Framing Amish victimization and security through the lens of criminological theory

Abstract

This article explores the crime experience of the Amish, a rural-located religious subculture that is rarely studied by criminologists. Evidence is derived from narratives of crime experiences reported by scribes to a monthly Amish periodical called The Diary. Every month there are reports about community events from hundreds of Amish settlements, including crime. A routine activities approach helps frame the results. From 168 crime narratives, both burglary/attempted burglary and larceny/attempted larceny are the most frequently described. Suggestions for future research, including an expanded collection of crime narratives from The Diary, plus interviews with both law enforcement and other criminal justice practitioners and Amish crime victims will advance criminological understandings of Amish vulnerability to crime. The article concludes with suggested actions to improve safety and security for Amish communities using environmental criminology theories.