A Near Repeat Analysis of Hate Crime

• In Event: Patterns of Prejudice: Modeling and Analyzing Hate Crime Distribution in American Cities

Abstract

Studies have shown that initial criminal events increase the risk of repeated offenses nearby, both spatially and temporally, also known as the near repeat phenomenon. While research often focuses on crimes like burglary, the near repeat perspective has been applied to other crimes such as economic crimes, arson, and violence. However, there is limited knowledge on the spatial and temporal patterns of hate crime, more generally. Accordingly, this study analyzed the presence of near repeat patterns of hate crime in Chicago and Los Angeles. Knox ratios from the Near Repeat Calculator indicated a higher risk of repeat hate crimes on the same block within the same day of the initial event. Elevated hate crime occurrences were also found in blocks 0 to 4 blocks away from the original event, though the strongest near repeat pattern was within 0 to 1 blocks, with the effect decaying with distance. Temporal patterns showed a heightened risk of hate crimes in the days following the initial event, both on the same block and in nearby blocks. As such, greater empirical attention towards the spatiotemporal patterns of bias crime is merited, with implications for theory, research, and policy.

Authors

• Matt Nobles, University of Central Florida

• Eaven Holder, University of Central Florida