Articles tagged with Crime
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.
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 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.
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.
Researchers found that presenting a mugshot with a question can create an association between the person and the action, leading to false recognition. This effect is more pronounced in younger adults, who form a specific association between the pictured actor and the queried action.
A study by Adriana Zuniga-Teran found that traditional neighborhoods encourage more walking, while suburban developments with green spaces contribute to improved mental well-being. Cluster housing communities also foster social interaction among residents. In contrast, enclosed gated communities do not improve feelings of safety.
Researchers have developed a brighter and more biocompatible chemiluminescent probe that can be used in water and detect various cell activities. The new probe enables the detection of several biologically relevant chemicals, enzyme activity, and imaging cells using microscopy.
The NSF Law and Social Sciences program has awarded over $5 million to fund 23 projects and four workshops. The program focuses on scientific exploration of law and legal systems, supporting research on topics such as litigation, legal decision-making, governance, crime, and violence.
A recent study links adolescent sleepiness to future crime rates, with sleepy teens more likely to commit crimes by age 29. The study suggests that poor daytime attention and social adversity may contribute to the relationship between sleepiness and crime.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania and University of York found that teenagers who self-report feeling drowsy mid-afternoon are 4.5 times more likely to commit violent crimes a decade and a half later. The study also links daytime sleepiness with poor attention and brain function, which can lead to criminal behavior.
A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals a significant connection between exposure to gang violence and severe depression, with 36% of women exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The research highlights the often-overlooked impact of traumatic experiences on mental health in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
A recent study found that women are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement in intimate partner sexual assault cases if they are married to the suspect, in a longer relationship, or have been threatened. Conversely, victims who feel their autonomy is being limited or blame themselves for the incident are less likely to participate.
Global health experts call for UN Security Council mandate to protect healthcare facilities from attacks, amid persistent and blatant breaches of Geneva Convention. The international community needs to stand up for medical neutrality, mandating the UN Security Council to provide protection for health facilities.
Researchers found that exposure to simple perceptual features in dilapidated buildings, overgrown lots, and littered streets can make rule-breaking more likely. The study shows that visually disordered stimuli increase cheating by 35% and average magnitude of cheating by 87%.
A small study of black children in New Orleans found that neighborhood stressors such as violence and crime were associated with shortened telomere length and cortisol functioning, indicating biological stress. The study highlights the importance of addressing social environmental conditions to reduce health disparities.
A new training initiative by the Houston Police Department is being tested for its effectiveness in reducing gender bias in police responses to sexual assault and domestic violence victims. The study, led by Sam Houston State University researchers, aims to improve the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.
UBC researchers created a new classification system to help police solve sex crimes, identifying subtypes of high-risk sexual offenders. The tool can predict characteristics of offenders and behavior before a crime takes place.
A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that releasing youth from drinking-age restrictions is associated with a 7.6% increase in commission of any crime among males and a 10.4% increase among females. Violent crimes increased by 7.4% for males and 14.9% for females, while nuisance crimes also saw significant rises.
A new study suggests that the US prison population continues to rise despite a decline in crime rates, due to judges dealing with more repeat offenders with extensive criminal records. The average offender now has nearly twice as many prior felonies as they did in 1981.
A new study suggests that US prisons continue to grow even as crime rates decline, mainly due to the increasing number of repeat offenders. The average offender now has a more extensive criminal record than in the past, making it harder for judges to give alternative sentences.
Researchers used data on taxi trip records and points of interest from FourSquare to gather insights into neighborhood crime rates. The study found that areas with nightclubs tend to be low-crime areas, suggesting people choose safe destinations.
A nationwide study of over 18,000 crime victims found that reporting initial experiences to police reduces the likelihood of future victimization. The researchers suggest increased awareness and services for victims after reporting contribute to this effect.
Research suggests that witnesses are more willing to identify a suspect when they view a lineup in which the suspect alone has a distinguishing feature. However, this can also lead to confusion between actual guilty suspects and innocent suspects with similar features, impairing their ability to make accurate identifications.
A University of Surrey study estimates the carbon footprint of crime in England and Wales, revealing burglaries contribute 30% to the total footprint. The study also found that reducing crime does not necessarily reduce carbon emissions, due to the 'rebound effect', where money spent on addressing crime is spent elsewhere.
A study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology found that burglary resulted in the largest proportion of total carbon footprint, accounting for 30% of emissions. The criminal justice system also accounted for a significant portion of emissions, highlighting the need to raise awareness about the environmental impact of crime.
A year-long experiment in Peterborough found that targeting crime hot spots with extra PCSO patrols can prevent 86 assaults and save thousands in prison costs. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology, suggests a five-to-one return on investment for every £10 spent on targeted foot patrols.
Agneta Mallén's study reveals how citizen journalism can perpetuate cyberbullying through the sharing of low-quality videos that are perceived as truth. The researcher found that even when video clips are later debunked, the damage is already done and the person is subjected to virtual punishment.
Research published in Frontiers in Psychology found that people who witnessed a crime can identify criminals through their distinctive scent. Human nose-witnesses were able to correctly identify perpetrators in almost 70% of cases, showing promise for forensic applications.
A new meta-analysis of US recidivism risk assessment instruments found them to be accurate but with unclear impact on reducing bias against offenders based on race or other factors. The study evaluated 19 commonly used RAIs and assessed their accuracy in predicting recidivism, ease of use, and inter-rater reliability.
A recent study found that large reductions in the prison population do not compromise public safety, as demonstrated by California's Realignment Act. By shifting responsibility for certain groups of offenders to local jurisdictions, realignment reduced the total prison population by 27,527 inmates and saved $453 million.
Researchers at the University of Leicester aim to develop a test using portable nanopore DNA sequencers to identify species at crime scenes in under an hour. This technology has the potential to combat wildlife trafficking by detecting traces of endangered species, such as elephant and rhino blood.
A new assessment tool has been developed to gauge the risk of patients with mental illnesses committing crimes, improving upon the current evaluation system. The tool aims to strike a balance between patient rights and freedoms and public safety, facilitating quicker evaluations and hospitalizations for high-risk patients.
Microscopic hair analysis is flawed due to subjective characteristics and lack of population-based databases. Re-examination by different examiners can result in inconsistent descriptions.
A new study from Michigan State University found that local perceptions of illegal biodiversity exploitation and environmental insecurity can help predict buy-in for risk-management strategies. Understanding local attitudes and behaviors is crucial to addressing wildlife crime and its ramifications.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that adult-onset offenders have a history of anti-social behavior from childhood and are more likely to struggle with mental health issues. The study, which tracked nearly 1,000 New Zealanders, suggests that the court system may not be addressing the root causes of crime in adults.
Research from Georgia State University suggests that international college students, particularly females, are less at risk for violent victimization due to lifestyle choices and activities. Female international students were found to be significantly less likely to be victims of violent, non-sexual crimes.
The report from Sam Houston State University identifies factors that hinder victims of domestic violence, including criminal justice system response and internal fears. It also highlights the importance of coordinated community responses and domestic violence courts in addressing these concerns.
Researchers created a visual speech recognition technology that can accurately translate lip movements into spoken words, even in noisy environments or when audio is unavailable. This technology has the potential to be applied in various situations, including criminal investigations and entertainment.
A Michigan State University study found that protesters in Ferguson believed police perceive black people as suspects before considering them as civilians. The research aimed to investigate racial typification and its impact on police-community relations.
Scientists have developed an improved method for lifting and analyzing lipstick samples, using gas chromatography to compare crime scene lipsticks to a database of known brands. This breakthrough could help law enforcement identify suspects more efficiently.
A study from the University of Leicester found that women who feel more at risk of crime tend to be attracted to physically dominant men. The researchers suggest that this attraction is not based on a desire for protection, but rather a psychological mechanism related to feelings of vulnerability.
A recent study by University of Warwick researcher Mirko Draca found that higher-priced items are more likely to be stolen. The analysis of monthly data over a 10-year period reveals a strong relationship between price and crime, with a 10% increase in prices associated with a 3.5% increase in crime.
A new forensic footwear imaging technique using Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) imaging has been developed to extract additional information and create detailed digital pictures of personal footprints. This technology has the potential to link individuals or their shoes to specific locations, vital for law enforcement.
A new study found that young drivers experience significant increases in alcohol-impaired driving offenses after reaching the legal drinking age. The research suggests that raising the drinking age could reduce such incidents and improve public health.
A study by Sam Houston State University's Crime Victims' Institute found that only 88% of Title IX Coordinators received training on investigating sexual assault cases, while less than half were trained for stalking, intimate partner violence, or LGBTQ+ cases.
A new IT system uses mathematical algorithms to predict crime patterns and optimize police patrols. This breakthrough aims to reduce crime rates and save human resources, strengthening crime prevention over suppression.
A new report analyzes factors driving public trust in policing, finding that respectful treatment and transparent decision making are key to building cooperation. The study highlights the importance of procedural justice in fostering perceptions of police legitimacy.
Research by Netta Weinstein and others suggests that people's experiences of local nature can explain 8% of survey responses about community cohesion. Additionally, objective measures of green space in neighborhoods account for 4% additional variance in crime rates, outperforming known contributors like socioeconomic deprivation.
Research finds that areas with more restrictive alcohol licensing policies have lower drink-related hospital admissions, with a 2% reduction seen in local authorities with medium-high intensity scores. This suggests that tighter local curbs can lead to measurable reductions in alcohol-attributable hospital admissions.