CRIME IMPACT STATEMENTS - A STRATEGY SUGGESTED FROM THE STUDY OF CRIME AROUND BARS

• NCJ Number: 52885
• Author(s): G M FISHBINE; M R JOELSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 76 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77DF050003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Minnesota Crime Prevention Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Minnesota Crime Prevention Ctr
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY USES DISTANCE-DECAY ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF VARIOUS TYPES OF LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS OR BARS ON CRIME PATTERNS. THE SAMPLE CONTAINED 4,357 REPORTED CASES OF ASSAULT AND 157 BARS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

Abstract

DISTANCE-DECAY ANALYSIS IS A METHODOLOGY WHICH MEASURES THE DENSITY OF EVENTS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOCATION OF A SINGLE SITE. THE SAMPLE OF BARS WAS DIVIDED INTO A,B, AND C CLASSES ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ALCOHOL LICENSED FOR EACH BAR. DISTANCE-DECAY CHARACTERISTICS, CRIME DENSITY AND DISTANCE FROM THE SITE, ARE CHARTED ON A CURVE USING INCREMENTAL CIRCLES OR BANDS AROUND THE SITE. A CHI-SQUARE STATISTIC IS USED TO ANALYZE THE UNIFORMITY OF CRIME DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THESE BANDS. A SIGNS TEST APPLIED TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISTANCE DECAY COEFFICIENTS IN BANDS WITH VARYING RADIUSES ASSESSES THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE COEFFICIENTS DIFFER IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER. RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE BAR HAS A CLEAR IMPACT ON THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF ASSAULT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ASSAULT LEVELS PROXIMATE TO THE AVERAGE BAR ARE TWO TO THREE GREATER THAN THE MEAN EXPECTED ASSAULT LEVEL. BASELINE DATA ANALYSIS ESTIMATES THE CRIME RATE CHANGE OCCURING IN AN AREA WHEN A NEW BAR OPENS. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT 12 ADDITIONAL ASSAULTS WOULD OCCUR IF AN AVERAGE BAR WERE INTRODUCED TO A SITE. APPENDIXES CONTAIN TABULAR DATA AND RESEARCH DESIGNS. (DAG)