Book Review: Delinquency Areas: A study of the Geographic Distribution of School Truants, Juvenile Delinquents and Adult Offenders in Chicago

Abstract

Reviews the book Delinquency Areas: A Study of the Geographic Distribution of School Truants, Juvenile Delinquents, and Adult Offenders in Chicago by Clifford R. Shaw (see record [rid]1930-01219-000[/rid]). The present study by Dr. Shaw is concerned exclusively with the distribution of rates of delinquency and crime within the city area. These cases, classified on basis of sex, age, offense, and period of delinquency, are handled in eight series of data, all of which are used in cross-checking results. Inspection of the spot-maps alone reveals significant differences between sections of the city in the occurrence of delinquency. His second conclusion, again amply supported by accompanying data, is that the rates of truancy, delinquency and adult crime tend to vary inversely with the distance from the center of the city (the Loop), and the areas that show high truancy rates are also the areas that show high delinquency and adult crime rates. Dr. Shaw is exceedingly cautious, but it is evident that he leans toward a cultural explanation. The delinquency grows out of a community situation. The book is a splendid contribution to quantitative sociology and is one that has tremendous implications that must be followed through by sociologists and social psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)