U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice ProgramsNational Institute of JusticeThe Research, Development, and Evaluation Agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
Presentation — Foreclosure and Crime
NIJ Foreclosures and Crime Meeting, March 31 - April 1, 2009
An Incivilities Approach
Description of graphic:A second theoretical model of how foreclosures can contribute to increased crime rates focuses on the physical deterioration of the property itself. Similar to the previous model, a foreclosure results in a resident (an actor) removed from the property. The vacancy of the property resulting from such removal increases the likelihood of damage from both normal wear and tear and from thieves, vandals and trespassers. As these physical cues of disorder within a neighborhood increase, residents will withdraw from public activities, unwilling to intervene in juvenile delinquency or other minor criminal activity. As properties continue to degrade and more minor criminal activity occurs, residents' fear of crime and perceived risk of victimization favors migration from the neighborhood, leading to less social control and higher levels of serious crime. These factors can contribute to an increase in foreclosures themselves, continuing the cycle of neighborhood decline.
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