An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship among Social Institutions and Juvenile Arrests in Virginia
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/5B9K-H071
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Dr. Kristine Artello
Second Advisor
Dr. Nancy Morris
Third Advisor
Dr. Jay Albanese
Abstract
The United States has unusually high rates of violence among developed nations, including the victimization of and perpetration by youth. Using Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) as the theoretical framework, this study analyzes the relationships between social institutions and crime and the interactive relationships among the institutions in a sample of Virginia localities. Multivariate analyses are conducted to produce additive and multiplicative models, and simple slope analyses are conducted to clarify interaction/moderation effects. Findings yield mixed support for IAT. Localities with higher levels of monthly welfare per recipient (a measure of polity) have lower juvenile violent crime arrest rates, and welfare moderates the relationship between income inequality and juvenile violent crime arrests. Controlling for all variables, no support was found for the direct effects of any other institution on juvenile violent crime arrests. Policy recommendations include maintenance of welfare programs and improvement of work participation supplementary programs.
Rights
© Linh Thi Tran Nguyen
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
8-9-2017