Hugh E. O'Rourke, Ph.D.

17 Teaneck Dr

East Northport, NY 11731

631 757-7990

Hugh E. O’Rourke, Ph.D. received his doctorate from the John Jay College program in Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. Dr. O’Rourke was the curriculum chairman for ten years of criminal justice program at the Westchester Community College and he taught at Nassau Community College for four years. Prior to his teaching career, he served for twenty-four years with the New York Police Department, retiring in the rank of Captain. His research interests include nineteenth century and immigrant crime.

Irish Famine era immigrants, 1845 to 1875, were often associated with high levels of collective violence in New York. While violence associated with the Irish street gangs are well known, collective violence was often found in labor disputes, inter ethnic disputes, religious strife and within factions of the Irish community. Much of the immigrant collective violence reflected the rural traditional Irish culture that arrived with the immigrants. The influence of the Roman Catholic Church and modernizing effects of living in an industrial rather than a rural setting helped change the traditional Irish culture.

Jamaica, Queens, New York 11439