Japanese Research Trends in the Relation between Crime and Social Capital

Abstract

This research examines why social capital has been neglected in the context of community crime prevention from three perspectives. First, the viewpoint of the trends of criminology and criminal policy, the research found that interests have been shifted to the explication of the mechanism as the concept of high-crime areas was taken for granted. The reinforcement of the policy against recidivism has weakened the interest of community crime prevention itself. Second, the examination of social capital research has revealed the following: the coverage of social capital to the understanding of community is only a part of the whole; therefore, the concept of social capital has not explained community crime prevention adequately. Third, research has been complicated by the conflict over definitions of social capital. Finally, the possibility of critical realism was referred to overcome the limitations of social capital studies.