Write a minimum 450 word response addressing the following points:


o Compare and contrast two theories on the causation of crime.
o Using the crime of homicide – compare the difference in crime rates (per 100,000 people) between your current city and New York City, NY. o Based on what you’ve read about crime causation, explain why you believe the crime rate (per 100,000 people) is similar or different between those two locations.

· Regardless of what data source you use – format your reference to APA standards

To compare and contrast two theories on the causation of crime, we can examine the classical theory and the social disorganization theory. The classical theory of crime suggests that individuals commit crimes when they believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. This theory assumes that people are rational actors who make conscious choices based on their personal calculations of gain and loss. On the other hand, the social disorganization theory suggests that crime rates are influenced by the social and economic conditions of a neighborhood or community. It argues that crime is higher in neighborhoods with weak social institutions, such as high poverty rates, low levels of education, and limited social cohesion.

Now, let's compare the difference in crime rates between my current city and New York City, NY, specifically focusing on the crime of homicide. To obtain the information, you can start by searching for official crime statistics from both your current city and New York City's law enforcement agencies or government websites. These sources may provide data on the number of homicides per 100,000 people in each location.

Once you have the data, calculate the difference in crime rates per 100,000 people using the following formula:

Crime Rate = (Number of Homicides / Population) * 100,000

For example, if your current city has a population of 500,000 and recorded 10 homicides, the crime rate would be (10 / 500,000) * 100,000 = 2 homicides per 100,000 people. Compare this with the crime rate in New York City using the same calculation.

Now, let's discuss why the crime rate may be similar or different between the two locations, based on what you've read about crime causation. Suppose that during your research, you find that both cities have similar demographics, social and economic conditions, crime prevention programs, and law enforcement practices. In this case, the crime rates between the two locations may be similar because the underlying factors that contribute to crime are comparable.

However, if you discover that one city has higher poverty rates, struggling educational systems, and limited access to social services compared to the other, the crime rate may be higher in that city. This aligns with the social disorganization theory since those factors contribute to an environment conducive to criminal behavior.

Alternatively, if you find that one city has implemented effective crime prevention strategies such as community policing, rehabilitative programs for offenders, and strong social cohesion, the crime rate may be lower in that city. This aligns with the classical theory as individuals may perceive the cost of committing a crime to outweigh the benefits.

Remember to properly cite any sources you used to obtain crime data or information on crime causation according to APA standards. This includes providing the author's name, year of publication, title of the source, and retrieval information such as the website URL or database name if applicable.