Social Networks of Crime: A Spatial and Quantitative Analysis of Co-offending Patterns in High Point, North Carolina

• In Event: Social Networks of Criminals and Crime

Abstract

Analyzing incident and arrest level crime data for the city of High Point, NC from Jan 2000 through March 2010, this paper examines co-offending relationships and the role they play in understanding spatial and temporal patterns of crime. Prior research suggests that teens and young adults are the primary groups in co-offending. The crimes that co-offenders commit can often be more violent or serious than those committed by single offenders. To truly understand co-offending and its critical role in crime analysis requires recognizing the differences in co-offending patterns that vary by age, race, gender, crime type or other factors. Analysis using NodeXL (Social Network Analysis), SPSS and ArcGIS is performed to identify similarities and differences in co-offending patterns. Policy implications based on findings are also discussed.

Authors

• Rebecca Paynich, Curry College

• Sandra George O'Neil, Curry College