Poster #79 - Evaluating the Differential Associations Between Residential Vacancies and Gang Presence on Violence in Detroit, Michigan

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

Recent studies have evaluated the relationship between vacancies and crime yet have not examined the role of gang presence, while controlling for elements of social disorganization. This study seeks to address this gap by drawing on the Social Disorganization and Broken Windows theories. This study uses census block groups (n=625) in Detroit, Michigan to spatially assess violent and drug crimes from 2022 and 2023 (n= 53,557), residential vacancies (n= 3,171) and active gangs (n=400), while controlling for elements of social disorder. Three indices were developed to measure components of social disorganization, including socio-economic and accessibility factors. This study measured the differential associations between vacancies and gang presence on specific types of crime (drug crimes, assaults, robberies, and homicides) and a violent crime index, resulting in five models using Negative Binomial Regression. Results revealed a positive association between vacancies, gang presence, and violent crime overall. Each of the variables had differential associations with the specific types of crimes, but robbery was the only crime type that did not have a salient relationship with residential vacancies. The findings in this study demonstrate the interplay between violence, vacancy concerns and gang presence to develop more informative, yet tailored approaches to crime reduction.

Author

• Myah Desiree Havertong, Florida International University