Articles tagged with Crime
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found a link between state-level gun ownership and police shooting deaths, with the strongest association among armed victims. The rate of fatal police shootings was 3.6 times higher in states with high gun prevalence.
A survey found that many white Americans assume immigrants from certain countries are 'illegal' due to stereotypes and lack of documentation, leading to discriminatory treatment. The study highlights the impact of social perceptions on immigrant standing in American society, revealing a new source of ethnic-based inequalities.
A major new study finds that children from families who fall on hard times are more likely to be involved in violent crime and harm themselves as young adults. Children from the poorest fifth of society were 7-13 times more likely to commit violent crime or self-harm compared to those from wealthier backgrounds.
Research suggests that crime is a powerful motivator for migrants to come to the US, despite understanding the risks of the journey. Those who have been victimized by crime multiple times are more likely to migrate.
Researchers found that conditional release programs often work for individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity, with 66% maintaining their release and only 1 out of 81 having a new non-violent offense. The HCR-20 tool, commonly used to assess violence risk, was also found to be less effective in predicting recidivism.
A study by Jonathan Mummolo found that militarized policing is ineffective in decreasing crime and protecting police officers, and may actually weaken the public's image of law enforcement. The study also reveals that SWAT teams are more often deployed in communities of color.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Criminology reveals that people's perceptions of crime are heavily influenced by the political climate of their youth. Researchers analyzed data from the British Crime Survey and found a strong correlation between respondents' current fears about crime and the political generation they...
Researchers developed an Ensemble Poisson Kalman Filter (EnPKF) algorithm that combines urban crime data and ETAS model for real-time forecasts on crime rates and predicted hotspots. The algorithm has been tested on over 1000 violent gang crimes in Los Angeles, showing promise as a tool to support law enforcement
A study by WSU researchers found that marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington improved clearance rates for certain crimes, including burglaries and vehicle thefts. The analysis of monthly FBI data from 2010 through 2015 showed a significant improvement in property crime clearance rates in these states.
A study by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program found that televised sporting events in Chicago reduced violent, property and drug crime reports by as much as 25 percent. Winning games had a significant impact, with crime rates being approximately 15 percent lower during Bears Monday Night Football games.
Researchers used microbial signatures to identify non-resident burglars in mock crimes, achieving accuracy above 60% and demonstrating potential as forensic evidence. The study collected samples from residents' nostrils, hands, and home surfaces before and after simulated break-ins.
Bioethicists from the National Institutes of Health suggest a framework for discussing the use of online genealogy data in crime-solving. The potential benefits are exciting, but issues must be addressed, including citizen rights and DNA evidence misuse.
According to Philip Cook's analysis, gun thefts represent only about one percent of all gun transactions in the US. In Chicago, only a tiny proportion of crime guns were ever reported stolen to the Police Department.
A new study found that stronger firearm laws are associated with fewer crime guns originating from neighboring states. The researchers analyzed data from 2006-2016 and found that states with more lax gun laws had a higher percentage of traced in-state crime guns.
The Chat Analysis Triage Tool (CATT) uses algorithms to examine word usage and conversation patterns by suspects, identifying language-based differences that can indicate a risk assessment. The tool has the potential to prevent child sexual assault by allowing law enforcement to prioritize cases and respond quickly.
A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Washington found that emotional and sexual abuse can lead to chronic criminal behaviors. However, achieving good grades and avoiding skipping school significantly reduces the likelihood of self-reported crime.
A randomized controlled study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that restoring vacant urban land significantly reduced crime, including gun violence, and increased feelings of safety among residents. The approach has been shown to be quick, inexpensive, and scalable.
A study found that restoring vacant land plots significantly reduced crime and vandalism, while increasing feelings of safety and use of public spaces. Residents near restored land plots reported a decrease in overall crime rates, reflecting the interventions' effectiveness.
A new study on attacker motives identifies successful phishing strategies, including authoritative tone and shared interest, which can be used to develop detection tools. The study also found that incentives, such as quicker and larger rewards, motivate attackers to apply more effort in constructing persuasive emails.
Researchers at James Cook University found that a new technique, Category Cluster Recall (CCR), improves eyewitness recall compared to traditional free recall methods. Using CCR, witnesses were prompted to remember specific details in categories, resulting in more accurate and detailed information being recalled.
A new study suggests that a widely used criminal risk assessment tool is no more accurate than untrained people in predicting recidivism. The researchers found that with fewer features, human predictions were just as accurate, and false positives were equally unfair to black defendants.
A new study found that the presence of sexual violence in neighborhoods significantly affects women's perceptions of safety, as well as men's. Men and women both report feeling less safe due to other forms of violence such as fights and robberies.
Researchers at Lancaster University warn that a new counting method for domestic violent crime may mask the true extent of the problem. The method limits coercive and controlling behavior to one crime per victim, despite statistics showing one in 20 victims experience more than 10 domestic violence crimes a year.
A study found that police officers are highly responsive to rules and supervision, leading to more conservative tactics after the NYPD mandated detailed stop reports. The intervention increased the perceived level of supervision, resulting in a sharp drop in unnecessary stops and a rise in the hit rate.
The Carpathian region faces significant threats from poaching and uncontrolled logging, which endanger its biodiversity. Eurac Research experts recommend increasing public awareness and improving law enforcement to combat environmental crimes.
A £200,000 research project aims to enhance ballistics evidence with similar scientific accuracy as DNA analysis. The LOQUITUR project will develop software to measure minute surface details on ammunition and weapons, enabling more accurate matches and improving forensic analysis.
Researchers have developed new software to improve the interpretation of Y-chromosome DNA evidence in court. The tool estimates the number of matching males and their possible relatives, helping courts determine the likelihood of the suspect being identified.
Gun violence in US cities like Washington D.C. shows an endemic pattern, with clustering in certain neighborhoods rather than spreading rapidly. Researchers recommend place-based interventions targeting neighborhood features to reduce crime rates.
A new study published in Political Behavior suggests that voting alone does not directly reduce criminality and may not foster good citizens. The research analyzed a large-scale field experiment involving over 550,000 young adults aged 18-20 in the US, finding no correlation between voting and reduced crime rates.
Research by Melanie Flynn, a University of Huddersfield lecturer, has led to Malaysia setting up environmental courts to deal with wildlife crimes. In contrast, the UK has made slower progress in tackling the issue, with inconsistent sentencing and limited resources hindering efforts.
Researchers at IUPUI are developing a system to predict where and when social harm events like crime, traffic crashes, and medical emergencies will occur. The project aims to provide data-driven insights to stakeholders, enabling them to allocate resources effectively and improve community quality of life.
A study found that Delaware's expansion of comprehensive background check policies to include private-party sales resulted in a 25% increase in handgun background checks and a 34% increase for long guns. In contrast, Washington and Colorado experienced no overall change in background checks despite enacting similar policies.
Four factors were identified as significant in helping women ex-convicts avoid recidivism: good nutritional health, good spiritual health, having a high school education, and having been convicted of drug offenses. These factors resulted in reduced likelihoods of recidivism ranging from 40% to 70%.
The National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center is developing a Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center to provide fast and comprehensive services to those affected by mass casualty events. The center will focus on social support, mental health treatment, and technology-based tools to help survivors and their families.
A study of 27 defendants in the Rwandan genocide trial found that most tried to justify their actions by claiming they were 'good people'. Researchers analyzed testimony and identified two neutralization techniques: appeal to good character and victimization, which were used more frequently than previously known methods.
A new UC Berkeley study found that serving time behind bars increases likelihood of return to prison, often due to technical parole violations. The research suggests that alternatives to imprisonment for parole violators, such as treatment programs or community service, might slow down the revolving door.
A study by Drexel University researchers found that violent crime and disorderly conduct rates increased when daily temperatures were higher, with the highest rates in warmest months. Temperatures above 70 degrees led to 16% higher violent crime rates and 23% higher disorderly conduct rates compared to cooler days.
A new paper by Rice University sociologist Craig Considine reveals that Islamophobia is not just religious bias but also racism and cultural intolerance. Incidents of Islamophobia increased by 57% in 2016, and over half of hate crimes were linked to a race/ethnicity/ancestry bias.
Researchers found that big data analytics can amplify existing policing practices, leading to more marginalization and distrust. The influx of personal data enables law enforcement to surveil communities more easily, but also raises concerns about the use of objective crime data and predictive algorithms.
Dr George Ndi's research highlights the need to upgrade international laws governing warfare due to increasingly asymmetric conflicts involving states and non-state parties. His paper also explores the legal implications of drone technology and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
Researchers from Michigan State University found that sleep reduces the likelihood of innocent people being wrongly identified as suspects. When perpetrators are absent from lineups, sleeping eyewitnesses identify innocents 42% of the time, compared to 66% for those who didn't sleep.
A new domestic abuse policing strategy has found that an inexpensive two-day course in behaviour management for first offenders resulted in 35% fewer men reoffending against their partner. The CARA programme prevented significant harm to victims, hundreds of prison days, and saved thousands of pounds.
Researchers found that adolescents aged 11-17 spent over an hour less daily in their neighborhoods if residents had a high fear of crime, compared to kids from safer areas. The study used smartphone data to track kids' whereabouts and linked collective fear of crime to high-poverty neighborhoods.
Individuals with eating disorders are more likely to be convicted of theft and other crimes, with 12% and 7% incidences reported. Researchers call for further investigation into the relationship between crime and eating disorder psychopathology.
State crime researchers reveal Uzbek government helped solicit bribes from telecommunications firms owned by Western interests, with assets totaling over $850 million currently under US forfeiture proceedings. The report details how foreign corporations and banks were implicated in a racketeering scheme led by political heiress Gulnara...
A study by University of Virginia Assistant Professor Matthew Gerber found that Twitter can help predict crime by analyzing common topics of discussion, such as sports and entertainment. The result was more precise than older forecasting models, with accurate predictions for 19 out of 25 crime types.
Researchers found a 1% increase in undocumented immigration is associated with 22 fewer drug arrests and 42 fewer drunken driving arrests. The frequency of drunken driving fatalities was unaffected by unauthorized immigration rates.
A survey of UK male participants found that blackmail and threats were the most frequent strategies used by women forcing men to engage in non-consensual sex. The study also highlights the need for greater awareness and support for male victims of sexual violence, who often feel ashamed or isolated.
Leading scientists from around the world gathered to discuss leveraging science to combat illegal wildlife trade. They identified opportunities to bring scientific knowledge to bear on the problem, including using data, collaborating on problem-solving, and assessing interventions.
A study by Stroebe et al. found that fear of crime alone doesn't explain the need for personal protection; a general sense of threat about the world's danger also plays a role. Conservative political beliefs are stronger predictors than past experience with crime victimization.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania reveals that a low resting heart rate partly explains the higher rate of criminal offending among men. The research found that heart rate partially mediated the relationship between gender and all types of adult criminal offending, including violent and nonviolent crime.
Researchers developed a new method using artemisinin and luminol to detect bloodstains, reducing false positives. The combination is more selective than traditional methods, allowing for accurate detection of blood on surfaces.
A new study found that DNA testing has a modest impact on sexual assault arrest rates, with most arrests occurring before laboratory results are available. In 7.6% of cases, DNA matches were made to suspects in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System database.
Research suggests that apologizing for a past crime is the most effective strategy in reducing concerns about trustworthiness. Justifying or making excuses can lead to negative hiring decisions. Apologizing shows remorse and reduces deviant behaviors at work.
A nearly three-year study in Denver found that legal marijuana shops are associated with an increase of about 84 more property crimes per year in adjacent areas. However, violent crime remained unchanged, suggesting that the negative effects of marijuana outlets may be limited to non-violent offenses.
A new study by Michigan State University found that well-kept vacant lots can help reduce crime rates in urban areas. The research analyzed nine years of crime data in Flint, Michigan, and discovered a correlation between greening efforts and decreased crime rates, including violent and property crimes.
A Swedish registry study found that individuals who self-harm are at a five-fold risk of being convicted for a violent crime compared to those who have never received clinical care. Self-harm behaviour and violent criminality may be manifestations of a common underlying vulnerability.
Researchers have developed a new scientific technique that can analyze human hair to provide clues about a person's lifestyle. The technique uses liquid chromatography in conjunction with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) to identify 15 isotope ratio measurements that potentially yield crucial information about certain lifestyl...
A study found that the carbon footprint of acquisitive and violent crime dropped from 7 million tonnes CO2e in 1995 to below 3 million tonnes CO2e by 2015. This represents a cumulative reduction of 54 million tonnes CO2e over this period, alongside a 30% decrease in crime.
A new study found that door and window locks offer good security with a low carbon footprint, making them the most desirable burglary prevention measure. In contrast, burglar alarms are less effective and have a high carbon footprint, producing more emissions than an incidence of burglary.