Disaster Myth or Reality: Developing a Criminology of Disaster

• Date: 29 October 2012
• Pages: 3-17
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-6136(2012)0000017004
• Published date: 29 October 2012
• Author: Bethany L. Brown

DISASTER MYTH OR REALITY:

DEVELOPING A CRIMINOLOGY

OF DISASTER

Bethany L. Brown

ABSTRACT

Purpose Everyday human behavior is complicated and difficult to

understand. When a disaster event is factored in, human behavior

becomes even more complicated. Much like during routine times where

resources are unequally distributed, so too are the impacts of a disaster.

That is, people are more and less vulnerable to disaster and the damage

a disaster inflicts has more to do with the social context (type of hous-

ing, level of urbanization, average level of education) of the impacted

community. Part of the social context of a community that is not consid-

ered part of vulnerability analysis is rates of crime. Indeed, there is reli-

able evidence that demonstrates lawlessness and crime do not happen

after “typical” disasters (e.g., see Quarantelli, 2005). However, we are

beginning to see antisocial or conflict behavior, such as looting, price

gouging, and violence, especially in more recent events like Hurricanes

Hugo and Katrina.

Design/methodology/approach Using the case studies of Hurricanes

Hugo and Katrina, this chapter applies conflict and structural strain

Disasters, Hazards and Law

Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Volume 17, 317

Copyright r2012 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited

All rights of reproduction in any form reserved

ISSN: 1521-6136/doi:10.1108/S1521-6136(2012)0000017004

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