From Streets to Addresses: Rethinking Crime Concentration with the Information Theory

• In Event: Neighborhoods, Race, and Theory

Abstract

The uneven distribution of crime across space and time, clustering in specific locations and persisting over periods, is a well-documented phenomenon in criminology and geography. Seminal work by Weisburd et al. (2004) revealed that a small proportion of street segments in Seattle accounted for most of the city's crime over several years, using street segments as the unit of analysis based on social disorganization theory. Yet, this approach has limitations, as crime within these segments can be highly localized or scattered, highlighting a need for more refined analytical methods. Eck (1992) argued for a micro-level focus on specific addresses to effectively reduce crime, supported by later studies indicating that targeted interventions at problematic properties can significantly reduce crime. This paper aims to bridge the macro-level analysis of street segments with the micro-level focus on specific addresses by introducing the Shannon index from information theory. This index assesses the spatial concentration and temporal stability of crime, providing a nuanced understanding of crime distribution and its persistence over time. This study also proposes a comprehensive framework for urban crime prevention beyond the street segment level, utilizing the Shannon index to enhance strategies for tackling crime's complex nature.

Authors

• YongJei Lee, University of South Florida

• SooHyun O, University of South Florida

• John E. Eck, University of Cincinnati