Assessing the Effects of Local and Global Convergence on Distance-to-Crime

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Extent literature examining distance-to-crime has found that most offenders do not travel far to commit an offense; and, that offenders commit offenses in close proximity to their residence. Frank, Andresen, and Brantingham (2013), however, found that some activity nodes attracted offenders from neighboring cities due to of the number of offending opportunities available. The purpose of this research was to a) further examine local and global convergence of offenders and b) to investigate the impact of global and local convergence on offenders’ distance-to-crime. Arrest data from 2009 to 2011 were made available by the Little Rock Police Department for analysis. The results showed that some areas attracted offenders from surrounding cities because of the number of offending opportunities available. The results further showed variation in distances travelled as a result of local and global convergence of offenders.

Author

• Thomas Zawisza, Texas A&M International University