The Impact of the Military on Crime Rates in Towns Across the United States
Open Access
Author:
Rowland, Sirena M
Area of Honors:
Criminology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Eric Baumer, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Stacy Silver, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
military town crime rates military violent crime property crime violence town crime
Abstract:
Social science research consistently has shown that levels of crime vary significantly
across cities and towns in America. Criminologists have done extensive research on how many
social, economic, and demographic factors affect the crime rate in an area. However, previous
research largely overlooked a major institution that may have an effect on aggregate levels of
crime: the military. The military is its own social institution, and as such a large institution the
military can have a major effect on a town’s social structure and its crime rate. This study
analyzed how military presence affects a town’s overall crime rate, violent crime rate, and
property crime rate. Using negative binomial regression, this study found that military towns
experience overall crime rates that are approximately 23% higher than crime rates in civilian
towns, even when controlling for many other factors such as racial and ethnic composition,
demographic structure, and socioeconomic status. The implications of these findings for future
research and public policy are discussed.
