The model used links five processes at work in French society: a societal process of pacification; a political and legal process of criminalization; a process of using judicial forums in resolving daily conflicts; a socioeconomic process of competition for consumer goods; and a process of economic, social, and spatial segregation. The essay also links many theoretical contributions provided by sociology and criminology. The model draws on a synthesis of various types of data, including police and court statistics, victimization and self-report surveys, and demographic and socioeconomic data. 4 figures, 4 tables, and 125 references