Formal and Informal Crime Control Views in Bangladesh and the United States

Bibliographic Data

ID18960366
AuthorsEric G Lambert (0000-0002-9315-2294, Wayne State University, corresponding author), Mahfuzul I Khondaker (Kutztown University), O Oko Elechi (Prairie View A&M University), Shanhe Jiang (0000-0002-1311-4635, University of Toledo), David N Baker (Texas Southern University)
Year2012
Volume10
Issue3
Pages199-222
Publication date2012-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1537-7938 • E-ISSN: 1537-7946
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15377938.2012.700829
OpenAlexW2064018155
LanguageEN
References cited11

Crime control methods can be grouped into two major categories: formal and informal. Formal crime control uses the law and government agencies (e.g., police, courts, and prisons) to deter crime, whereas informal crime control utilizes moral and social institutions (e.g., the family, religion, peers, and neighborhood groups) to deter illegal behaviors. This exploratory study used t tests, chi-square tests, ordinal ordered regression, and ordinary least squares regression analyses of survey data from 258 Bangladeshi and 484 U.S. college students to explore students’ perceptions of formal and informal crime control. Bangladeshi students had more support for both formal and informal crime controls than their U.S. counterparts; however, U.S. students were more likely to feel that being rejected by family, neighbors, and peers was effective at deterring crime. Both groups felt that punishment by the law was needed to deter repeat offenders. When asked to rank formal and informal crime control mechanisms, Bangladeshi students ranked family higher than U.S. students did, whereas U.S. students ranked the importance of peers higher than Bangladeshi students. Bangladeshi respondents also ranked the neighborhood as being important to controlling crime. Overall, the results indicated that Bangladeshi respondents strongly supported most methods of both formal and informal crime control. U.S. respondents were generally more supportive of formal than informal methods, although they were less supportive than Bangladeshi respondents, perhaps because of pessimism over longstanding issues with crime

Criminology · Economic growth · Informal sector · Informal social control · Perception · Pessimism · Social control · Social science · Sociology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Psychology · Social Psychology

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