Crime Specialization in Rural and Remote Queensland

• In Event: Communities and Place: Crime Concentration, Rural Areas, and Police

Abstract

Rural and remote areas have long been considered bastions of community safety and cohesion. However, recent research in rural criminology has demonstrated the heterogeneity of crime and safety in rural areas. For example, research has found rural and remote areas often specialize in violent crime, but less property crime (Carleton et al. 2014). Interestingly, recent research has also indicated that rural and remote areas in Queensland, not only specialize in violence, but also social disorder (Hodgkinson & Martino, 2024). While this research has demonstrated that rural and remote areas often specialize in violent crime types, and social disorder, why these patterns emerge is less understood. The current study uses census data for local government areas across the state of Queensland to predict crime specialization, with a particular focus on violence and social disorder. Findings and implications are discussed.

Author

• Tarah Hodgkinson, Wilfrid Laurier University