Understanding Urban Crime: A Neighbourhood-Level Study - Cancelled

• In Event: Violence & Place

Abstract

Crime dynamics at the neighbourhood level offer insights into the social, economic, and institutional factors shaping criminal behaviour. This study is the first to comprehensively analyse crime patterns at the neighbourhood level, testing multiple criminological theories—including Social Disorganization, Differential Association, and Strain Theory—to explore the relationship between neighbourhood characteristics and crime incidence. Utilising census data and crime reports, we examine the impact of different variables such as socioeconomic deprivation, urban density, and informal social control on a wide range of criminal activities, including homicide, robbery, and domestic violence. The findings suggest that while economic inequality plays a role in crime distribution, additional factors such as gang presence, law enforcement visibility, and urban planning have a significant impact on crime rates. Furthermore, the results challenge traditional assumptions that crime is solely a product of structural variables, highlighting the importance of comprehending the specific local contexts in which crime occurs and the need for a multidimensional approach to crime prevention in cities. This study contributes to the growing body of research on urban crime and provides policy recommendations for improving crime prevention strategies.

Authors

• Gonzalo Croci, Universidad ORT Uruguay; Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Inseguridad y Violencia (CELIV)

• Federico Veneri, Iowa State University

• Joaquina Perez, Universidad ORT Uruguay

• Joel Gomez, Universidad ORT Uruguay