Ambient Light and Public Safety: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time

• In Event: Crime Generators, Crime Attractors, and Place

Abstract

Previous evidence suggests that ambient light changes induced by daylight savings time influence crime. However, we have limited evidence on its mechanisms and its distributional impacts. To overcome such limitations, this research also leverages the discontinuous nature of the policy change to examine how ambient light impacts criminal activity in three US cities. Then, it explores alternative mechanisms that could explain its crime effects: first, it assesses whether the actual probability of apprehension changes; then, it examines changes in suitable targets measured by commuting patterns; finally, it uses geocoded incident-level data to evaluate whether the built environment attenuates the impact of ambient light. Implications for policymakers are discussed.

Author

• David Mitre Becerril, University of Connecticut