Professor explores boomtown crime in new book

University of Regina justice professor Rick Ruddell’s new book explores crime in boomtowns.

Oil, Gas, and Crime: The Dark Side of the Boomtown is the result of about a decade of research by Ruddell.

He says he first became interested in the subject while teaching in California, where he studied the effect of the gold rush in that state.

Although that gold rush took place more than a century ago, Ruddell says, “we don’t seem to learn from (booms) very well.”

In exploring recent boomtowns, enjoying high economic times because of mining, Ruddell found a number of patterns.

“First of all, the population of these places really swells,” he says, noting that people come from all over a country to towns that are typically white and rural.

Naturally, the people coming into the towns don’t always share the same values as the permanent citizens.

“They have no stake in the community. They’re there for a good time, not a long time,” says Ruddell, noting that while crime already exists in those communities, it increases with a boom.

People contributing to the population influx are often young, single men who are making very good money. Ruddell says it’s a small percentage of people who cause most of the problems, but an increase in crime is inevitable.

Upticks in assaults, impaired driving and crimes related to drug or alcohol abuse are all characteristics of a boomtown.

Young men making loads of money also creates a larger market for illegal drugs and the sex trade, resulting in more serious anti-social behaviour, according to Ruddell, who says this is where “organized crime starts getting involved.”

Women in these communities, meanwhile, are often the victims of increasing crime.

“They just don’t feel safe. They walk down the street and they’re subject to catcalls,” says Ruddell, adding domestic violence increases, as well.

As significant as the boom is in these towns, the bust leaves a mark, as well.

“People leave, but what happens is the social problems stay,” he says.

During the boom, it isn’t uncommon for longtime residents of a town — notably seniors — to leave because of the rising cost of living.

Ruddell calls these people a “stabilizing influence in the community” who are fewer in number by the time a bust comes.

“There really is a pattern, and the biggest thing is, there’s always a bust.”

When that happens, Ruddell says, “wages drop and there is a lot of tension in families. Rates of domestic violence seem to spike after the bust.”

People often find they have become regular users of drugs and/or alcohol, as well, but with no money to support their habit in a bust. This, too, leaves a mark on a community.

Ruddell proposes local governments prepare for the bust that follows a boom.

“If local governments can foresee that, they can solve some problems ahead of time,” he says, noting efforts to diversify a local economy and proactive investments like the hiring of additional police officers can also be helpful.