"You shouldn't worry walking a block and a half to your car": Perceptions of Crime and Anomie in the Bakken Oil Play

Recent oil and gas development created a spike in population growth in the Bakken oil play region. In 2016 we collected survey data from residents in this area on various social, community, and crime indicators to examine the... [ view full abstract ]

Recent oil and gas development created a spike in population growth in the Bakken oil play region. In 2016 we collected survey data from residents in this area on various social, community, and crime indicators to examine the effects of this development and population change on perceptions of crime and anomie in two counties. We found that most residents perceived an increase in crime, think that this crime is problematic, and attributed growing crime rates to the recent oil and gas development in their community. Many residents reported being more withdrawn from their community and changing their everyday behavior out of fear of crime. Residents were also significantly less likely than people from other rural areas surveyed to trust and get along with people in their community. Additionally, we found that residents who perceived community helping norms to be weaker were more likely to plan to leave and that those who perceived high levels of crime caused by recent oil and gas development were more likely to see such development as negative.  Along with actual changes in crime, perceived increases in crime and anomie and decreased feelings of safety within the area raise concerns about the well-being of residents and the communities as a whole and suggest changes that could help to alleviate some of the negative impacts of social disruption for residents of rural boomtowns.