Adolescent Crime and Violence in the United States: Rural, Suburban, and Urban Differences

The purpose of this study is to investigate if adolescent crime and violence differ between rural, suburban, and urban male and female youth. While adolescent deviance and violence has been the focus of many studies, much of... [ view full abstract ]

The purpose of this study is to investigate if adolescent crime and violence differ between rural, suburban, and urban male and female youth. While adolescent deviance and violence has been the focus of many studies, much of the research available is urban biased and is either atheoretical or uses theories demonstrated to not similarly apply to rural areas. The urban bias in research limits knowledge about how place may or may not shape adolescent crime and violence, . There are more recent studies using critical criminology and feminist theories that have shown that rural and suburban areas may experience crime differently and at equal or possibly higher levels than that found in the metropolis. There are, not only noted differences in the types of crimes committed by youth and young adults in rural, suburban, and urban areas, but there is also evidence that crimes in rural areas may find support through the same mechanisms that urban-based research argues should deter crime, such as high collective efficacy. In rural areas, for example, research has shown that communities efficaciously use their connections through male peer support networks to reinforce patriarchal norms that support intimate partner violence. This study will build on the current critical body of evidence about rural adolescent and adult crime and use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to determine if there are differences in levels of adolescent and young adult crime and violence by rural, suburban, and urban residence.