumstances, increasing their likelihood of becoming involved in crime. According to the social disorganization theory, a person’s neighborhood has a greater impact on their likelihood of committing a crime than their personality. Therefore, if a child grows up in a poorly governed society, it may have an impact on how they develop and what they choose to do with their lives. Children should be our first concern since they are our future. When they don’t have any, children should have free access to resources and counseling.
However, there are potential policies that could address potential economic remedies as well. Education programs should be the main issue for potential policies addressing the social disorder. This is to say that I suggest that one strategy to deal with the risk brought on by social disorganization is to deal with poverty inside socially disorganized places, as poverty is often linked to the crime. Although it is highly debatable, raising the minimum wage is one strategy to combat poverty. While raising the minimum wage can raise unemployment and poverty because firms, particularly small businesses, cannot afford to pay their employees higher amounts, if a higher wage is established and left steady, the level of unemployment may decrease over time. A lesser risk of crime would result from those who were employed being able to better buy essentials. Rochester, NY where I’m from relates to the social disorganization theory, and as said in the article I think a lot of different factors are at play with the social disorganization theory. It is a lot of poverty in Rochester and people are looking for ways to help their families and live a better life, so a lot of people get into selling drugs, robbing people, and many other illegal things to get money. There will be some form of money flow in the neighborhood and some jobs for locals if there are many large retailers there. Most people will have better living conditions and the neighborhood will be more pleasant if there is more money. Additionally, it may result in a less criminalized neighborhood. Typically, there aren’t many “big box” stores in these run-down areas. They operate smaller, typically less successful enterprises instead. These frequently cease operations and end up abandoned, with no new establishment to take their place.
According to the social disorganization theory, a community’s ability to establish and maintain strong social networks is influenced by a variety of factors, including residential instability, ethnic diversity, family disruption, economic status, population size or density, and proximity to urban areas. Communities are impacted more than one may imagine when towns become run-down and fall apart over time. The town McKeesport, which is by GA, was once a large, charming town with a variety of local events, businesses, places of worship, and eateries that served to unite the neighborhood. The town of McKeesport had an increase in crime over time. Many people believe that the area’s increased crime is a direct result of the residents, however there were other important reasons that also contributed to crime being more prevalent. When McKeesport was a prosperous community, crime was nonexistent. Only because more powerful people allowed it to go so far, crime become widespread. McKeesport suffered during the 1980s steel industry collapse and sustained economic harm. However, local enforcement and anti-violence initiatives don’t address the underlying causes of crime. There is rarely any businesses still running, and anything to create relationships to bring the community back together. Serious poverty and a lack of opportunities for young people to go up the social ladder still exist in McKeesport. Unless they find a way to leave the neighborhood, young children who are born there in poverty are likely to stay there. McKeesport is an example of the social disorganization theory.
Social disorganization is a theory that proposes how social and institutional problems in an area can explain crime problems in that area. Some factors include lack of social bonds in a community, institutional social control, and deteriorating infrastructure and environment. I think there are many ways in which a socially disorganized society can dress these issues and ultimately improve. I also think each society and community’s needs are different. For example, one community may have a rising drug problem with youth, but institutions for children’s programs and community bonds are found void. These implications in a community would give youth a valuable resource to lean on instead of turning to drugs. Schools can stuff “say no to drugs” campaigns, but it something really being done in the community to deter these kids from drugs firsthand? I’ve lived in Duquesne my whole life which is a pretty crime ridden community and I personally do see social disorganization at working there. When I was younger, there used to be community days and more up and running businesses. Our community used to be stronger and crime wasn’t so much as big of a problem as it is now. Nowadays, I feel scared seeing a child walking the streets of Duquesne alone. I believe implementing more community-based institutions and activities as well as fixing up abandoned houses and bringing businesses back, would help to strengthen social bonds and lessen crime.
Policies should be implemented that incentivize local development that will provide jobs to the populace of areas affected by social disorganization theory. This will help combat poverty, one of the most important factors that lead to social disorganization. We should also stop locking people up for minor drug offenses since many of those people are parents, which impacts the way their children grow up. We should instead offer counseling services to those addicted to illicit substances to overcome their addiction. Many areas in the Mon Valley region outside of Pittsburgh are areas affected by social disorganization. Since the steel industry left, many people lost their jobs as steelworkers, which in turn led to less spending in these towns, which led to more job loss, and so on and so forth. Now, these people struggle to earn enough money to cover basic expenses and may turn to gray-area economies. Economic development, as stated earlier, is an important part of reorganizing socially disorganized areas. If only big chain stores are opened, all of the profit generated in the affected area go to a different part of the country. If small businesses are encouraged to open, that money is further reinvested into the community instead of going elsewhere.
Social disorganization theory is used to explain how different social and institutional factors work together that contribute to the crime problem. This theory believes if there are weak societal institutions, it will contribute to a deteriorated social environment. In turn, this will cause people to commit crime because of constraints/limitations put on the people. A big component of this relates to poverty. This affects how people live and can lead to the start of crime. In my neighborhood, this theory is not seen too much. Although, I can see areas that are affected by this as I drive to school. Some of the buildings look really run down and not kept up with. I feel like economic development plays a crucial role with this. Let’s say there are a lot of big stores in the area. This will create some sort of money flow in the area and some jobs for people in the area. If there is more money in the location, it will create a better living situation for most people and a more pleasant place to be (better buildings, nicer areas, etc.). This can also lead to an area with less crime. Normally in these locations that are run down, there are few “big box” stores (like Walmart or Target). Instead, they have smaller businesses, which usually are not as successful. These tend to go out of business and end up becoming abandoned with no store to take their place.
Social disorganization theory can be described as directly linking crime rates to neighbourhood ecological characteristics; a core principle of theory that states location matters. I believe that more funding should be implemented into schools around places that have more social disorganization. Also I think there should be more counseling and community services to these areas. Personally, I’m from the suburbs of Elizabeth Township in PA and do not experience social disorganization at all. One place that’s near me that has social disorganization is McKeesport, PA. After the industrial jobs in the area fell, more people started losing their jobs and there was no funding toward the community to help it. As it stands, it is likely to fall even more in the near future. When bigger chain stores are added to areas, they kind of help lay the area of the land and make it look nicer. They do tend to bring in more money, but are taking away from the local mom and pop shops. So now the local shops are struggling to stay in business but then ultimately have to close up shop because they are not able to compete with big retail stores.
Social disorganization theory is that weak societal institutions contribute to a deteriorated social environment, which in turn fosters crime, due in large part to dynamics that place constraints and limitations on individuals. This is such a big problem in society, so there needs to be ways to combat this issue. One way to combat this issue is to make organizations such as: YMCA’s, better schools, and different sports and clubs in the area. Applying these things will allow the children in the community to seek higher education and to be more active in the community and to be healthy in order to create better social standards and keep people out of crime. Areas close to home that exemplify social disorganization is Reading, Pennsylvania. Here there is a bad education system, no real social interaction with those outside of their community or even those they are not close to in their community, and high property crime as well as crime in general. Economic development policy ties into all of this because this is when the government tries to create better employment, price stability, and economic growth by taking over an area with larger companies and businesses. When all of an area’s economic development is large companies and bg brands then there are little to none local businesses serving their community and making money. This may impact the income for families in a negative way and not make the community closer.
Social disorganization can be expressed in different ways. Proponents of this theory seek to explain how social and institutional factors can contribute to the crime problem. This is due to the social disorganization theory that says that weak social institutions support a social environment that is falling apart. This turns the encouragement of crime. Since social disorganization is such a serious problem one should begin to consider ways to try to combat it. One thing that could be done is to help fund for all education and schools, especially fund pre k programs as you mentioned. There could also be the incentive of new businesses to provide new jobs and opportunities in these poverty communities. Reforming punishments for drug users instead of trying to help them is where they let this problem effect everyone and their families. They could be offering rehab and support groups that would prevent people ending up in jail for drugs. This would better families and not leave children grow up with their parents in prison, which could influence this bad behavior in their life.
Policies that would help address the risks of social disorganization theory are ample funding to improve and renovate housing as well as tax benefits to small businesses to open up in struggling neighborhoods. This would bring new industries to the area as well as improve housing but they also need to figure out a way to keep the cost of housing not too high so as to not displace the people already there. Places that struggle with this around the area include McKeesport and Jennette. Both these places struggle with crime most likely due to the lack of good-paying jobs in the area. Economic development is very important in the process to improve these areas. With economic development comes jobs but they must avoid big chain stores because the money spent at these stores doesn’t get recycled back into the area it goes outside it. Small businesses keep the money in the area and help keep the area economically healthy. The big stores drain the area of money or what little money they had and don’t provide much in good paying jobs either.
Social disorganization is a theory that describes the correlation between criminal behavior and the state of society. I haven’t personally experienced this since I’m from Morgantown, West Virginia. The crime rate isn’t large enough for anyone there to experience social disorganization. But I have learned a lot and I believe that there are things we can do as a society to address the severity of this theory. Economic policies play a major role in this, and that’s how we bring awareness to this problem. If there are nice buildings, huge malls, and beautiful parks, there will be little crime. Areas that look nice get treated nice. We hear about crimes happening in the dark parts of our areas. Places where poverty rates are up, and all the buildings are run down. This theory has plenty of evidence to back it up. Even if we haven’t experienced it first-hand, we all know the stereotypical location for crimes to occur.
Social Disorganization might be described as a state of society characterized by the breakdown of effective institutional social control. For me personally, where I come from is Marinsburg, West Virginia. I don’t really see this too much, but it is also a small town. I will say that since I’ve lived in Pittsburgh I have seen this though, I have been into Pittsburgh and have seen some not so ugly parts where there are decent buildings and things look really nice. I have also seen really ugly parts of this place such as if you go right up the road or even on the way into Pittsburgh there are some really ugly places. This has to do with what the article talks about where if there are big buildings and places bringing in money then it looks a little better because the money is being brought in to keep those places and areas looking nice. This also helps lower the crime rate because of it being a nice area and the place wanting to keep its companies and everything looking nice so it can continue to bring money in. You can tell alot by a place’s poverty, if it is bad in poverty usually the crime rate is worse where the money isn’t coming in. You usually see this where there are abandoned buildings and little store shops and usually no big businesses or anything that is thriving big time.
I know a lot of places in the Daytona area that relate to the social disorganization theory, and as said in the article I think a lot of different factors are in play with the social disorganization theory. I think economic policies play a huge role in this because if there are big super stores and nice businesses and things like that, I feel the city or area is going to be a lot better with those places because they are bringing in people with money and money is what keeps things nice. And when there are nice stores and a lot of money in an area the probability of a crime happening is a lot lower than in in an area where there are a lot of poor people and crappy buildings and not a lot of stores and businesses bringing in money. And another big factor that contributes to this which again relates to money. Is poverty, crime is a lot more likely to happen if there is a lot of poverty.
Social disorganization can be expressed in different ways. Proponents of this theory seek to explain how social and institutional factors can contribute to the crime problem. This is due to the social disorganization theory that says that weak social institutions support a deteriorating social environment. The latter in turn encourages crime. Since social disorganization is such a serious problem one should begin to consider ways to try to combat it. One way might be to pay more attention to areas where institutions are considered weak and thus provide children with a place where they can be educated and see beyond the environment that has been created in their community. Trying to reorganize the environment and the people to have a more structured community where children can aspire to something more than a life of crime. So I feel that this should be an issue that politicians should address and not just displace these areas and label them as full of criminals. Because this creates young people believing that this is all they are and that beyond that they can’t have anymore. Because the moment society begins to brand them as criminals, few can get out of that routine. Even if some make it, many of them will always carry those prejudices because they were raised with the ideology that because they are in areas where the institutions are not as good as in other places, they only have one path to follow.
There are many ways we can out in place to make it a little better and help out. Well first you can have some type programs in the area that are free like counseling. You can build programs that are for the kids that help out the community in some way. Or even have organized sports for the young kids. Maybe have after school programs for the students to get better grades and get involved more. Some of these programs might work for the young children growing up stay out of the streets and not get into gang related situations. I feel that the after school programs might work the best because parents work and they don’t get off in time to get their kids from school so they are home alone and think they can do whatever they want and maybe then they think they can walk the streets and get into trouble since their parents aren’t home.
Social disorganization can be expressed in different ways. Proponents of this theory seek to explain how social and institutional factors can contribute to the crime problem. This is due to the social disorganization theory that says that weak social institutions support a deteriorating social environment. The latter in turn encourages crime. Since social disorganization is such a serious problem one should begin to consider ways to try to combat it. One way might be to pay more attention to areas where institutions are considered weak and thus provide children with a place where they can be educated and see beyond the environment that has been created in their community. Trying to reorganize the environment and the people to have a more structured community where children can aspire to something more than a life of crime. So I feel that this should be an issue that politicians should address and not just displace these areas and label them as full of criminals. Because this creates young people believing that this is all they are and that beyond that they can’t have anymore. Because the moment society begins to brand them as criminals, few can get out of that routine. Even if some make it, many of them will always carry those prejudices because they were raised with the ideology that because they are in areas where the institutions are not as good as in other places, they only have one path to follow.
I think that in places where social disorganization theory occurs, there needs to be programs for young adolescents like community sport teams so that there is less of a focus on say drugs and crime. I think that interventions like this would definitely save many young adolescents from the long line of gangs and violence that might have been all that there was before. Interventions like these can help save communities and allow kids to be part of a team and allow them to have a safe haven from maybe a bad home life. I think that economic development is a large reason why the social disorganization theory is so popular today is because of the loss of jobs in America. Since the major steel mills have left the Pittsburgh area there has been a rise in crime, many families that relied on the jobs from the large steel mills had to look elsewhere for jobs and thus brought forth drugs and crime. Another area that has lost a lot due to the loss of jobs in Detroit. What was once a big booming working-class city is now dark, desolate and constantly struck with crime.
One way to combat the risks is social disorganization theory is by offering counseling and community services to these areas. Children need focused on the most because they are the future. There should be program separate from policing that makes sure that they are safe and doing safe things in their neighborhoods. These people are being described as being poor, having drug and mental health issues, and disabled therefore services to deal with this problems should have been offered from the beginning. Regardless of if they all live closely together or not. I personally would not describe people as this way just because they live in an area of poverty. However, there are a many crime-filled areas of poverty in Pittsburgh. Young people are constantly dying just from lack of supervision. There are people who spend more time outside causing trouble because of underlying issues going on at their homes. If services were offered for troubled children/ young adults in every single neighborhood, I guarantee there would be a drastic change in crime. Some may disregard these types of programs but it could do something.
In order to reduce the risks of social disorganization theory, areas where crime and poverty is concentrated should be given specific attention to. One thing that can be done is to fund the betterment of schools and education and like you mentioned, fund pre k programs. Also incentivizing new businesses could provide new jobs and opportunities for success in poverty stricken neighborhoods. In addition, reforming punishments for drug users and instead offering rehabilitation and support groups would help in cleaning up drug problems and prevent people from being sent to jail over things like addiction. This would also better families because now a kid can grow up with both parents rather than his mom or dad being in jail and him turning to gangs or other bad influences. To conclude, money should be reallocated to provide support for areas where crime and poverty is concentrated, rather than punishing them and keeping them in a negative loop.
As stated already, education programs should be the main concern for potential policies addressing social disorganization, however, there are potential policies that could address possible economic solutions as well. By this, I propose that one way of addressing the risk caused by social disorganization is through addressing poverty within socially disorganized areas, as poverty tends to be associated with crime. Although highly controversial, one way to address poverty is through increasing the minimum wage. As the current minimum wage is $7.25, an average family within a socially disorganized area can barely make ends meet, let alone afford educational programs for children. While increasing the minimum wage can result in an increase in unemployment and poverty due to businesses, especially small businesses, lacking the ability to afford to pay their employees higher amounts, the amount of unemployment could decrease over time if a higher wage was established and left unchanged (Congressional Budget Office). Furthermore, those who would be employed would be able to better afford necessities, thus leading to a lower likelihood of crime. Other policies could address infrastructure with socially disorganized areas. I do not know any particular communities with problems described by researchers or social disorganization theorists, however sometime sooner or later I plan on driving around Pennsylvania to better understand the area and the communities within so that I can better identify problems within them.