What defines the Chicago School's approach to crime?

The Chicago School's approach to crime is best defined by its emphasis on demographics and geographics. This perspective, which emerged in the early 20th century, focuses on how social environments, particularly urban settings like Chicago, influence criminal behavior. The Chicago School posits that crime is not just a result of individual pathology but is significantly shaped by the social structures and physical locations in which individuals live.

Researchers associated with the Chicago School, such as Robert Park and Ernest Burgess, developed ecological models to understand the urban environment and its relationship to crime. They examined how factors like poverty, residential instability, and urban design contribute to higher crime rates in certain neighborhoods. By analyzing these demographic and geographic elements, the Chicago School was able to assert that crime is often a product of societal conditions rather than merely individual actions or predispositions.

This approach laid the foundation for later studies that would further explore the social context of crime, reinforcing the notion that interventions must consider community dynamics and environmental influences to effectively address criminal behavior.