Citation

Clinard MB. Am. J. Sociol. 1944; 50(1): 38-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1944, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/219497

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The rural offender has been largely neglected in criminological research. Extensive mobility, resulting in recklessness and irresponsibility, appears characteristics of the lives of farm offenders. They conceive of themselves as mobile persons and exhibit many indications of an impersonal conception of the world and emancipation from their home communities. A large proportion committed offenses outside of their home communities. Differential association with criminal behavior is not a typical characteristic. Two-thirds and never associated with delinquent boys' gangs, and a like number were alone when first arrested. Farm offenders do not exhibit the characteristics of a definite criminal social type, for (1) their criminal behavior did not start early, (2) they exhibit little progressive knowledge of criminal techniques and crime in general, (3) crime is not the sole means of livelihood, and (4) they do not conceive of themselves as criminals. Property offenses committed by rural offenders are, in general, actually not criminal behavior in a sociological sense.