Why Community Difference Matter - Research Paper Example

Why Community Difference Matter? Introduction Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA are two communities in the state of Virginia, which are situated next to each other, but depicts major differences when it comes to the issues of crime and the enforcement of the law, wealth and the moral standards of the residents. Despite their close proximity, the moral standards and the general orderliness of the Dale City Woodbridge VA was observed to be low, compared to the same in and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, while the implementation and enforcement of the law was found to be poorly done in Dale City Woodbridge VA, as opposed to the way the law enforcement officers are committed to implementing the laws in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA (Lake Ridge, 2013). The population of the two cities does not differ significantly, with Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA having a population of 41,058, while Dale City Woodbridge VA had a population of 65,969 according to the 2010 population census (Dale City, 2013). Thus, this research seeks to analyze the differences between Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA in terms of crime, community values and moral standards, and the nature of enforcement of the law, with a focus on how such differences define different aspects of life in the two cities. Further, the different aspects of the two cities in relation to crime, community value and moral standards will be applied within the precepts of ‘Broken windows theory’, to evaluate how a criminal theorist would address the overarching issues in the two cities. The crime rates in Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA differs, with the crime in Dale City being much higher compared to the crime rate in Lake Ridge city at an average rate of crime of 33% lower than the average crime rates in the State of Virginia (Dale City crime information, 2013). On the other hand, the average crime rate in the Lake Bridge is much lower, which standards at 46% lower than the average crime rate in the State of Virginia (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). The nature of the crimes also differs in the two cities, an indication that the moral and community standards and values of the two cities vary to a large extent. In the City of Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, the crimes committed under the category of Violent crime for the year 2013 were estimated at 91 per 100,000 people, while the same category of Violent crimes was found to be higher in Dale City Woodbridge VA, where the Violent crimes per 100,000 people was estimated to be 113, which is close to the average estimated rate of Violent crimes in the whole of the State of Virginia that was found to stand at 190, per every 100,000 people. Further, the crime rates under the property crimes category were also found to be higher in Dale City Woodbridge VA, than it was in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, where the property crime rate for Dale City Woodbridge VA per 100,000 people was estimated at 1456, while the same category of crime for the Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA was estimated at 1,176, for the year 2013 (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). In summation, the total crime index for the two cities significantly differed, with total crime index for Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA estimated at 1,267 for the year 2013, which was way lower, compared to the estimated total crime index in the Dale City Woodbridge VA, which stood at 1569 (Dale City crime information, 2013). Despite the fact that the average crime rates for the two cities were lower compared to the average crime rates of the whole State of Virginia, Dale City Woodbridge VA seemed to express a high rate of moral decay and lack of positive community values, which then increased the rates of crimes with a substantially higher margin, compared to Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA City. The moral value of a community is defined by the nature in which human rights and values are upheld by the community, which is displayed by the manner in which the community ensures the safety of its people, through prevention of exposure to any form of crime (Welsh & Loeber, 2013). Therefore, it is through the analysis of the rate at which crime occurs within a community, as well as through the analysis of the nature and magnitude of the crime that is perpetrated within the community, that defines the moral values and the standards upheld by the community (Smith, 2013). While undertaking the same analysis for the two cities to establish their moral values, the average violent crime rates for the city of Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA was found to be 52% lower than the average violent crime rates in the whole of the State of Virginia, which also had a lower average violent crime rate, compared to the overall National average crime rate, by having a 50% lower violent crime rate (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). However, the case was different in Dale City Woodbridge VA, where it was found that the average violent crime rate for this City was 33% lower compared to the average violent crime rate in the whole of the State of Virginia (Dale City crime information, 2013).This is an indication that the moral community values in this city are much degraded compared to the same in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA City, since the application of violence in the perpetration of crime serves to indicate the level at which morality is upheld within a community, where the community that registers a higher rate of crime then serves to show a much higher degradation of the moral value (Smith, 2013). However, despite the differences in the crime rates, the two cities are found to offer a much more safer hub compared to many other cities in the whole of the United States, considering that the State of Virginia is considered to be more safe than many other states, with Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA considered to be safer than all the cities in the United States, at 93.6% and 85.7% respectively (Dale City crime information, 2013; Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). Further, the cities are also considered to be safer within the State of Virginia, considering that both cities have 49% less rate of crime, compared to all the cities within the Virginia State. Therefore, while the average rate of crime for the two cities, compared to the average crime rate of all the cities in the State of Virginia seems to tie at 49%, there is a disparity in the number of both violent and property crimes perpetrated in the two cities, with Dale City Woodbridge VA, having higher rates of crimes in both categories than Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, an indication that the perpetration of more serious crimes , seems to be much higher in Dale City Woodbridge VA, which accounts for the decay in the moral fabric of a community. Law enforcement is another concept that further serves to define the moral values that are upheld by a certain community, in light of how the law enforcement agencies are able to enforce the stipulated laws to enhance the safety and protection of the members of a community (John & Edward, 2006). Where the law enforcement is effective and done to the best levels of the abilities of the law enforcement agencies, there is a tendency of the community being safe, while the crime rates are bound to be lower (Welsh & Loeber, 2013). Thus, while assessing the nature of law enforcement of the two cities to determine its effectiveness, the crime statistics continue to indicate that in the cities of Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, which are both situated next to each other in the State of Virginia, a person is likely to be much safer in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, as compared to Dale City Woodbridge VA (Dale City, 2013). This is because; the estimated chances that an individual is likely to become a victim of any crime in Dale City Woodbridge VA and is estimated at 1 out of every 64 people (Dale City crime information, 2013). The case is much different in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA city, where the estimated chances that an individual is going to be a victim of any crime in this city stands at 1 out of every 79 people (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). These statistics shows that an individual is more likely to fall victim of any crime in Dale City Woodbridge VA, compared to the Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, a further indication that both the moral and the community values are much lower in Dale City Woodbridge VA, while the same indicates that the enforcement of the law in Dale City Woodbridge VA is poor compared to the nature of law enforcement in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA (). The nature of the crimes perpetrated is also another measure of the effectiveness of the law enforcement within a community (). This can be well demonstrated from the statistics of the two cities, which indicate that the chances of an individual falling victim to violent crime in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, is 1 out of every 1088 residents (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). This is much lower, compared to the chances of an individual becoming a victim of violent crime in Dale City Woodbridge VA, where chances are that 1 individual in every 887 residents will fall victim to violent crimes (Dale City crime information, 2013). The same trend is repeated when it comes to the issue of property crime, with Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, which having a low rate of violent crime, where 1 out of every 87 people is likely to fall victim to property crime, while the rate is much higher for Dale City Woodbridge VA, where 1 in every 69 people is likely to fall victim to property crime (Dale City crime information, 2013). Further, poverty levels, income and employment rates serve to define the nature of crime levels that a community is likely to face (). Thus, a quick look at the employment, income and the wealth index of Dale City Woodbridge VA, and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA will give more disparity. Income per capita of the residents of t Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, stood at $41,114, while the unemployment rate was 5.1%, for the year 2010, with the Median income for the households being $93,889, and the poverty level standing at 2.3% (Lake Ridge employment information, 2013). The standards of wealth and incomes were much lower for Dale City Woodbridge VA, where the income per capita was $30,065, with the unemployment rate of 6.0%, and Median income for households being 84,471, while the poverty level was 4.4% (Dale City employment information, 2013). Application of Broken windows theory in Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA The ‘Broken windows theory’ postulates that the maintenance and monitoring of an urban setting in a well ordered condition, has the chances f reducing the crime of vandalism, and thus prevent the escalation of this crime into more serious type of crimes (Russell, 2013). According to this theory, the escalation of crimes of vandalism creates fear, anxiety and discontent among the residents of a community, which further serves to tear the moral fabric of that community (Gau & Pratt, 2010). The rates of property crime, which include burglary, theft and vandalism in both the neighborhoods of Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA are high, with the property crime rate for Dale City Woodbridge VA per 100,000 people was estimated at 1456, and that of Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, estimated at 1,176, for the year 2013 (Lake Ridge crime information, 2013). Further, 1 out of every 87 people is likely to fall victim to property crime in Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, while the rate is 1 in every 69 (). Therefore, as provided for under the ‘Broken windows theory’, it is through proper maintaining and monitoring of the two cities, which constitutes urban environments, that may stop the escalation of vandalism into more serious crimes (Russell, 2013). Thus, a criminological theorist would addresses the overarching questions about crime and moral value in Dale City Woodbridge VA and Lake Ridge, Woodbridge VA, through the application of the ‘Broken windows theory’, to maintain and continuously monitor the neighborhoods and enforce the appropriate laws, to ensure that crime is curbed (Gau & Pratt, 2010). References Dale City, Virginia (2013). Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.city-data.com/city/Dale-City-Virginia.html Dale City, VA Crime Rates & Statistics: Dale City crime information. (2013). Areavibes, Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.areavibes.com/lake+ridge-va/employment/ Dale City, VA Crime Rates & Statistics: Dale City employment information. (2013). Areavibes, Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.areavibes.com/lake+ridge-va/employment/ Gau, J. M., & Pratt, T. C. (2010). Revisiting Broken Windows Theory: Examining the Sources of the Discriminant Validity of Perceived Disorder and Crime. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 758-766. John E. E. & Edward R. M. (2006). Have Changes in Policing Reduced Violent Crime. Cambridge University Press. Lake Ridge, Virginia (2013). Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.city-data.com/city/Lake-Ridge-Virginia.html Lake Ridge, VA Crime Rates & Statistics: Lake Ridge crime information. (2013). Areavibes, Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.areavibes.com/lake+ridge-va/crime/ Lake Ridge, VA Employment & Jobs: Lake Ridge employment information. (2013). Areavibes, Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.areavibes.com/lake+ridge-va/employment/ Russell, I. (August 6, 2013).Using the broken windows theory to tackle antisocial behavior. The Guardian. Retrieved: November 30, 2013 From http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2013/aug/06/antisocial-behaviour-broken-window-theory Smith, H. P. (2013). Reinforcing Experiential Learning in Criminology: Definitions, Rationales, and Missed Opportunities Concerning Prison Tours in the United States. Journal Of Criminal Justice Education, 24(1), 50-67. Welsh, B. C., & Loeber, R. (2013). Taking stock of criminology and a criminologist for the ages: Reflections on milestones and the future of criminology and on one of its scholars - David Farrington. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 23(2), 77-85. Read More