Environmental Risk Factors and Gun Crime

• In Event: Patterns of Firearms Violence Across Four Cities

Abstract

The understanding of the role of place, and micro places in particular, has increasingly emerged in criminological literature. Indeed, growing attention has begun to focus on how crime clusters disproportionately in a small number of places. This study expands upon this research by examining the spatial patterns of gun homicides and non-fatal shootings relative to characteristics of the environment and correlates of criminal activity (e.g., drug markets, liquor establishments). Utilizing Risk Terrain Modeling (Caplan, Kennedy, & Miller, 2011) and other spatial techniques, the results suggest several environmental features contribute to disproportionate risk for shooting incidents. The analysis also assesses whether disaggregating incidents by motive is related to spatial variation and micro place characteristics. Theory and policy implications are discussed.

Authors

• Giovanni Circo, Michigan State University

• Edmund F. McGarrell, Michigan State University