Violent Crime Research Articles

Confounder selection in firearm policy research: A scoping review.

Legislative firearm policies are often proposed as a way of preventing firearm-related harm. Confounding is a substantial threat to accurately estimating the causal effects of firearm policies. This scoping review characterizes selection of potential confounders in US firearm policy evaluations in the health sciences literature. We identified empirical research articles indexed in PubMed from 1/1/2000-9/1/2021 that examined any of 18 pre-specified firearm policies and extracted key study elements, including the exposure (firearm policy), outcomes, potential confounders adjusted for in analyses, and study approach (i.e., static, uncontrolled pre-post, and controlled pre-post). There was wide variation in potential confounders within study approach-policy-outcome combinations. The most common potential confounders included sociodemographic and economic variables, rurality/urbanicity, violent crime, law enforcement-related variables, alcohol use, and firearm access (mostly measured via proxies for firearm ownership). Firearm policies other than the policy being evaluated were included in the adjustment set in 23-44% of studies, depending on the study approach. Confounder selection was most often said to be based on prior research (n=49, 40%) or not explicitly stated (n=48, 39%). This scoping review provides a comprehensive resource for critically appraising the firearm policy literature and offers considerations to support more rigorous confounding control in future firearm policy research.

International and domestic crime statistics indicators of sexual crimes

Aim: In this study, the Author reviews the criminal statistics indicators of sexual crimes. Sexual crimes can be grouped according to several classification systems – for example, the age of the victims, or the method of execution, or in light of whether they are committed with violence. Based on the latter, distinguished between violent and non-violent situations – a good example of the former is the crime of sexual violence, while the latter is child pornography. The analysis of the statistical data provides insight into how and to what extent the prevalence of sexual crime develops, as well as how and with what prevention campaigns these frequency indicators can be reduced. Methodology: In the study, the Author makes a statistical presentation, the sources of which are international and domestic crime statistics databases. Findings: Although the number of proceedings initiated for sexual crimes in Hungary can be considered average for the Central and Eastern European region, the numbers of cases detected are still at high levels. In order for these cases to decrease, programs are needed that effectively combat the effects of sexual violence myths, the fear of victim blaming, and stigmatisation. Value: This study is an overview that aims to present a complex statistical point of sexual crimes, which can serve as a basis for further comparative analyses.

International and domestic crime statistics indicators of sexual crimes

Aim: In this study, the Author reviews the criminal statistics indicators of sexual crimes. Sexual crimes can be grouped according to several classification systems – for example, the age of the victims, or the method of execution, or in light of whether they are committed with violence. Based on the latter, distinguished between violent and non-violent situations – a good example of the former is the crime of sexual violence, while the latter is child pornography. The analysis of the statistical data provides insight into how and to what extent the prevalence of sexual crime develops, as well as how and with what prevention campaigns these frequency indicators can be reduced. Methodology: In the study, the Author makes a statistical presentation, the sources of which are international and domestic crime statistics databases. Findings: Although the number of proceedings initiated for sexual crimes in Hungary can be considered average for the Central and Eastern European region, the numbers of cases detected are still at high levels. In order for these cases to decrease, programs are needed that effectively combat the effects of sexual violence myths, the fear of victim blaming, and stigmatisation. Value: This study is an overview that aims to present a complex statistical point of sexual crimes, which can serve as a basis for further comparative analyses.

Gunshot injuries in Central Europe – Epidemiology and outcome in Germany, Switzerland and Austria – an analysis based on the TraumaRegister DGU®

BackgroundFirearms are of special interest in trauma research due to high lethality and criminal value. Strong correlation between guns per capita and fire-arm related deaths has been shown. Most of existing literature regarding gun-shot fatalities are from the U.S. and data for Central Europe is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the legal frameworks regarding gun-ownership in Germany (DE), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH), and to retrospectively analyze data from the TraumaRegister DGU® regarding the epidemiology, injury severity, intention and outcome of gunshot-related deaths in these countries. MethodsAll patients from TR-DGU who sustained a gunshot injury in the time period from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2019 were considered for analysis. Only cases admitted to level 1 or 2 trauma center in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria were included. Predicted mortality was calculated using the RISC-II. Further, the legal framework for firearm posession were explored. ResultsThe legal frameworks do not differ significantly between the countries. However, only ex-military men from Switzerland are allowed to keep their automatic (military) weapon at home. We assessed 1312 gunshot fatalities (DE 1,099, A 111, CH 102) of which most were due to suspected suicide (A 72.1 %, CH 64.7 %, and DE 56.6 %, p = 0.003). Act of suspected violent crime or accidental gunshots were rare in all three countries. Amongst all gunshot fatalities, Austria showed the highest mean age (57.6 years), followed by DE (53.4 years) and CH (49.4 years; p < 0.01). Gunshot fatalities amongst all assessed countries due to suspected suicide showed a peak at the age of 60 years and above, whereas suspected violent crime delicts with gunshots were mainly seen in younger age groups. The highest mortality was found in suspected suicide cases, showing a mortality of 82.1 % (predicted 65.2 %) in Switzerland, 75.3 % (predicted 65.8 %) in Austria and 63.7 % (predicted 56.2 %) in Germany. ConclusionGunshot wounds are still rare in central Europe, but gunshot-related suicide rates are high. Gun ownership laws may have an impact on gunshot wounds due to suspected suicide. Injury patterns differ compared to countries where a high incidence of gun ownership is seen.

Individual Features of Violent Crime Offenders Regarding Offender’s Sex

Given the fact that in today's world are more and more different types of violence, this paper deals with individual features of violent crime offenders. The results presented in this paper are part of the scientific research project entitled Croatian Violence Monitor – A Study of the Phenomenology, Etiology, and Prosecution of Delinquent Violence with a Focus on Protecting Particularly Vulnerable Groups of Victims. Secondary data sources were used for the research sample, namely collected court cases of violent crimes committed on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The objective of the paper was to obtain better insight into certain individual features of violent crime offenders regarding the relationship between the offender and the victim, the offender's marital status at the time of the crime, the offender's parenthood, the offender's disability, the risk of belonging to a particular group, the offender's monthly income, the offender's level of education and the offender's employment at the time of the crime. The specific objective of the paper was to establish the differences in analyzed features considering the offender’s sex. From the point of view of practice, this paper provides certain feedback to experts from various professions who deal with the issue of violence. The analyzed data showed that most offenders of both sexes completed secondary school lasting up to three years (male sex - 65%; female sex - 54.4%), so these data are extremely important for experts in the educational system in terms of prevention of future acts of violence through additional education of students on the harmfulness and consequences of violence.

Studi Komparatif Pengaturan Tindak Pidana Revenge Porn Berdasarkan Peraturan Perundang-Undangan di Indonesia dan di Australia

This study aims to determine the comparison of the regulation of revenge porn based on legislation in Indonesia and Australia. This research is a normative or doctrinal legal research with a statutory approach. The type of data used is secondary data. The technique used in collecting legal materials in this research is literature study or document study. This research uses legal reasoning analysis techniques that are sociological in nature through deductive thinking patterns, namely by explaining a general thing to then be drawn to a more specific conclusion. Based on this research, it is found that the two countries have differences in handling revenge porn cases. In Indonesia, the regulation of revenge porn is regulated in several laws, namely the ITE Law, the TPKS Law, and the Pornography Law. Unfortunately, these three regulations do not regulate revenge porn clearly and completely. Meanwhile, in Australia, there are special regulations governing online-based sexual violence crimes, including revenge porn. The regulation of revenge porn in Australia has been explained completely and comprehensively by the establishment of a complaint portal that can be accessed online by victims called eSafety Commissioner.

Neighborhood Factors as Correlates of Alcohol Use in the N2 Cohort Study of Black Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women.

Sexually minoritized men (SMM), transgender women (TW), and particularly Black SMM and Black TW may be disproportionately impacted by alcohol-related problems. Few studies have empirically examined neighborhood factors that may contribute to alcohol use, specifically among these populations. Using data from the N2 longitudinal cohort study in Chicago, IL, survey data from the second wave of longitudinal assessment (n = 126), and GPS mobility data collected during study enrollment were used to evaluate neighborhood alcohol outlet availability, neighborhood disorder, and neighborhood poverty as correlates for individual alcohol use. Neighborhood exposures were measured using 200-m derived activity space areas, created from GPS data, and with publicly accessible geospatial contextual data. Separate multi-variable quasi-poison regression models tested for association between neighborhood alcohol outlet density (AOD), measured separately for on-premise (e.g. bars) and off-premise consumption outlets (e.g. liquor stores), neighborhood poverty (defined as the percentage of neighborhood areas at 150% or greater of the U.S. poverty line), exposure to vacant buildings, and neighborhood violent crime density. Separate analytical models found no significant effect between alcohol use and on-premise neighborhood AOD (IRR = 0.99, p = 0.35), off-premise consumption AOD (IRR = 0.92, p = 0.33), or neighborhood violent crime (IRR = 1.00, p = 0.65). Vacant buildings (IRR = 1.03, p = 0.05) and levels of neighborhood poverty (1.05, p = 0.01) were found to be significantly associated with increased alcohol use. Among this population, opposed to geospatial access, neighborhood measurements indicative of disorder and poverty may have greater influence on shaping alcohol use.

An Experimental Investigation Examining the Impact of Medical Association Statements about Drug Addiction on Perceptions of Criminal Culpability and Punishment

This study examined whether public opinion on drug addiction, perceived culpability/responsibility, and punishment were impacted by statements from medical associations that drug addiction is a disease and not a choice. We utilized an experimental information provision survey distributed via Qualtrics to heads of household in South Carolina with an associated email address. The randomized treatment variable had two conditions. The first condition presented participants with a statement from several noteworthy medical associations/institutions noting that drug addiction is a disease. The second condition provided no statement (control condition). Results from our sample of over 5000 indicated that a large majority of respondents felt that individuals who have been diagnosed with a drug addiction should be fully responsible for any crimes that they commit. The presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not produce meaningful differences from the control group. Additionally, a large majority of respondents did not agree that addiction should relieve a defendant from punishment for drug crimes, theft crimes, or violent crimes. Here again, the presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not produce meaningful differences from the control groups. Finally, our results indicated that a majority of respondents viewed addiction as both a choice and disease, and the presentation of official statements that addiction was a disease did not meaningfully alter any responses.

The Relationship Between State-Level Earned Income Tax Credits and Violent Crime.

Policies that provide economic support, such as the earned income tax credit (EITC), improve peoples' ability to meet their basic needs and reduce stress, which can reduce violence perpetration. Refundable state-level EITCs have been associated with decreases in multiple forms of violence (e.g., child abuse and neglect); however, it is unknown whether there is an association between the EITC and violent crime as captured by Uniform Crime Reports. Crime and violence remain a pressing concern for many communities across the nation. Using a longitudinal data set, we conducted fixed-effects regression models with year and state specified as fixed effects, to determine whether variations in generosity of state-level EITCs are related to the rate of violent crime. After adjusting for demographic covariates, refundable state-level EITCs remained significantly associated with reductions in criminal homicide compared to states without an EITC. As many states attempt to combat crime and prevent violence in their communities, anti-poverty measures such as the EITC provide a promising strategy for reducing the social and economic costs associated with violence.

Gun-free zones and active shootings in the United States: a matched case-control study

Most Americans believe that gun-free zones make locations more vulnerable to violent crimes, particularly active shootings. However, there is no empirical evidence regarding the impact of gun-free zones on protecting locations from violence. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between gun-free zones and active shootings. We used a pair-matched case-control study where cases were all US establishments where active shootings occurred between 2014 and 2020, and controls were randomly selected US establishments where active shootings could have but did not occur, pair-matched by establishment type, year, and county. Gun-free status of included establishments was determined via local laws, company policy, news reporting, Google Maps and posted signage, and calling establishments. Of 150 active shooting cases, 72 (48.0%) were determined to have occurred in a gun-free zone. Of 150 controls where no active shooting occurred, 92 (61.3%) were determined to be gun-free. After accounting for matched pairs, the conditional odds of an active shooting in gun-free establishments were 0.38 times those in non-gun-free establishments, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.19-0.73 (p-value=0.0038). Several robustness analyses affirmed these findings. It is unlikely that gun-free zones attract active shooters; gun-free zones may be protective against active shootings. This study challenges the proposition of repealing gun-free zones based on safety concerns. This work was funded in part by the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research and the Arnold Foundation.

Alcohol, Violence, and Injury-Induced Mortality: Evidence from a Modern-Day Prohibition

Abstract This paper evaluates the impact of a sudden and unexpected nationwide alcohol sales ban in South Africa. We find that this policy causally reduced injury-induced mortality in the country by at least 14%. We argue that this estimate constitutes a lower bound on the true impact of alcohol on injury-induced mortality. We also document a sharp drop in violent crimes, indicating a tight link between alcohol and aggressive behavior in society. Our results underscore the severe harm that alcohol can cause and point toward a role for policy measures that target the heaviest drinkers in society.

Analysis of the Crime of Sexual Violence in the Study of National Criminal Law Indonesia

Criminal acts of sexual violence that occur in adolescent relationships can be said to be a form of unhealthy relationship. Not a few teenagers make unhealthy relationships as an outlet for emotions that are not channeled properly, and can also be a psychological trauma that encourages a teenager to take retaliatory actions against others. Sexual violence against women and children is an essence in the form of violence by showing the vulnerability of the position of women or children to sexual interests that occur in men. The identification of acts committed by a perpetrator of sexual violence is sexual desire and power that cannot be restrained and most women are always used as object. The issues raised in this writing are What are the forms of sexual violence in unhealthy relationships and Analysis of Toxic Relationship crimes. This research method uses normative juridical methods with a statutory approach and a case approach. Based on this study, the spread of sexual violence that occurs in unhealthy relationships usually attacks victims, especially women who are trapped in a relationship with the perpetrator. The government and law enforcement officials have a role to punish and sanction perpetrators of toxic relationship crimes.

Analysis of the privacy-performance tradeoff of reference testing in Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

During an investigation using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, which is a novel approach for solving violent crimes and identifying human remains, reference testing-when law enforcement requests a DNA sample from a person in a partially constructed family tree-is sometimes used when an investigation has stalled. Because the people considered for a reference test have not opted in to allow law enforcement to use their DNA profile in this way, reference testing is viewed by many as an invasion of privacy and by some as unethical. We generalize an existing mathematical optimization model of the genealogy process by incorporating the option of reference testing. Using simulated versions of 17 DNA Doe Project cases, we find that reference testing can solve cases more quickly (although many reference tests are required to substantially hasten the investigative process), but only rarely (<1%) solves cases that cannot otherwise be solved. Through a mixture of mathematical and computational analysis, we find that the most desirable people to test are at the bottom of a path descending from an ancestral couple that is most likely to be related to the target. We also characterize the rare cases where reference testing is necessary for solving the case: when there is only one descending path from an ancestral couple, which precludes the possibility of identifying an intersection (e.g., marriage) between two descendants of two different ancestral couples.

Using a Spatial Access Measure to assess the Relationship between Alcohol Outlet Types and Various Violent Crimes in the Bronx, NY

Using a Spatial Access Measure to assess the Relationship between Alcohol Outlet Types and Various Violent Crimes in the Bronx, NY

The Trend of Unemployment and Crime Index during COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the number of unemployed to increase in Malaysia and the issue of unemployment has become a social problem that has always been positively linked to criminal activity. However, the crime index in Malaysia showed a decrease over the period of the Movement Control Order (MCO). This study aims to explore the issue using secondary data taken from various sources such as journals, books, proceedings, and press reports. The results of the study found that the crime index decreased even though the number of unemployed increased because it was in line with the theory of crime opportunity. As the community needs to stay at home during the MCO period, the chances of committing index crime are low because the home as well as property are monitored as well as individuals are not exposed to violent crime. However, the domino effect is non -index crime is reported to increase due to the stress of life that makes the individual is motivated to commit non-index crime. The results of the analysis of this study are expected to help the government, especially the Department of Social Welfare to be more efficient by helping and supporting the victims of non-index crime. The results of this study are also expected to provide an explanation to the community on the question of why the unemployment rate is negatively related to index crime as well as remove the negative impression of the report given by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). However, the results of this study are only a preliminary analysis and it is suggested that empirical studies can be conducted to support the results of this analysis.

Exposure to Crime and Racial Birth Outcome Disparities.

Urban communities in the United States were transformed at the end of the twentieth century by a rapid decline in neighborhood crime and violence. We leverage that sharp decline in violence to estimate the relationship between violent crime rates and racial disparities in birth outcomes. Combining birth certificate data from US counties with the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting statistics from 1992 to 2002, we show that lower crime rates are associated with substantially smaller Black-White disparities in birth weight, low birth weight, and small for gestational age. These associations are stronger in more segregated counties, suggesting that the impacts of the crime decline may have been concentrated in places with larger disparities in exposure to crime. We also estimate birth outcome disparities under the counterfactual that the crime decline did not occur and show that reductions in crime statistically explain between one-fifth and one-half of the overall reduction in Black-White birth weight, LBW, and SGA disparities that occurred during the 1990s. Drawing on recent literature showing that exposure to violent crime has negative causal effects on birth outcomes, which in turn influence life-course outcomes, we argue that these results suggest that changes in national crime rates have implications for urban health inequality.

Strengthening Law Enforcement to Address White-Collar Financial Crime in South Africa's Private Sector

With the government's focus on combatting public sector corruption and violent crime, the plight of white-collar financial crime in the private sector is of subordinate priority. This contribution seeks to explore means to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat white-collar financial crime in the private sector. We clarify the salient terminology and give an overview of the role of financial sector regulators in financial crime prevention in South Africa, focussing on the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017. Financial sector regulators have an important role to play against financial crime, though they are dependent on the criminal justice system to protect the financial sector against criminals. This section is followed by an overview of the role and functions of the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the court system. We identify difficulties which may hinder the prosecution of white-collar financial crime. First, there is a tendency that companies do not investigate conduct that may amount to white-collar financial crime, and otherwise do not report such incidents. Second, there is a need for a specialised and independent law enforcement agency to attend to serious white-collar financial crime. There is also a skills shortage in the National Prosecuting Authority relative to the intricacies of white-collar financial crime. As remedial measures, companies ought to apply the corporate governance principles of King IV more robustly. Artificial intelligence can also be utilised to prevent white-collar financial crimes committed in cyberspace. Private sector agencies should be vested with a more comprehensive duty to report white-collar financial crime to the authorities, and the protection and scope of whistle-blowers should be increased. We propose the introduction of Deferred Prosecution Agreements, as well as cooperation between the State and the private sector, to weaken capacity constraints in the prosecution process.

The Impact of Early Childhood Life Adversity on Peripubertal Accelerated Epigenetic Aging and Psychopathology

To examine longitudinal associations between early life threat and deprivation on epigenetic age acceleration at ages 9 and 15 years, and to examine associations of age acceleration on later internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The study examines a large (n= 2,039) and racially diverse (Black/African American= 44%, Latino= 18%, White= 5%) sample from a national dataset. Epigenetic age acceleration was estimated using the pediatric buccal epigenetic clock. Early life threat and deprivation were measured using composites from the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale and county-level violent and property crime rate data. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms came from parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist. Path analysis models examined associations of threat and deprivation at age 3 years on epigenetic age acceleration at ages 9 and 15. Experiences of threat were further broken down into threat experienced in the home and in the community. Home threat experienced at age 3 years predicted age acceleration at 9 and 15, and community threat experienced at 3 predicted age acceleration at 15, but not at 9. Deprivation was not a significant predictor of accelerated aging. Age acceleration at age 9 predicted externalizing, but not internalizing, symptoms at age 15. Community threat had a direct effect on externalizing. No association emerged with internalizing. Findings revealed that threat, not deprivation, was predictive of age acceleration, demonstrating support for this pattern longitudinally, using an epigenetic clock that is accurate in children. The findings provide critical nuance to the examination of threat, and highlight associated risks and possible intervention points for externalizing symptoms.

The Effect of Exposure to Neighborhood Violence on Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Lung Tumors.

Exposure to neighborhood violent crime is correlated with glucocorticoid signaling and lung tumor gene expression changes associated with increased tumor aggressiveness, suggesting social conditions have downstream biophysical consequences that contribute to lung cancer disparities.

외국인 밀집지역의 무질서가 범죄두려움에 미치는 영향과 사회통제에 따른 조절효과

As the number of foreigners in the country increases, existing foreigner neighborhoods are spreading out. As the number of foreign residents increases, foreign crime seems to increase, but the foreign crime rate remains at a similar level. However, in areas where foreigners are concentrated, the top five violent crimes, illegal immigration, and drug-related crimes are increasing compared to those of Koreans, and it is necessary to prepare and operate security policy measures. In addition, the level of fear of crime is higher in the case of Koreans in areas with high concentration of foreigners compared to Koreans in areas with low concentration of foreigners, and it is necessary to continue research on this topic. Therefore, this study set up a research model based on disorder and social control factors, which are the main influencing factors that are related to crime fear in previous studies. This study aimed to test the moderating effects of formal social control and informal social control on the relationship between foreigners' and locals' perceptions of disorder and general crime fear in foreigner-dense areas. The results showed that the level of perceived social disorder influenced general crime fear among foreigners, and both physical disorder and social disorder influenced general crime fear among natives. Finally, the moderating effect of social control was found to be that for foreigners, formal social control moderated both social disorder and general fear of crime. Based on this, it can be seen that it is necessary to strengthen formal social control in areas where foreigners are concentrated and build a social system that allows informal social control to function properly. It is hoped that the results of this study will be used as a basis for the development of public security policies to resolve problems such as the increase in the number of foreigners in Korea and the fear of crime that may arise due to the continuous increase in the number of foreigners staying in Korea.