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Oil, Gas, and Crime

The Dark Side of the Boomtown

  • Book
  • © 2017

Overview

Authors:
  1. Rick Ruddell

    1. Justice Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Canada

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  • Investigates the social problems arising in 'boomtowns' including: violence, corporate harm, traffic accidents

  • Addresses different types of resource extraction and how this leads to population increase and industrialisation

  • Asks how we can improve quality of life for residents of boomtowns in the wake of sudden development and growing demand on facilities

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction: Boomtown Effects

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 1-9

  3. Defining the Boom

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 11-40

  4. The Boom–Crime Relationship

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 41-68

  5. Violence Toward Women: A Boom for Whom?

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 69-91

  6. Crimes of the Powerful

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 93-119

  7. Dangerous Driving

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 121-147

  8. Boomtown Justice Systems

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 149-181

  9. Explaining Boomtown Effects

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 183-207

  10. The Bust

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 209-231

  11. Preparing for the Next Boom

    • Rick Ruddell
    Pages 233-260

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 261-276
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Keywords

About this book

This book addresses the causes of rising crime rates resulting from the rapid population growth and industrialization associated with natural resource extraction in rural communities. Ruddell describes the social problems emerging in these boomtowns, including increases in antisocial behavior, as well as property-related and violent crime, industrial mishaps and traffic collisions. Many of the victims of these crimes are already members of vulnerable or marginalized groups, including rural women, Indigenous populations, and young people. The quality of life in boomtowns also decreases due to environmental impacts, including air, water and noise pollution. Law enforcement agencies, courts, and correction facilities in boomtowns are often overwhelmed by the growing demand as these places are seldom able to manage the population growth. The key questions addressed here are: who should pay the costs of managing these booms, and how can we prepare communities to mitigate the worst effects of this growth and development and, ultimately, increase the quality of life for boomtown residents. An in-depth and timely study, this original work will be of great interest to scholars of violent crime, criminal justice, and corporate harm.

Reviews

“Gas, and Crime gives readers a textured account of the interrelated factors that shape crime in the Bakken and other boomtowns and will be of especial interest to policy makers trying to deal with booms in their own communities.” (Kyle Conway, Great Plains Quarterly, Vol. 38 (4), Fall, 2018)




“What happens when a small rural community becomes the epicenter of an oil and gas boom seemingly overnight? Rick Ruddell (2017) tells that story in Oil, Gas, & Crime, in a meticulously researched, thought provoking, and deliberate contribution to the study of rural life, crime, and human geography. … In sum, Oil, Gas, & Crime tells a story that should appeal to a general, policy, practitioner, and academic audience. … I found the book to be a pleasure to read.” (Scott K. Turner, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, clcjbooks.rutgers.edu, July, 2018)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Justice Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Canada

    Rick Ruddell

About the author

Rick Ruddell is Professor and Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies at the University of Regina.

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