Articles tagged with Crime
A new study explored how prosecutors think about race in criminal justice, finding that a color-blind approach can entrench racial disparities. The study suggests that changing prosecutor views on race and core beliefs is necessary to achieve justice.
A new photo-ethnography study published in Criminology explores the narratives and motivations of men and women in rural Alabama who used methamphetamine. The study reveals that participants' stories about their drug use differed by gender, shaping how they interacted with others and navigated their relationships.
A new study found that adolescents' experiences with police can negatively impact their future orientation, leading to reduced educational and career aspirations. The research, conducted by the American Society of Criminology, analyzed data from 1,354 serious offenders and found that even positive interactions with police can create co...
Researchers found that considering recidivism-free time can contribute to improved risk prediction and accurately predict recidivism among parolees. Annual assessments of parolee risk are more accurate than single pre-release risk scores, the study suggests.
Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 women who dated or were married to incarcerated partners, analyzing the impact of courtesy stigma and women's coping strategies. The study found that despite disapproval from loved ones, women chose to remain in their relationships, highlighting benefits such as deeper communicat...
A study by the University of Missouri found that people are more likely to praise someone for good deeds if they know the person has also faced suffering earlier in life. This discovery sheds light on how humans process and react to positive behaviors, such as giving praise.
Women with recorded exposure to domestic abuse were found to be at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 during the first two waves of the pandemic. The researchers recommend increasing vaccination rates in vulnerable groups and reconsidering COVID-19 vaccine prioritization.
A new study from the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center shows that physical disorder in Detroit doesn't lead to a steep increase in violent crime. The study's findings suggest that community-driven efforts to rebuild and remake rundown neighborhoods can be effective in reducing disorder and fear.
A Lund University study finds that people often take psychological abuse less seriously, with physical violence being perceived as more severe. The research suggests communication difficulties and preconceived notions based on gender contribute to these disparities.
A new study from Simon Fraser University found that nearly 60% of people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness in Metro Vancouver have had a criminal conviction. The study identified factors associated with criminal convictions, including irregular income assistance payments, drug addiction, and psychiatric hospitalization.
Research by Anglia Ruskin University suggests that empathy training programs can reduce antisocial behavior and crime. Programs targeting young people have been shown to increase empathy and decrease cyberbullying behavior, while pre-natal training for parents and social-emotional learning programs in schools may also be effective.
Researchers found that individuals have a threshold for opting out of offending, which varies across criminal situations. The study identified reverse bandwagon effects, where group presence both promotes and deters offending intentions.
A study found that informal parole status uniquely contributes to the likelihood of receiving a prison sentence, with a large and consistent impact across sentencing guidelines. This cumulative disadvantage disproportionately affects Black defendants, exacerbating the Black-White gap in prison sentences.
A new study analyzing millions of 911 calls found that defunding the police is challenging due to the volume and types of incidents handled by police. The study suggests that if police retain their responsibilities, they need to reconsider how to address community concerns more effectively.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that a county's moral values, particularly binding values, can predict the prevalence of hate groups and extreme behavioral expressions of prejudice. The research used geospatial modeling and psychological experimentation to analyze data from over 3,100 US counties.
A study by UC Riverside researchers found that street-based sex workers invest considerable emotional effort into maintaining loyal customers. They use relational work activities such as friendly service, flexible payments, and scheduling to retain clients. This approach helps them avoid potentially violent or abusive clients and provi...
Researchers found that individuals born in the mid-1990s were less likely to be classified as an offender compared to those born in the 1980s. Older cohorts were more likely than younger cohorts to have adolescent-limited or chronic arrest trajectories into adulthood.
Research from Bocconi University reveals that mafia connections harm a company's financial performance, leading to lower return on assets, higher debt, and lower cash holdings. Connected firms are also more likely to go bust, with a 25.5% increase in default risk.
Forensic scientists have developed a new method using Easylift tape to collect and analyze microplastic samples, improving efficiency and accuracy. This technique enables multiple analytical techniques to be applied to the samples afterwards and preserves them for future study.
A study found that Airbnb listings were associated with increased violence in Boston neighborhoods, but not with public social disorder or private conflict. The researchers suggest that the presence of short-term rentals may erode local social dynamics and lead to increased violence over time.
A new study published in The Economic Journal found that the presence of adult entertainment establishments in New York City significantly decreases sex crimes. Researchers combined crime data with opening dates of these establishments to find a 13% reduction in sex crimes within one week of opening.
A study by economists from Ural Federal University and Shippensburg University found that the fracking boom led to increased burglaries and violent crimes in rural US states. The increase in violent crime rates was attributed to factors such as low-skilled temporary jobs, income inequality, and environmental disamenities.
A team of researchers at the University of Birmingham developed an interactive lineup software that enables witnesses to rotate and view lineup faces from different angles. This improvement in discrimination accuracy is crucial for more reliably identifying criminals, as misidentification is a leading cause of wrongful convictions.
A recent study found that foreign-born status, but not acquired U.S. citizenship, protects against criminal victimization. Researchers used new data to explore the association between citizenship status and risk of victimization, finding significantly lower rates of victimization among foreign-born citizens compared to U.S.-born citizens.
Research found that parenting styles with high levels of behavioral control, such as authoritative and no-nonsense styles, reduced the risk of crime in adulthood. In contrast, low-control styles like abusive, permissive, and lax styles significantly increased the risk for crime.
New research shows that ridesharing services can significantly reduce the risk of sexual assault in neighborhoods with limited public transportation. The study found a 6.3% reduction in rape incidents after Uber entered a city, and a 3% decrease in likelihood for every 1% increase in Uber pickups.
New research by University of Kent found that EEG-based forensic memory detection tests have limited validity in older adults due to changes in recognition-related brain activity with aging. The study tested 30 young and 30 older adults using concealed information tests, finding only strong EEG responses in the younger group.
New data on Anak Krakatau volcano flank collapse provides a clearer picture of the event, which triggered a devastating tsunami in Indonesia. The research used synthetic aperture radar images, field observations, and aerial photographs to create a more accurate model of the volcano before and after it collapsed.
A national report from UNH's CCRC found that 1.4 million children and teens visit medical facilities for violence-related treatment each year. Most visits were to treat injuries, but some were to document harms or seek supportive help for problems like bullying.
A new study by economists at UC Riverside and University of Louisiana found that juvenile incarceration has a deterrent effect on property crimes but increases the probability of drug-related crimes as an adult. Rehabilitation programs may improve welfare outcomes for convicted juveniles.
A new legal framework for traffic enforcement, proposed by University of Arkansas law professor Jordan Blair Woods, separates traffic laws from critical police functions. This would delegate most traffic enforcement to newly created traffic agencies, reducing racial and economic injustice in stops.
A three-month project led by Professor Rachel Armitage from the University of Huddersfield is investigating the impact of burglar alarms on residential burglary. The study, which combines data analysis and surveys, aims to clarify whether burglar alarms are an effective crime prevention measure.
A new University of California, Berkeley study finds that nonjudgmental empathy training for court-appointed supervision officers can lead to a 13% decrease in recidivism among their clients. The findings are significant given the US criminal justice system's high rates of recidivism.
A study by Jamie J. Fader found that young men of color in Philadelphia's Frankford neighborhood avoid public spaces out of concern for unpredictable interactions with law enforcement. This avoidance results in limited social engagement, community disengagement, and reduced opportunities for education and employment.
New research by Dr. Ross Hickey suggests that private security systems are diverting police resources from those who need them most, exacerbating existing inequities in public protection. This can include households with lower incomes or those living on the street, which may not be receiving the same level of policing services.
Research from UCL found a surprising synchronicity between car accidents and violent crimes in Mexico City, revealing 'heartbeats' of the city that peak in the evening. Improving road safety could improve crime prevention and give more resources to police tackling crime.
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that response speed is an important cue on which people base their sincerity inferences. Participants rated delayed responses as less sincere than immediate ones, regardless of the question's seriousness.
A study by Hebrew University researchers found that natural disasters lead to a decrease in crime and an increase in charitable giving in directly affected areas. However, neighboring regions experienced a marked increase in philanthropy, driven by empathy and solidarity.
The study explores how different factors contribute to heat-related mortality in urban areas, including the built environment and socio-economic conditions. It highlights the need for efficient infrastructure measures and spatial planning considerations to mitigate heatwave impacts on public health.
A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed Texas arrest data and found that undocumented immigrants were significantly less likely to be arrested for various felony offenses compared to U.S. citizens. The researchers believe that first-generation immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, tend to have lower crime...
Crime rates among undocumented immigrants in Texas are significantly lower than those of legal immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens, according to a study analyzing arrest data between 2012 and 2018. The findings suggest that removal of undocumented immigrants may not lead to increased crime rates.
A University of Michigan study examining 3.8 million federal inventory records found little evidence that seizing military weapons increases violent crime or puts police at risk. Previous data analyses supporting the use of military equipment to reduce crime were unreliable due to data problems.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that the militarization of local law enforcement through military equipment does not reduce crime rates. Researchers discovered significant discrepancies in the federal government's tracking of surplus military equipment and incomplete records, making it difficult to draw firm concl...
A University of Kansas study found that demolishing over 500 abandoned homes in Kansas City did not significantly reduce nearby violent or property crime. Instead, socioeconomic and housing characteristics were stronger predictors of change in crime rates.
A new study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research Public Health programme, investigates the impact of changing bar and club opening hours on health, crime levels, and emergency services in Scotland. The study aims to understand how later opening hours affect ambulance callouts, crimes, and public services.
Protests correlated with short-term drop in fatal interactions with police for Black individuals, contributing to the body of research on protest effectiveness. No evidence found that protests increased crime or decreased proactive policing.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that sanctuary policies protect immigrants and reduce deportations, but have no measurable impact on crime rates. Sanctuary policies prevented about 22,300 deportations nationwide between 2013 and 2015.
A study analyzing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data found that sanctuary policies decrease overall deportations, particularly among individuals with violent convictions. However, crime rates remain unaffected, suggesting that sanctuary policies do not threaten public safety.
A new set of assessment tools shows promise in capturing how the COVID-19 pandemic affects patterns of criminal activity. The toolkit uses resilience theory to examine the impact of exceptional events on crime patterns, with preliminary evidence linking the pandemic to increased domestic violence and declines in other forms of crime.
The new paper reveals that redesigning New York City's summons form and sending text message reminders reduced failure to appear rates by 13% and 21%, respectively. The findings suggest that many defendants who fail to appear are not intentionally skipping court, but are effectively unaware of court information.
A new study found that negative social media rhetoric about refugees in Germany correlated with an increase in anti-refugee hate crimes. The researchers used text analysis tools to investigate the relationship between social media content and offline behavior.
A new study published in the Journal of Crime and Justice found that undocumented immigration has no significant effect on violent crime, but a negative impact on property crime. This contradicts popular misconceptions about immigrants being a driver of crime rates.
Researchers found that warnings about inaccurate information decreased susceptibility to misinformation. Warnings were effective whether delivered before or after the misinformation, and participants displayed increased brain activity related to the original event.
A new study found that members of Generation X, who came of age during the 1980s and early 1990s, have higher rates of incarceration throughout their lives. This is due to extended criminal history under a determinate sentencing regime implemented in 1994.
Researchers Cynthia Lum and Christopher Koper are studying COVID-19's impact on Fairfax County Police Department's crime rates, operations, and police-community interactions. The study aims to describe the agency's response and document lessons learned for a national audience.
A new THC Rapid Field Test Kit developed by Purdue University and Hemp Synergistics allows law enforcement to distinguish hemp from marijuana in under five minutes, accurately measuring THC levels. This tool is expected to lower forensic laboratory submissions of suspected marijuana cases by 50%.
A new study found that schools with increased law enforcement officer presence experienced higher crime rates and more student exclusions. The research, conducted by the University of Maryland and Westat, suggests that increasing SRO staffing levels does not improve school safety and may even exacerbate issues.
A recent study by Washington State University criminologist Kathryn DuBois found that women from small towns are most at risk of intimate partner violence, with a 27% higher likelihood of being victims compared to urban areas and 42% more likely than suburban women.
A new study identifies 20 ways AI can be used to facilitate crime over the next 15 years, with fake content ranking highest in concern. The report highlights the potential for AI-powered crimes like deepfakes to erode trust in audio and visual evidence.
A new academic paper examines the history of anti-Asian hate crimes during health crises, revealing a long-standing pattern of xenophobia and discrimination. The study highlights how COVID-19 has furthered this historical trend, with Asian Americans facing verbal harassment, physical violence, and unwarranted suspicion.