Effect of Components of Social Capital on Spatial Distribution of Crimes in Yazd

In the last few decades, has been shaped several theoretical models to explain the deviant behaviors and crime in literatures of deviances and in environmental criminology. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between components of social capital, such as social trust, norm of reciprocity; and social participation and spatial distribution of crimes in Yazd. This study was conducted with survey and cross-sectional method. Data were collected from 500 citizens with 18 years old and upper that lived in one of the catchments area of sextet police centers and using. This research conducted between 22 May and 24 July 2009. These citizens were selected via proportional sampling. Instruments of gathering data are Social Trust scale (STS); Norm of Reciprocity Inventory (NRI); and Social Participation scale (SPS). There was significant difference among citizens that lived in areas with high and low level of crime regarding to social trust level (p<.01); and norm of reciprocity (p<.05). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the social trust variable explained for %11.6; and norm of reciprocity explained for %40.1 of the variance in commitment of crime. Components of social capital, especially social trust and norm of reciprocity had significant effects on spatial distribution of crime. Therefore, in order to decline and prevention of crime rate and social problems and also decline of social and political crisis this is necessary that to be attend these variables in interventional designs.