Violent Crimes in a City: Environmental Determinants

In: Environment and behavior: eb ; publ. in coop. with the Environmental Design Research Association, Band 19, Heft 1, S. 77-90

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the relationships between monthly violent crimes against persons offense rates of murder, rape, and aggravated assault and the following environmental factors: (1) monthly and seasonal cycles, (2) weather, (3) population, and (4) unemployment for the city of Raleigh, NC, from 1972 through 1981. Using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses, the environmental variables that were examined were found to have significant influences on rape and aggravated assault, but they were shown to have less effect on murder. Unemployment rates were found to have negative effects on monthly rates of rape and aggravated assault. Murder and aggravated assault rates were found to be negatively associated with population expansion. If these findings hold for other urban cities, then urban theories concerning violent crime may have to be reformulated.