ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to reflect on new directions and ideas in criminological research, especially those that may be transcending the grand Chicago tradition. It describes instead some of the themes and findings that are emerging from a large-scale, ongoing study of Chicago neighborhoods. "Community" reigns as the modern elixir for much of what allegedly ails American society. Intellectual interest in the idea of community is, of course, antediluvian. The logic of collective efficacy theory suggests that community safety is tied to the equitable implementation of voice. James Coleman wrote eloquently on how the Chicago-style tradition of research was led astray in the 1960s by the increasing dominance of survey research. Scholarly research on community is seen in the return migration to the great tradition in American sociology and criminology of neighborhood ecological studies. The study of "neighborhood effects" on childhood and adolescent development has led the way, gaining prominence in the social sciences.
