Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Criminal Justice and Criminology

Date of Award

5-2011

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Larry S. Miller

Committee Members

Nicole Prior, John T. Whitehead

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between social structures and crime among rural white and urban black males in North Carolina through the theoretical framework of Merton's Anomie. Using demographic information on the state's inmate population provided by the North Carolina Department of Corrections, the subjects' individual characteristics were studied alongside community level conditions to establish whether anomic conditions did coincide with specific types of crimes and whether individuals from each group would commit the same types of crimes. The study population came from the rural counties of Graham, Alleghany, Swain, and Mitchell and the urban communities within Charlotte of Mecklenburg County. Univariate and Bivariate analysis were used to establish the significance and strength of any relationships between the variables. The findings indicated that while the category of offense was different for each group, the implied intent was the same. Both committed crimes that would benefit them in a pecuniary manner.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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