Does What Happens in Places Stay in Places? A Theory of Crime Radiation

• In Event: Communities and Place: Crime Radiation

Abstract

Crime and place research consistently shows that a small proportion of places experience most of the crime. The research also suggests that extreme crime places are seldom situated next to other extreme crime places. This gives the impression that high crime proprietary places keep their crimes to themselves, that they are like Las Vegas; what happens in the place stays in the place. But is this true? Examples suggest that the goings-on at a place may promote crime at nearby places. We call this crime radiation. If crime radiates, what happens in a place does not stay in the place. In our paper, we propose a theory of crime radiation. We define crime radiation and describe three types along with potential mechanisms for why and how it occurs. We propose questions criminologists should investigate to better understand it.

Authors

• Shannon J. Linning, Simon Fraser University

• John E. Eck, University of Cincinnati

• Kate Bowers, University College London