Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2010 Examining Violent and Property Crimes in the Provinces of Turkey for the Years of 2000 and 2007 Mus Ekrem Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2022 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Virginia Commonwealth University This is to certify that the dissertation prepared by Ekrem Mus entitled EXAMINING VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIMES IN THE PROVINCES OF TURKEY FOR THE YEARS OF 2000 AND 2007 has been approved by his or her committee as satisfactory completion of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Jill A. Gordon, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University Robyn Diehl, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University David Patrick Geary, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University Alican Dalkilic, M.D., M.P.H, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University Carolyn L. Funk, Ph.D., Director, Ph.D. Program Fred M. Hawkridge, Ph.D., Interim Dean, College of Humanities and Sciences Dr. F. Douglas Boudinot, Dean, School of Graduate Studies February 4, 2010 © Ekrem Mus, 2010 All Rights Reserved ii EXAMINING VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIMES IN THE PROVINCES OF TURKEY FOR THE YEARS OF 2000 AND 2007 A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. by EKREM MUS Master of Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Bachelor of Science, Turkish National Police Academy, Ankara, Turkey, 1995 DIRECTOR: JILL A. GORDON, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE COORDINATOR Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia February 2010 Acknowledgements Ph.D. education and dissertation journey has been more demanding and challenging than I initially anticipated. Completing my dissertation would not have been possible without the continual support from my committee, family, friends and government. First, I had a great dissertation committee working with me in a helpful and supportive way. Dr. Gordon, the chair of my committee, provided valuable directions and encouraged me to complete this research. I thank you so much for providing me with invaluable feedback and direction. Dr. Diehl was a great asset to my committee. She provided important comments for linking my research and theory with the literature. Dr. Geary was vital in directing me through his extensive experience. His participation in my committee was an honor for me. Dr. Dalkilic was supportive and friendly. I enjoyed discussing with him about my research and Turkey. His approach helped me to organize my work and time schedule. I consider myself very fortunate and honored to have worked with each of the professors in my committee. They were always ready to help me whenever I needed them. Needles to say, I could never have finish this work without the support of my family. My family witnessed and shared all the hardships and stress with me during my stay in the U.S. I would like to give my special thanks to my wife, Betul, my son Batuhan, and my daughters Neslisah and Nihal (a gift of our USA journey) for bearing with me patiently and understanding me during this time. I also thank to my parents who trusted in me and supported with their prayers. iv There is also another group of people that I cannot forget their support. The TNP graduate students were my second family. I would like to extend my regards and appreciation to each member of this group who supported me to overcome the hardships of establishing a new way of life abroad. You will always be in my remembrance with good memories. I would like to thank all respected individuals in the Turkish National Police (TNP) and the Turkish Government who initiated this study abroad program and provided me this great opportunity to complete my education. I also thank to my brother- in-law Associate Professor Coskun Ozkan from Kayseri Erciyes University, Geomatics Department for providing me a friendly environment to work on the final part of my dissertation. Finally, I want to thank my God for giving me the patience and strength to keep moving forward in all phases of my life. v Table of Contents Acknowledgements.............................................................................................iv Table of Contents................................................................................................vi List of Tables......................................................................................................ix List of Figures......................................................................................................x Abstract ..............................................................................................................xi CHAPTER 1 Statement of the problem...............................................................1 1.1. Organizational Map of the Dissertation......................................................4 CHAPTER 2 Literature Review & Theoretical Framework.................................7 2.1. Theoretical Framework..............................................................................8 2.1.1. Institutional Anomie Theory ...............................................................9 2.1.2. Life Course Theory ...........................................................................12 2.2. Crime and Other Independent Variables ..................................................16 2.2.1. Crime and Social Variables ...............................................................17 2.2.1.1. Educational Attainment .............................................................17 2.2.1.2. Family Disruption......................................................................21 2.2.3. Crime and Economic Variables .........................................................26 2.2.3.1. Unemployment & Income..........................................................26 2.2.3.2. Poverty ......................................................................................29 2.2.4. Crime and Demographical Variables .................................................32 2.2.4.1. Population & Urbanization Rate & Population Density..............32 2.2.4.2. Age Structure & Number of Households....................................34 2.2.4.3. Number of Police.......................................................................36 2.3. Crime Measurement ................................................................................39 2.3.1. Official Crime Statistics ....................................................................40 2.3.2. Victimization Surveys .......................................................................41 2.3.3. Self-Report Surveys ..........................................................................43 vi CHAPTER 3 A Closer Look at Turkey .............................................................45 3.1. The Country ............................................................................................46 3.2. Turkish Criminal Justice System..............................................................48 3.2.1. Turkish National Police (TNP)..........................................................48 3.2.2. Gendarmerie .....................................................................................50 3.3. Crime Measurement in Turkey ................................................................50 CHAPTER 4 Methodology & Data Analysis.....................................................57 4.1. Data Collection........................................................................................59 4.2. Variables & Measurement .......................................................................61 4.2.1. Dependent Variables .........................................................................61 4.2.2. Independent Variables.......................................................................62 4.2.2.1. Social Variables.........................................................................62 4.2.2.2. Economic Variables...................................................................63 4.2.2.3. Demographic Variables .............................................................64 4.3. Data Analysis ..........................................................................................66 4.4. Limitations of the Study ..........................................................................67 4.5. Reliability & Validity ..............................................................................68 CHAPTER 5 Data Analysis and Results ...........................................................70 5.1. Descriptive Statistics ...............................................................................70 5.1.1. Dependent Variables .........................................................................70 5.1.2. Descriptive Statistics for Social Variables .........................................71 5.1.3. Descriptive Statistics for Economic Variables ...................................72 5.1.4. Descriptive