During the 1980s, the parallel rates of robbery and burglary began to diverge. These changes have been linked to
A) changes in the unemployment rate.
B) improvements in the national economy.
C) an increased demand for crack cocaine.
D) increased levels of police corruption.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The increased demand for crack cocaine in the 1980s is directly linked to an increase in robbery rates. Burglary, on the other hand, did not see the same spike in rates due to the fact that crack cocaine is a drug typically used in social situations, making homes and businesses less likely targets. A study by Blumstein and Wallman in 2000 found that crack cocaine use was responsible for roughly 25-40% of the increase in the national crime rate during this time period.

During the 1980s, the Parallel Rates of Robbery and Burglary