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Unemployment, Guardianship, and Weekday Residential Burglary

NCJ Number
241715
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2012 Pages: 919-932
Author(s)
Stewart J. D'Alessio; David Eitle; Lisa Stolzenberg
Date Published
December 2012
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study contributes to the extant literature by distinguishing between weekday residential burglaries, or those burglaries that occur between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm on weekdays, from weeknight/weekend burglaries.
Abstract
The absence of a consistent positive effect of the unemployment rate on the crime rate is perplexing, but it may be partly due to the countervailing effect of guardianship. Using weekly state-level data and a pooled cross-sectional time-series research design, we investigate whether the unemployment rate influences residential burglary. This study contributes to the extant literature by distinguishing between weekday residential burglaries, or those burglaries that occur between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm on weekdays, from weeknight/weekend burglaries. If unemployment increases guardianship because previously employed individuals are now at home during the workday protecting their possessions, the expectation is that the unemployment rate will have an instantaneous negative effect on residential burglaries that transpire during normal working hours. Results buttress the logic associated with the guardianship thesis in that a rise in the unemployment rate only engenders a decrease in weekday residential burglaries. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.