A Spatial Analysis Of Crime In Appalachia

Crime is a socially constructed term for deviant behavior and can be examined through two primary lenses. The first is from an individual standpoint, and the second is from a societal standpoint. Psychology pertains to the individual, and sociology pertains to the societal. Psychology studies internal mental processes and human interaction and sociology studies the development, structure, and functioning of society. A part of sociology attempts to identify and explain crime patterns and how they occur. One problem with sociology is it can often disregard its relation to psychology. In respect to crime, sociology explains that when communities become economically disadvantaged, rising crime rates are likely to follow. Other characteristics that

Central regions of Appalachia are in a current state of economic decline and comprise the majority of economically distressed counties, while southern portions of the region are in rapid growth. Central Appalachia also consists of mostly non-metropolitan areas that are predominately rural. James G. Cameron, who authored an executive summary titled “A Spatial Analysis of Crime in Appalachia,” stated, “the rich diversity in topography, economic variability, and demographic change are what makes Appalachia such a challenging region to characterize with regards to shifting patterns of crime.” Why are crime rates rising much higher in central portions of the region and not the southern? A systematic examination of this social problem produces three explanations: new ideological theories, lower levels of education, and the influence of drug

In 1990 one third of the Appalachian population that ranged from 25 years or older had not completed high school and only a small fourteen percent had a college degree. The majority of college graduates tended to live in locations relatively close to college campuses or universities. A variety of components might be attributed to the rising number of eligible individuals not attending college: such as economic barriers, influences on drug culture, and spatial inequality. Another interesting factor that might contribute to these numbers is the unsatisfactory education experience these individuals had growing up. This is where psychology manifests in sociology. Current ideologies examine the idea that unmotivated teachers produce unmotivated students. Due to the lowering quantity of exceptional teachers in the Appalachian region, many students leave middle school and high school without a desire to pursue further education. Drug culture is another primary deterrent that prevents communities from growing economically. This is another example of where psychology meets sociology. When substance abuse encompasses a large portion of a society the crime rates within those communities are likely to increase. Addicts are more likely to resort to crime and less likely to sustain a job over an extended period of time. In 1990 a drug scare involving Oxycodone