Violent Crime Research Articles

Violent Crime and Enrollment Trends: A Quantitative Analysis Reassessing the Impact at Public Postsecondary Institutions in the United States

This study examines the relationship between rates of reported violent crime and public institutional enrollment in postsecondary education between 1980 and 2020 in the United States. Focusing on violent crimes such as aggravated assault, forcible rape, and homicide, this research employs descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and regression analysis to examine the influence of rates of reported violent crime on public institutional enrollment in postsecondary education. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between violent crime and public institutional enrollment, with forcible rape demonstrating a significant impact. These results challenge the hypothesis that higher crime rates prevent enrollment in postsecondary education suggesting instead that the rates of reported violent crime could be associated with increased student enrollment in public institutions. This research contributes to ongoing debates about the impact of reported violent crime on institutional enrollment in postsecondary education.

Falling racial inequality and rising educational inequality in US prison admissions for drug, violent, and property crimes

Falling racial inequality and rising educational inequality in US prison admissions for drug, violent, and property crimes

Family disruption, domestic violence and assaults against the police in Kentucky

PurposeInformed by the social disorganization theory (SDT), the study intends to identify the ecological factors most likely to predict assaults against the police recorded over five years in a southern American state, which has a relatively large rural population.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses aggregated county-level data on non-lethal assault against the police recorded in Kentucky between 2012 and 2016. We anticipated that structural conditions would affect directly and indirectly assaults against the police. Because predictors of social disorganization generally correlate with crimes police respond to, we hypothesized that the effects of SDT predictors on police victimization will be mediated by violent crime rates and domestic violence rates.FindingsThe study found partial empirical support for the social disorganization theory. Assaults against the police were more common in counties that had a higher proportion of female-headed households, higher rates of domestic violence citations and higher violent crime rates. Conversely, police victimization was less common in densely populated areas and in counties with higher poverty rates. While family disruption had significant direct and indirect positive effects on police victimization, the significant positive effect of ethnic heterogeneity (percent Black population) was only indirect. Residential instability did not predict significant variations in police victimization.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, no prior research attempted to determine if SDT is a valid theoretical framework when non-lethal assaults on police are examined beyond metropolitan areas. This analysis extends to counties research assessing the effects of structural conditions on nonfatal assaults against the police. Additionally, by including domestic violence among the correlates of police victimization, the current macro-level study addresses an apparent gap in the literature.

Associations between antidepressants and risk of suicidal behaviour and violent crimes in personality disorder.

Associations between antidepressants and risk of suicidal behaviour and violent crimes in personality disorder.

Understanding Sexual Burglary.

This review includes research on sexual burglary to highlight the distinct behaviours of such offenders. Only recently has there been a thorough examination of the decision-making that goes into this hybrid crime, and the potential for these individuals to progress to more serious and violent criminal acts. Work on sexual burglary has found that decisions made during the crime commission reflect rational decision-making and organization, despite previous research suggesting that sexual crimes are mostly impulsive. Furthermore, these rational choices may lead to the development of expertise in sexual burglary, with offenders learning how to avoid detection and engage in forensic awareness strategies. The knowledge that sexual burglars are expert decision-makers has important implications, as these behaviours may lead to more violent and lethal sexual crimes. Identifying these offenders through their decisions and crime characteristics is key to potentially deterring or preventing future offending.

Failing to express emotion on 911 calls triggers suspicion through violating expectations and moral typecasting.

Coming to suspect that someone has engaged in wrongdoing based on their unexpected behavior is a common phenomenon-yet, little is known about what triggers initial suspicion. We investigated how violating expectations for high emotionality during a traumatic event can trigger suspicion that one has engaged in immoral-or even criminal-activity through moral typecasting. Five studies demonstrate this theory in a criminal context with dire real-world consequences: 911 callers reporting violent crimes generating suspicion by exhibiting unexpected behavior, which could trigger confirmation bias in investigations leading to wrongful convictions. Using both real and tightly controlled simulated 911 calls, we demonstrated that failing to express the expected level of emotion on a 911 call reporting a violent crime led laypeople and police to morally typecast the caller as more of a moral agent capable of perpetrating immoral acts and less of a moral patient capable of being the victim of immoral acts-ultimately increasing suspicion that they were involved in the crime and support for treating them as a suspect. We advance moral psychological theory by demonstrating that failing to express expected levels of emotion about a moral violation can shape moral inferences about someone's capacity to commit versus be the victim of moral wrongs, thereby generating suspicion that they might have engaged in wrongdoing. We demonstrated this theory in criminal settings to explain how one tragedy can become two: altruistic witnesses calling 911 to plead for help on behalf of another person becoming suspects of the crime they reported because they failed to exhibit the expected emotional demeanor. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

FIGG at 5: An update on U.S. public perspectives on forensic investigative genetic genealogy five years after its introduction to criminal investigations.

In 2018, after law enforcement announced it had used a technique called forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to identify the Golden State Killer, we conducted a U.S. general population survey and found most respondents supported using FIGG to solve violent crimes. Since then, FIGG has helped close hundreds of criminal cases, but it also has weathered controversies. On FIGG's fifth anniversary, we conducted an expanded, follow-up survey with U.S.-based participants to determine if public opinion had changed and found continued support for FIGG across most applications. The same proportion (91 %) of respondents in the 2018 and 2023 surveys endorsed using FIGG in genetic genealogy databases to help identify perpetrators of violent crimes. Similar to the 2018 survey, only 57 % of respondents supported FIGG to help identify perpetrators of non-violent crimes. The results indicate that U.S. policies that have been adopted for FIGG are generally consistent with the opinions of our survey respondents over time. Nonetheless, there are opportunities to strengthen FIGG governance with the goal of maintaining public trust in the technique.

When the stick fails to work: The effects of sanctions on government sexual violence in armed conflict

Are sanctions effective in reducing government sexual violence? In recent years, states and international organizations have started to impose sanctions against states that are reported to commit crimes of sexual violence. Some bodies, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), have even adopted sexual and gender-based violence as a designation criteria for sanctions. Although anecdotal evidence shows that sanctions are imposed to punish actors that participate in these crimes, are they actually effective in doing so? We argue that the decline in resources encountered by sanctioned targets does not deter them from using sexual violence but, rather, creates an incentive to perpetrate or tolerate sexual violence to make up for their financial and military losses. Using existing sanctions data and original data on sanctions that refer to government conflict-related sexual violence, this study tests the impact of military and economic sanctions on sexual violence by state forces in civil conflicts during the period of 1989 to 2012. Findings support the study’s claims and show that government sexual violence is more likely if states are subject to sanctions, including ones that have a clear objective of reducing conflict-related sexual violence.

Implementation of the Law on Sexual Violence: Challenges in Case Handling and Law Enforcement

The enactment of the Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence represents a significant milestone in addressing sexual violence in society. This study examines the challenges and progress in implementing the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes, particularly in handling cases and ensuring effective law enforcement. Using a qualitative approach, data were gathered from legal documents and case studies. Findings indicate that while the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes has improved victim protection and provided a clearer legal framework, challenges persist in social stigma, lack of legal awareness, and resource constraints among law enforcement agencies. Additionally, inconsistencies in judicial interpretations and procedural delays hinder the effective resolution of cases. Recommendations include strengthening inter-agency coordination, increasing public awareness campaigns, and ensuring adequate training for law enforcement and judiciary personnel to enhance sensitivity and professionalism in handling sexual violence cases. This study underscores the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to ensure justice for victims and uphold the principles of the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes.

Assessment of Malingering and Clinical Characteristics Among Arrested Offenders by Profiling Psychopathic Traits

ABSTRACT The relationship between malingering, psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and clinical characteristics requires further exploration. This study examined these associations in 101 arrested offenders hospitalized for criminal responsibility assessment. Malingering was more prevalent among those scoring higher on PCL-R Factor 2, who also exhibited more self-harm, suicide attempts, substance abuse, and crimes. In contrast, the Factor 1 group had fewer siblings, greater treatment compliance, and committed more violent crimes against strangers. While psychopathy and ASPD were positively correlated, no significant link emerged between malingering and ASPD. Additionally, ASPD prevalence did not differ significantly between Factor 1 and Factor 2 groups.

Does Nothing Stop a Bullet Like a Job? The Effects of Income on Crime

Do jobs and income-transfer programs affect crime? The answer depends on why one is asking the question, which shapes what one means by “crime.” Many studies focus on understanding why overall crime rates vary across people, places, and time; because 80% of all crimes are property offenses, that is what this type of research typically explains. But if the goal is to understand what to do about the crime problem, the focus should instead be on serious violent crimes, which the best available estimates suggest seem to account for the majority of the social costs of crime. The best available evidence suggests that policies that reduce economic desperation reduce property crime (and, hence, overall crime rates) but have little systematic relationship to violent crime. The difference in impacts arguably stems in large part from the fact that most violent crimes, including murder, are not crimes of profit but rather crimes of passion, including rage. Policies to alleviate material hardship, as important and useful as those are for improving people's lives and well-being, are not by themselves sufficient to also substantially alleviate the burden of violent crime on society.

Understanding what violent street crime, globalization, and ice cream have in common

AbstractResearch SummaryIn recent years, nutrition researchers have found that ice cream may have as many health benefits as low‐fat milk or yoghurt for those with diabetes or at risk of diabetes. Nonetheless, they have resisted reporting this finding to the media, the public, or other researchers. This observation got me thinking about how preconceived assumptions and biases affect social science in general and criminology in particular, are affected by the preconceived assumptions and biases of those who produce them. In this essay, I argue that the production of criminology is a cultural enterprise that reflects the attitudes and values of those who produce it. In my address for the Stockholm Prize, I summarize the main thesis of my Losing Legitimacy book and then discuss two recent projects that were influenced by the idea that strong social institutions reduce criminal behavior. The first examines the impact of the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore in 2015 on crime and arrest rates. The second examines the impact of globalization on national homicide rates. In both cases, the results were unexpected.Policy ImplicationsAs scientists, it is critical that we evaluate research based on its theoretical soundness and methodological sophistication rather than whether it fits a currently hot topic or politically popular perspective. Science progresses by the constant process of evaluating theoretical propositions with empirical data—regardless of where those data lead us. Openness about crime and reactions to crime is no less important than honesty about the positive benefits of ice‐cream consumption.

Body‐worn cameras, police arrests, and bureaucratic discretion: A large‐scale causal analysis across the United States

AbstractDrawing on the literature on bureaucratic discretion, this study conducts a large‐scale, nationwide causal analysis of the effects of body‐worn cameras (BWC) in the United States (US). It employs a staggered difference‐in‐differences (DiD) approach using 12 years of panel data (2008–2019) covering 697 local police agencies. The findings indicate that BWC adoption had no significant effect on White arrests but led to an approximately 5.5% decrease in Black arrests. Importantly, the reduction in Black arrests was concentrated in alcohol‐related cases, which involve considerable officer discretion, but did not extend to cases categorized as more serious public safety threats, such as violent or property crimes, where officer discretion may be more limited. Meanwhile, there was also a 7.7% increase in White arrests related to weapon offenses, aligning with prior studies that suggest BWCs may serve as a tool for evidence collection. Our findings provide insight into how BWCs have influenced police arrests in the US, advancing beyond previous single‐case evaluations.

Peran Polri dalam Penanganan Kejahatan Jalanan (Klitih) yang Melibatkan Anak di Wilayah Hukum Polda Derah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Crime on the streets has become a social phenomenon that is increasingly troubling the community in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Many of the perpetrators came from underage students. Klitih, which originates from various environmental influences and adolescent social behavior, has resulted in serious injuries to death. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of the National Police in handling street crimes involving children in the jurisdiction of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Police. This study uses empirical research. The data collection technique was an interview with members of the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The data analysis used in this study is a descriptive analysis with a qualitative approach. The results of this study show that the role of the National Police is very important in dealing with street crime through pre-emptive, preventive, and repressive efforts. Pre-emptive efforts are carried out through sambaing activities, coaching and distribution, character development, coaching profiling, and coordination with related agencies. Preventive efforts by carrying out patrols and forming a special team to handle street violence crimes. Repressive efforts are carried out by investigative actions, cooperation with other police stations, pursuits and arrests, and examinations. The factors that affect street crime are internal factors and external factors.

Účinky europeizace na postavení oběti a poškozeného v trestním řízení i mimo něj

The problems of dealing with crime victims are covered in the Process of europeisation. The activities of the Council of Europe and of authorities of the EU affect the victim’s position in criminal proceedings, the extent of their rights and the protection of their interests. Under the resolutions of the Council of Europe, agreements (conventions) are the only form of legally binding documents. In matters of EU law, directives and framework decisions are the only instruments applicable to regulating the rights and interests of crime victims. Europeisation is focused on two areas. The less problematic one seems to be the sphere of compensation of victims of violent crimes. Here it is necessary to keep in mind the European convention on the compensation of victims of violent crimes from the year 1983 and the Directive of EU Council relating to compensation to crime victims from the year 2004. The obligations are formulated definitely and specifically. The question of victim’s position in criminal proceedings is more problematic. The diversity of legal regulations in each particular state results in the problem of finding consensus regarding this topic. The legal instrument of harmonisation in this topic is the framework decision of EU Council on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings from the year 2001. The obligations are formulated less certainly and specifically, as they permit more exceptions. The Czech legal regulation is in harmony with obligations both the Council of Europe and EU law regarding the compensation of victims. On the contrary the transposition of the framework decision on victims’ standing isn’t without problems. In particular, there are differences between Czech law and the framework decision in numerous areas: 1) Czech law doesn’t require state authorities to provide victims as much information as set forth in the framework decision (art. 4); 2) Czech law restricts the victims’ rights more than in the framework decision, by limiting certain rights only to victims, who are in the position of witness (art. 8); 3) Czech law is silent on the issue of specific rights of foreign victims, whereas framework decision lays down guidelines for such rights (art. 11). The European institutions may check whether the Czech law adopts the regulation and obligations arising from the framework decision. The European Court of Justice has previously adjudicated situations regarding harmonisation of EU laws in other foreign countries (especially judgement on the merits Pupino and on the merits Dell’Orto). It is necessary to make our legislation in conformity with the framework decision.

Dry Aggression: The Impact of Drought on Violent Crime Trends in California Counties

Dry Aggression: The Impact of Drought on Violent Crime Trends in California Counties

THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADOLESCENTS WITH TERRORISM EXPERIENCE IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA.

Background: Nigeria has a young population, almost half less than 14 years old. Violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism continue to plague threats to the young population with consequent effects on the Quality of Life. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between experience of terrorism and Quality of life among adolescents in Mangu Village, Plateau State. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between Dec. 2023 and January 2024, among adolescents aged 10-19 years, living in Mangu Village, Plateau State with a sample size of 200 determined using Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through standardized semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaires covering socio-demographic information, terrorism experiences, and the quality of life of respondents. The SPSS version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis, including regression to assess the relationship between terrorism experience and the quality of life of respondents. Results: A total number of one hundred and thirty-two (66.0%) were above 16 years old, while one hundred and seven (53.5%) were females. About 92.5% have experienced terrorist attacks before, during which 24.3% felt stressed, 34.6% were sad, and 23.2% were pained. Most of the respondents (53%) were less than 1 month after the duration of the terrorist attack, and 75.7% of the respondents experienced the attacks frequently. 49% of the respondents were self-wishing for death and away from it all. A total number of 114 (57%) of respondents were of good quality of life, while 86 (43% ) were poor during the attack. Conclusion: This study found that most of the adolescents had experienced terrorist attack with a little less than half of them having poor QoL. We recommend the development of policies and programmes that will improve the quality of life of adolescents exposed to terrorism.

Impact of Pattern-or-Practice Investigations on Crime Rates in Large Cities

In recent decades, the conduct of city police departments has come under increased scrutiny. In response to high profile police actions, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated investigations into the “pattern or practice” of state, local and other law enforcement authorities. In theory, federal oversight can lead to less police abuse, enhanced citizen satisfaction with police, and less crime. Alternatively, federal intervention can correspond to “de-policing” and higher levels of crime. This study explores why some cites are more likely to become a focus of federal investigations and the apparent impact of those investigations on crime. The data suggests that federal investigations are more likely to be launched in higher crime jurisdictions and that investigations do not lead to reduction in the rate of violent or property crime. Statistically significant increases in property crimes after a pattern-or-practice investigation were found compared to similar sized cities.

Chronic Offending and Its Relation to Homicide in a Large, Prospective Brazilian Birth Cohort.

Many studies have found that a small group of chronic offenders is responsible for the majority of crimes and tend to be particularly violent. However, there is a major lack of evidence on chronic offending in low- and middle-income countries; understanding these patterns is especially important in settings with very high levels of serious violence, such as Brazil. To identify the extent that crime is concentrated in chronic offenders and linked to violence and homicide in a Brazilian cohort. The 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort includes 5623 participants followed from birth in 1982 with complete crime records up to age 30. Chronic offenders were defined as individuals who committed five or more offences and, in aggregate,over 50% of all crimes. Key offending characteristics including age of onset, violent and homicide offending, and incarceration rates were compared across three different offender groups (one-timers, below-chronic and chronic offenders). Approximately 27% of participants had a record for at least one crime by age 30, and 5% were chronic offenders. Chronic offenders were responsible for 57% of all crimes, 54% of violent crimes and 68% of homicides. Chronic offenders exhibited more severe patterns of offending on all characteristics examined compared to non-chronic offenders. Homicides committed by chronic offenders were more likely to involve firearms than those by non-chronic offenders. This is the first study to analyse chronic offending within a large prospective cohort in a low- and middle-income country. Chronic offending patterns in this Brazilian setting resemble those in high-income country studies and are highly related to homicides.

PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES AND SECURITY PROVISIONING IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM OTHER CLIMES

Insecurity in the form of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, armed banditry, cattle rustling, armed robbery, murder, rape and other violent crimes are on the increase in Nigeria in spite of government efforts to contain them. There is no gainsaying that government forces are seemingly incapacitated to tackle the upsurge of insecurity across the country as terrorists, kidnappers and armed bandits specifically operate with impunity openly as if government security forces are non-existent. Although, insecurity is a global social problem, Nigerian situation is becoming overwhelming, thereby necessitating the proliferation of private security companies into the security arena to lend support to government security force efforts. Since their emergence into the security architecture, private security companies (PSCs) are creating great impact in security provisioning across the globe thereby complementing the efforts of government law enforcement agencies. In Nigeria, they have made great inroads in security provision such that their presence is felt in all nooks and crannies of the country. This paper examined PSCs and security provisioning in Nigeria with reference to lessons from other climes. The paper utilized exploratory analysis relying largely on qualitative content analysis from secondary sources of data collection through journal articles, books, periodicals, news prints and internet materials. The situational crime prevention and problem-oriented policing theories were used as theoretical framework. The paper showed that private security companies in Nigeria have contributed immensely to checkmating crimes in their areas of operations but lack global relevance as their activities are limited to Nigeria since they are not allowed to bear firearms. PSCs in Nigeria are overburdened with regulations that dwarf their operations cum lacking legislative recognition as components of the national security architecture. The paper underscored the global relevance of private security companies and their emergence and proliferation in Nigeria and concludes that PSCs in Nigeria, though very crucial in security provisioning need to be properly positioned for relevance in the global security market. The paper recommends among others, that relevant legislations should be enacted to allow PSCs in Nigeria bear firearms to enable them participate fully in security provisioning while intra-inter agency collaboration and networking is necessary to strengthen the private security sub sector. This is in addition to allowing PSCs to participate in private detection and prosecution in Nigeria.