Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-11-2024

Abstract

The current project investigates how two different ways of operationalizing welfare—as an expenditure or as a policy of restrictive regulations—could shape the distribution of crime rates within a place and over time. In addressing the significance of its measures, the project also explores how welfare interacts with the broader economic forces of a place to influence crime rates over time. Finally, the project explores how welfare measures can predict arrest rates disaggregated by different gender and race groups. Panel fixed effects measure whether within-state changes in crime and group-specific arrests are explained by expenditure and restrictiveness observed repeatedly from the same 50 states over a 24-year period. Results show support for reductions in various crime and arrest rates following the allocation of welfare expenditure. Counter to expectations, welfare restrictiveness shows reductions in various types of crime and arrest rates. However, results indicate the opposite for women, in which both expenditure and restrictiveness increase female-specific arrests rates.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Christopher J. Lyons

Second Committee Member

Lisa M. Broidy

Third Committee Member

Reuben Jack Thomas

Fourth Committee Member

Danielle Albright

Keywords

Sociology, Criminology, Social Policy, Welfare

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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