Investigating the Relationship Between Air Pollution, Foot Traffic, and Domestic Violence

• In Event: Quantitative Applications in Criminal Justice Research

Abstract

Escalating climate change and declining urban air quality underscore the critical need to examine how poor environmental conditions impact community health and crime rates, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods. This study investigates the relationship between air pollution exposure and domestic violence incidents in Los Angeles City, hypothesizing that increased pollution levels reduce outdoor foot traffic, potentially exacerbating domestic violence through prolonged indoor confinement. Utilizing diverse datasets—including PM2.5, Ozone, Diesel particulate matter, and toxin release data from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (2017-2019), foot traffic information from SafeGraph, demographic variables from the 2020 American Census Survey (ACS), and domestic violence crime records from the Los Angeles Police Department (2020-2023)—this research employs structural equation modeling to analyze these complex relationships. By exploring whether long-term pollution exposure indirectly influences domestic violence via decreased outdoor activity, findings from this study will offer valuable insights into environmental determinants of community safety. The results carry significant policy implications, highlighting the necessity for targeted environmental protection measures and enhanced support systems for domestic violence victims residing in environmentally compromised neighborhoods. This research thus provides policymakers with an evidence-based foundation to address the intertwined challenges of environmental health, community well-being, and crime prevention.

Author

• Sheridamae Bondoc Gudez, The Pennsylvania State University