Increase In Violent Crime Research Articles

PROSPECTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHOD OF NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION IN SOCIAL WORK IN UKRAINE DURING THE WAR AND POST-WAR RECOVERY

The team of authors conducted systematic work on the analysis of the use of the method of nonviolent communication in various areas of social work in Ukraine and other countries of the world. During the research, the team of authors relied on a comprehensive approach, comparative analysis, and a focus group study was conducted, which revealed the need to transform the social service system in this area. The purpose of the research work is to analyze the prospects for the effective implementation of the nonviolent communication method in social work in Ukraine during the war and post-war reconstruction. We drew attention to the increase in various manifestations of violence in Ukraine during the war, which was reflected in the actualization of the issue of bullying in educational institutions, cases of violence in the family, and in the increase in violent crimes in society as a whole. In our opinion, the method of nonviolent communication is useful for a social worker in working with an aggressor and a victim, as it contains a powerful ethical and pedagogical component. As a result, we concluded that Ukraine needs a restructuring of the social service system, which contributed to solving the problems of the population in the country. The basis for the optimization of social services should be a review of standards in the field of education and pedagogy, a non-violent rethinking of the relationship «social worker - recipient of social services», as well as the restart of the judicial and social service. Based on the conducted research, we conclude that the implementation of the method of nonviolent communication in social work in Ukraine has many obstacles of a military-political, socio-state and organizational nature, but changes in the social sphere in Ukraine are needed now. In fact, this is the need for radical changes in social work with manifestations of violence, as well as the need for partnership work to restore a humanistic and non-violent space in Ukraine, starting with the family. Here the family acts as a basis for post-war social recovery.

The Road to Crime: An Unintended Consequence of the Interstate Highway System

Abstract The necessity to overhaul national infrastructure has become one of the key issues of US domestic policy in recent years. While the benefits of infrastructure spending are often straightforward, its unintended consequences are less well understood. This paper studies the impact of transportation infrastructure on local crime, focusing on the construction of the Interstate Highway System (IHS), the largest public works project in US history. Using a staggered difference-in-differences design and a county-by-year panel dataset spanning all US counties between 1960 and 1993, we find that a highway opening in a county led to an 8% rise in total index crime. This effect is driven by property crime (burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft), although some evidence suggests an increase in violent crime as well. Exploring potential mechanisms, we show that the positive effect of highways on crime is concentrated in counties with low pre-existing stock of police resources where increased connectivity may have raised the returns to crime. Moreover, we find that highway construction induced higher local employment, average firm size, and the local population size, thus increasing the returns to criminal activity, and ultimately the risk of victimisation in the newly-connected counties.

The effect of formal de‐policing on police traffic stop behavior and crime: Early evidence from LAPD's policy to restrict discretionary traffic stops

AbstractResearch SummaryOn March 1, 2022, correspondence from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) headquarters stated that officers can no longer use minor infractions (e.g., equipment violations) as a pretextual reason to further investigate drivers for criminal behavior. If LAPD officers are to execute a discretionary stop, they must activate their body‐worn cameras and reasonably articulate to the civilian why they are being investigated. The intent is to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in stops and build trust of the police within the community. Critics of the policy argue that elevated crime rates will result due to the crime suppression effect of such stops. This study examines racial differences in stops before and after the policy change, as well as whether Part 1 violent and property crimes increased. Descriptive findings show that while the counts of stops, arrests, and contraband seizures during stops decreased, the percentage of non‐White civilians stopped decreased only minimally following the intervention. Results from using Bayesian synthetic control methods indicate an increase in both violent and property crimes post‐intervention compared with the synthetic counterfactual. The increase in violent crimes has a low probability of being different from the counterfactual, whereas the increase in property crimes has a high probability, suggesting that the intervention led to a real change in property crimes compared with what would have been expected under the counterfactual.Policy ImplicationsThis study provides preliminary evidence that emerging policies intended to restrict discretionary stops may not have the intended effect on racial disparities in police traffic stops. Instead, agencies passing similar policies may expect to see the potential unintended consequence of a spike in jurisdictional property crimes. We argue that such types of stops across a jurisdiction may have a general deterrent effect on more common and calculative crimes such as property crimes. To combat violent crimes, agencies should consider focusing discretionary stops in known hot spots. Further, our findings offer implications for research on the effects of de‐policing on crime. Police agencies should monitor potential unintended impacts of these policies if enacted and be prepared to deal with such consequences.

Are Dollar Stores Magnets for Violent Crime? Evidence from Chicago

With the rise of economic inequality in recent decades, dollar stores have flourished in the United States. Although the media has increasingly portrayed dollar stores as violent crime magnets, limited academic research has examined their impact on nearby crime. This study employed a difference-in-differences approach to investigate the impact of dollar stores on localized violent crime patterns in Chicago. Results showed a significant increase in violent crimes, especially robberies, in nearby areas relative to the control areas, following the opening of dollar stores. There were no signs of spatial crime displacement. Moreover, after the closing of dollar stores, the levels of violent crime in nearby areas relative to the control areas returned to those of the prestore opening period, regardless of the type of crime. This study also explored how the impact of dollar store openings on nearby crime rates evolves over time and varies according to the surrounding context of the store's location.

Strengthen students' sense of responsibility in learning PJOK through the TPSR model

The complexity of issues surrounding character or morality has suddenly become a troubling thought with a personality or moral crisis characterized by an increase in violent crime, bullying, drug addiction, pornography and promiscuity that has become a pathology of society. The methodology used in this research is library research. The purpose of literature research is to use the information obtained to describe the content obtained or the information obtained. The data sources used come from research articles from various national and international sources that are published and can be downloaded on the internet such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Garuda, Sinta, Taylor and Francis using the PICO method. In some of the studies that have been discussed, there are similarities in the application of the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility model in PJOK learning with the aim of producing and increasing individual and social responsibility. Based on the summary of the 15 posts, it can be concluded that the TPSR model is a suitable approach to increase students' individual and social responsibility in personality development in the context of PJOK subjects. By analyzing the literature sources, it can be concluded that the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model has proven effective in increasing students' personal and social responsibility. There are 15 articles or journals that document in detail the successful application of the TPSR model in Physical Education, Sports and Health (PJOK) education. Therefore, it can be suggested that this model can provide assistance in creating or increasing students' sense of personal and social responsibility in character development in the context of PJOK subjects.

Intervention Bias: People Overpredict Social Problems in Which They Believe Society Can Intervene

Abstract Evidence indicates that when people forecast potential social risks, they are guided not only by facts but often by motivated reasoning also. Here I apply a Bayesian decision framework to interpret the role of motivated reasoning during forecasting and assess some of the ensuing predictions. In 2 online studies, for each of a set of potential risky social events (e.g., economic crisis, rise of income inequality, and increase in violent crime), participants expressed judgments about the probability that the event will occur, how negative occurrence of the event would be, whether society is able to intervene in the event. Supporting predictions of the Bayesian decision model, the analyses revealed that participants who deemed the events as more probable also assessed occurrence of the events as more negative and believed society to be more capable to intervene in the events. Supporting the notion that a social threat is appraised as more probable when an intervention is deemed to be possible, these findings are compatible with a form of intervention bias. These observations are relevant for campaigns aimed at informing the population about potential social risks such as climate change, economic dislocations, and pandemics.

Burned agricultural biomass, air pollution and crime

Agricultural fires account for half as much burned biomass as forest fires. Like other forms of environmental degradation, burned biomass incurs social costs for society through its contribution to air pollution. One such potential cost is the increase in crime. Exploiting plausibly exogenous variation in air pollution due to increased rice stubble burning in Pakistan, I provide evidence on the causal relationship between air pollution and crime. Air pollution increases all crimes, but the increase in violent crimes is particularly salient. I provide evidence that a reduction in earnings for middle-aged and older male individuals is an important potential mechanism. I also discuss the potential psychological mechanisms involved. The social costs of burned agricultural biomass are much wider and have significant implications for developing economies that rely on agriculture.

Neighborhood Alcohol Outlet Density, Historical Redlining, and Violent Crime in NYC 2014–2018

Alcohol outlets tend to cluster in lower income neighborhoods and do so disproportionately in areas with more residents of color. This study explores the association between on- and off-premise alcohol outlet density and history of redlining with violent crime in New York City between 2014 and 2018. Alcohol outlet density was calculated using a spatial accessibility index. Multivariable linear regression models assess associations between the history of redlining, on-premise and off-premise alcohol outlet density with serious crime. Each unit increase in on- and off-premise alcohol density was associated with a significant increase in violent crime (β = 3.1, p < 0.001 on-premise and β = 33.5, p < 0.001 off premise). In stratified models (redlined vs not redlined community block groups) the association between off-premise alcohol outlet density and violent crime density was stronger in communities with a history of redlining compared to those without redlining (β = 42.4, p < 0.001 versus β = 30.9, p < 0.001, respectively). However, on-premise alcohol outlet density was only significantly associated with violent crime in communities without a history of redlining (β = 3.6, p < 0.001). The violent crime experienced by formerly redlined communities in New York City is likely related to a legacy of racialized housing policies and may be associated with state policies that allow for high neighborhood alcohol outlet density.

촉법소년 상한(형사미성년자) 연령 하향에 대한 비판적 고찰

On October 26. 2022. the Ministry of Justice announced a plan to lower the age standard for criminal minors from 14 to 13 through the Preparation of Comprehensive Measures for Juvenile Crime . The standard age for criminal minors, which has been set at 14 years old, is lowered for the reason that juvenile crimes have become more ferocious due to an increase in violent crimes by juveniles than in the past. However, when examining official statistics, the assertion that juvenile crime has become younger and more brutal is exaggerated. To generalize while emphasizing the seriousness of crimes against juveniles is to confine the crimes of juveniles to ‘hate’. If there is a need for a solution through criminal policy intervention for underage juveniles, lowering the age does not have to be a priority. Prior to that, it should be prioritized to seek and implement policies on how to intervene in the crimes of young children to prevent recidivism and prevent crimes. Since boys are the protagonists responsible for the future of our society, it is the shared responsibility of not only the boys themselves but also their families, schools, society, and the nation to develop the character and qualities necessary for them to grow as healthy members of society. In particular, in the case of young boys, efforts to establish measures that can be corrected and rehabilitated through education and counseling considering welfare should take precedence over severe punishment. Therefore, for young boys, it is important to prioritize treatment and education by refraining from strict punishment through lowering the age and uniform and formal treatment, finding the possibility of each boy and individualizing treatment. Therefore, in this paper, we reviewed whether the crimes of juvenile lawmakers are actually increasing and becoming more ferocious based on the statistics of each institution, and based on this, we propose appropriate measures to prevent crimes by juvenile lawmakers through comparison with overseas systems.

Reflections on Criminal Justice Reform: Challenges and Opportunities

Considerable efforts and resources have been expended to enact reforms to the criminal justice system over the last five decades. Concerns about dramatic increases in violent crime beginning in the late Sixties and accelerating into the 1980s led to the “War on Drugs” and the “War on Crime” that included implementation of more punitive policies and dramatic increases in incarceration and community supervision. More recent reform efforts have focused on strategies to reduce the negative impacts of policing, the disparate impacts of pretrial practices, and better strategies for reducing criminal behavior. Renewed interest in strategies and interventions to reduce criminal behavior has coincided with a focus on identifying “what works.” Recent increases in violence have shifted the national dialog from a focus on progressive reforms to reduce reliance on punitive measures and the disparate impact of the legal system on some groups to a focus on increased investment in “tough on crime” criminal justice approaches. This essay offers some reflections on the “Waged Wars” and the efforts to identify “What Works” based on nearly 40 years of work evaluating criminal justice reform efforts.

Neighborhood matters: Neighborhood violence, collective efficacy, and social emotional development in early childhood

Exposure to community violence has been associated with a range of negative behavioral outcomes among school-age children and adolescents; yet there is limited evidence in the preschool setting. In the current study we examined the association between objective and parent-perceived neighborhood safety, and perceived collective efficacy, on behavioral concerns of children aged 3–5 enrolled at an early childhood school in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2014 to 19 (n = 165). Teachers collected data on outcome measures of child social emotional well-being in the classroom setting. A parent survey included data on residential address, how safe they felt in their neighborhood, and perceived collective efficacy. Addresses were geocoded and linked by Census tract number to data on violent crime rates (per 1,000 tract residents). Associations between neighborhood violent crime, perceived safety, perceived collective efficacy, and child social emotional development were assessed with generalized estimating equations. After mutually adjusting for perceived neighborhood safety and violent crime rate, children of parents with the lowest perceived neighborhood collective efficacy had similar findings: children of parents that perceive the neighborhood as unsafe had a lower attachment (β = −6.55, 95 % CI 1.44, 11.66) and protective score (β = −4.51, 95 % CI 0.89–8.13) and a 10-unit increase in violent crime was associated with a decrease in attachment score (β = −2.77, 95 % CI −4.22, −1.32). Overall, child attachment and protective scores were significantly associated with perceived unsafe neighborhoods and violent crime, and the relationship was moderated by perceived neighborhood efficacy. These findings suggest a negative impact of perceived neighborhood safety and protective impact of collective efficacy on early childhood social emotional development.

Social Vulnerability Index Predicts Violent Crime in Chicago

INTRODUCTION: The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), composed of 4 social factors, is used to predict communities most at risk for negative consequences during natural disasters and public health crises. Violence, especially with a firearm, is one such crisis previously shown to behave like a transmissible disease. We hypothesized that SVI could predict community risk for violence. METHODS: The CDC’s 2018 SVI data were merged by census tract with violent crimes (assault, battery, and homicide) from the Chicago Data Portal (Figure). Cubic regression was used to show correlations between crime rate, overall SVI, and each SVI social factor; univariate and multivariate negative binomial regression was performed to calculate risk ratios.SVI, Social Vulnerability Index.RESULTS: SVI predicted risk of violent crime in Chicago. Negative binomial regression found that each percentile increase in SVI resulted in a 7 times increase in violent crime (RR 7.09, 95% CI 6.06 to 8.29, p < 0.001). The factors most strongly associated with violence were socioeconomic status (RR 3.63, 95% CI 2.76 to 4.78, p < 0.001), household composition/disability (RR 2.59, 95% CI 2.09 to 3.22, p < 0.001) and housing type/transportation (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.25, p < 0.001). Minority status/language was associated with a decreased risk of violent crime (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.42, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate SVI may predict community risk for violence. SVI can identify geospatial areas of focus for violence intervention and prevention. Academic researchers and trauma surgeons should use SVI when demonstrating disparities related to violent injury risk and outcomes, because it encompasses the effect of social, economic, and built environments at a granular level that is standardized across the US.

Murder nature: Weather and violent crime in rural Brazil

This paper examines the effect of weather shocks on violent crime using disaggregated data from Brazilian municipalities over the period 1991–2015. Employing a distributed lag model that takes into account temporal correlations of weather shocks and spatial correlation of crime rates, I document that adverse weather shocks in the form of droughts lead to a significant increase in violent crime in rural regions. This effect appears to persist beyond the growing season and over the medium run in contrast to the conventional view perceiving weather effects as transitory. To explain this persistence, I show that weather fluctuations are positively associated not only with agriculture yields, but also with the overall economic activity. Moreover, evidence shows the dominance of opportunity cost mechanism reflected in the fluctuations of the earnings especially for the agriculture and unskilled workers, giving credence that it is indeed the income that matters and not the general socio-economic conditions. Other factors such as local government budget capacity, (un)-employment, poverty, inequality, and psychological factors do not seem to explain violent crime rates.

The association between weather and crime in a township setting in South Africa.

The association between various meteorological parameters and crime is well-established in developed contexts. In contrast in this study, we investigated the association between three weather parameters (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) and three categories of crime in the developing township of Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Distributed lag non-linear modelling was used to identify temporal relationships between temperature, relative humidity and rainfall, and violent, property and sexual crime over a 10-year period (2006-2016). We found hot days (defined as [Formula: see text] 25°C) increased the cumulative relative risk of violent crime by up to 32% but were also found to be associated with a lagged increase in violent crime for at least a week thereafter. On very cold days (defined as [Formula: see text]), the cumulative relative risk of property crime increased by up to 50% whereas on very rainy days (defined as [Formula: see text]) the risk of property crime surprisingly increased by 40%. These findings provide some additional evidence for the relationship between the atmospheric environment and human behaviour in a developing context.

Gunshot Injuries in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: The University Teaching Hospitals’ Experience

Background: Gunshot injuries constitute significant contributor to morbidity and mortality of the healthcare in most societies. The global burden of gunshot injuries seems to be on the rise with the increase in violent crimes and unrest across the world.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of gunshot injuries seen in the surgery departments of the two Teaching Hospitals in Port Harcourt from January 2010 to January 2019.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out using data obtained from registers for patients who had gunshot injuries from January 2010 to January 2019 in two government-owned tertiary healthcare facilities in Port Harcourt.&#x0D; Results: A total of 1138 cases of gunshot injuries was recorded within the ten-year study period, with relatively higher number of cases seen during the 2011/2012 (122/116), 2015 (134), and 2019 (138). The age range 20 - 44 years are more involved in these injuries, and abdominal injuries (205 cases) top the record followed by lower limb injuries (132 cases).&#x0D; Conclusion: Gunshot injury is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality among patients in Port Harcourt, with a total of 1138 cases seen within the ten-year study period. Males were six times affected than females. There is need to equip these reference hospitals for trauma care, and reduce election-related violence in Port Harcourt as this appears to be taking a toll on the citizens.

Unrest and Violence: 2019

The year 2019 was characterised by gang and taxi violence. In the reporting period, the South African Police Services published the 2018 crime statistics, revealing an alarming increase in violent crimes. The annual report of the Inspectorate Judge of Correctional Services revealed that prisons remain overcrowded. Section 12(1)(a) of the Gatherings Act 205 of 1993 was declared unconstitutional. Regulations to assist dependents of victims of apartheid in relation to basic and higher education, were amended. Police corruption was addressed and neighbourhood watches in the Western Cape were accredited. In this article, two cases that dealt with parole are discussed regarding the calculation of the date of parole, as well as a court’s order regarding the minimum sentence that a prisoner has to serve, before he or she can apply for parole. A decision of the Western Cape High Court is discussed in relation to the treatment of transgender prisoners. The independence of the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services in relation to the Sonke case is dealt with. A Bill introduced a new military court structure, as well as described the role of the military police. A private member Draft General Intelligence Law Amendment Bill, 2019, now provides for more oversight of the intelligence services regarding finances. The note also refers to the destruction of firearms, the issuing of licences for firearms with new components, as well as the court’s decision in Corruption Watch v Arms Procurement, where the court overturned the Commission of Inquiry’s report regarding controversial arms procurement of 1997–1999. Gender-based violence has still not been addressed adequately, despite promises to strengthen legislation in this regard. In relation to terrorism, new financial regulations are being put in place.

Abstract 11417: Association Between Community-Level Violent Crime and Cardiovascular Mortality in Chicago - A Longitudinal Analysis

Introduction: Prior studies suggest an association between neighborhood crime levels and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and disease but have been limited by cross-sectional designs. We investigated whether longitudinal changes in violent crime are associated with CV mortality at the community level in a large US city - Chicago. Methods: Chicago is divided into 77 community areas. Using the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records, we obtained age-adjusted mortality rates by community area for heart disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease deaths from 2000-2014 aggregated at 5-year intervals. Annual violent crime data were obtained from the City of Chicago Police Data Portal and were geocoded to the community area level. Violent crime was defined as assault, battery, criminal sexual assault, robbery, and homicide. Using a two-way fixed effects estimator, a robust longitudinal estimation method that accounts for measured or unmeasured time-invariant confounders, we assessed the association between longitudinal changes in violent crime and CV mortality after accounting for changes in demographic (proportion of racial/ethnic minorities) and economic (household income, unemployment, housing vacancy, education attainment) variables for each community area. Results: Between 2000 and 2014, the median violent crime rate in Chicago decreased from 3620 per 100,000 [IQR 2256, 7777] in the 2000-2004 period to 2390 [IQR 1507, 5745] in the 2010-2014 period (p=0.005 for trend). In the fixed effects model, after accounting for changes in demographic and economic variables, a 1% increase in community-area violent crime was independently associated with a 0.21% (95% CI 0.09, 0.33) increase in heart disease deaths (p=0.0006) and a 0.19% (95% CI 0.04, 0.33) increase in deaths from coronary artery disease (p=0.01). There was no significant association between change in violent crime and stroke deaths [0.17% (95% CI -0.08, 0.42; p=0.017)]. Conclusions: From 2000 to 2014, an increase in violent crime at the community level was associated with an increase in heart disease and coronary artery disease deaths in Chicago. Detecting rises in community-level violent crime may identify areas with worsening CV health independent of other factors.

Serious injuries and dental trauma in the line of police duty and their long-term consequences.

Confrontations between police officers and citizens have become almost commonplace in today's world. The propensity for violence towards police officers is an ongoing topic. Statistics show a clear increase in violent crimes of this nature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate police officers' risk of injury including orofacial involvement in the line of duty. One hundred and sixty-eight members of a regional police corps in northwestern Switzerland were interviewed with the help of an online questionnaire. The data were kept completely anonymous. Survey questions related to police officers' life on and off the job and focused on serious line-of-duty injuries (LODIs) that led to a loss of work time. LODIs resulting in work absences were not uncommon: 60.9% had been injured in the line of duty. During their free time, the officers showed a moderate risk-taking behavior (mean 50, IQR 30-67.2) and a slightly higher level of perceived risk of being injured while on duty (mean 59.1, SD 20). Most line-of-duty injuries occurred during the first 15 years of service. Among the injured police officers, the level of perceived threat of violence while on duty (mean 40, IQR 20-60) was higher than their non-injured colleagues (mean 50, IQR 21.2-60). The most commonly injured body parts were the hands (20.8%), head (14.9%) and knees (11.3%). Dental injuries were reported in only one case (0.6%). Greater work experience seems to improve the reactions and protective behavior of this occupational group in dangerous situations. Albeit the risk of being injured is high among police officers, dental trauma and orofacial involvement occurs rarely.

Serious injuries and dental trauma in the line of police duty and their long-term consequences.

Confrontations between police officers and citizens have become almost commonplace in today's world. The propensity for violence towards police officers is an ongoing topic. Statistics show a clear increase in violent crimes of this nature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate police officers' risk of injury including orofacial involvement in the line of duty. One hundred and sixty-eight members of a regional police corps in northwestern Switzerland were interviewed with the help of an online questionnaire. The data were kept completely anonymous. Survey questions related to police officers' life on and off the job and focused on serious line-of-duty injuries (LODIs) that led to a loss of work time. LODIs resulting in work absences were not uncommon: 60.9% had been injured in the line of duty. During their free time, the officers showed a moderate risk-taking behavior (mean 50, IQR 30-67.2) and a slightly higher level of perceived risk of being injured while on duty (mean 59.1, SD 20). Most line-of-duty injuries occurred during the first 15 years of service. Among the injured police officers, the level of perceived threat of violence while on duty (mean 40, IQR 20-60) was higher than their non-injured colleagues (mean 50, IQR 21.2-60). The most commonly injured body parts were the hands (20.8%), head (14.9%) and knees (11.3%). Dental injuries were reported in only one case (0.6%). Greater work experience seems to improve the reactions and protective behavior of this occupational group in dangerous situations. Albeit the risk of being injured is high among police officers, dental trauma and orofacial involvement occurs rarely.

Effects of Laws Expanding Civilian Rights to Use Deadly Force in Self-Defense on Violence and Crime: A Systematic Review.

Background. Since 2005, most US states have expanded civilian rights to use deadly force in self-defense outside the home. In most cases, legislation has included removing the duty to retreat anywhere one may legally be, commonly known as stand-your-ground laws. The extent to which these laws affect public health and safety is widely debated in public and policy discourse.Objectives. To synthesize the available evidence on the impacts and social inequities associated with changing civilian rights to use deadly force in self-defense on violence, injury, crime, and firearm-related outcomes.Search Methods. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts, Education Resources Information Center, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Google Scholar, National Bureau of Economic Research working papers, and SocArXiv; harvested references of included studies; and consulted with experts to identify studies until April 2020.Selection Criteria. Eligible studies quantitatively estimated the association between laws that expanded or restricted the right to use deadly force in self-defense and population or subgroup outcomes among civilians with a comparator.Data Collection and Analysis. Two reviewers extracted study data using a common form. We assessed study quality using the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions tools adapted for (controlled) before-after studies. To account for data dependencies, we conducted graphical syntheses (forest plots and harvest plots) to summarize the evidence on impacts and inequities associated with changing self-defense laws.Main Results. We identified 25 studies that estimated population-level impacts of laws expanding civilian rights to use deadly force in self-defense, all of which focused on stand-your-ground or other expansions to self-defense laws in the United States. Studies were scored as having serious or critical risk of bias attributable to confounding. Risk of bias was low across most other domains (i.e., selection, missing data, outcome, and reporting biases). Stand-your-ground laws were associated with no change to small increases in violent crime (total and firearm homicide, aggravated assault, robbery) on average across states. Florida-based studies showed robust increases (24% to 45%) in firearm and total homicide while self-defense claims under stand-your-ground law were more often denied when victims were White, especially when claimants were racial minorities.Author's Conclusions. The existing evidence contradicts claims that expanding self-defense laws deters violent crime across the United States. In at least some contexts, including Florida, stand-your-ground laws are associated with increases in violence, and there are racial inequities in the application of these laws.Public Health Implications. In some US states, most notably Florida, stand-your-ground laws may have harmed public health and safety and exacerbated social inequities. Our findings highlight the need for scientific evidence on both population and equity impacts of self-defense laws to guide legislative action that promotes public health and safety for all.Trial Registration. Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/uz68e).