Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify a correlation between substandard housing abatement and the subsequent level of crime in the municipality in which the abatement takes place. Theoretical framework. Substandard housing presents a more significant probability for the interaction of a set of factors that is less unfavorable to the expression of criminal behaviors than is true for non-substandard housing. Elimination of that probability can be productive of a sustained lower level of expression of all types of criminal behavior in the vicinity of the housing in the time period following the removal. Methodology. The substandard housing demolition records for eight cities were examined for the years 1995 to 1999. The number of demolitions per year was correlated with the number of Part I crimes reported for the city in the Uniform Crime Report one year following the year of the abatement. Findings. In 25 percent of fifty-six possible cases there was an indication of an important correlation between demolitions and one of the eight categories of crime studied. Conclusions and recommendations. Substandard housing abatement is in competition with other behaviors for expression in the environment of the municipal organization. As a result, the eight cities have varying policies for the initiation of the procedure. Employment of a "broken windows" policy by a number of cities is offered as an explanation for the unexpected positive correlations. The examination conducted here, of substandard housing demolition as actually utilized, provides evidence that it is an important crime-reduction procedure under appropriate circumstances. An examination of the factors favoring its use would provide important information concerning the efficacy of crime-suppression procedures generally.