Physical Deterioration, Disorder, and Crime

Abstract

This study examines the role that disorder and neighborhood physical condition play in explaining the variance in crime, controlling for theoretically relevant neighborhood socioeconomic conditions. Three hundred forty-nine blocks were randomly selected from two police precincts in Mobile, Alabama. Violent crime, property crime, and disorder were measured by block from police department data. An environmental survey was conducted by block to determine various physical characteristics that are believed to attract or repel predatory criminals. Violent crime and property crime were regressed on disorder, physical condition, and several socioeconomic variables. Models were constructed to explore the interaction between disorder and physical condition. The findings reveal an interaction between disorder and physical condition that are significantly related to crime, controlling for socioeconomic variables. Implications of the findings are discussed with respect to the “broken windows” controversy and practical police tactical operations.

The Impact of Neighborhood Factors on the Well-Being of Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Over Time

“…Across these existing studies on the effects of community violence, exposure is loosely defined and represents the occurrence of crime in one's neighborhood that may or may not have been directly observed. While community violence 'exposure' does not directly indicate perceptions of neighborhood disorder, researchers have found a positive relationship between community crime and neighborhood disorder (O'Shea 2006;Skogan 1990;Xu et al 2005). The community violence exposure literature is briefly reviewed to demonstrate the existing relationships between negative exosystem influences and survivors' psychological well-being.…”

Using google street view for systematic observation of the built environment: analysis of spatio-temporal instability of imagery dates

“…Systematic observation of the built environment yields data at fine spatial scales (e.g., individual point locations of litter, blighted structures). These data have received considerable attention due to their ability to explain the role of place in health [ 11 - 14 ] and safety [ 15 - 17 ], though the majority of research using this approach has been conducted under the auspices of “active living” and physical activity [ 18 ]. Despite accepted use of the approach, a recent review conducted by Schaefer-McDaniel and colleagues [ 19 ] find that it has been employed with such variability that this lack of rigor has led to inconsistent findings in understanding the relationship between the built environment and health.…”

A novel tool for assessing and summarizing the built environment

“…For each property, we assessed land use type, occupancy status, and the physical conditions of the building exterior, lawn/outdoor property, nuisances, and evidence of territoriality. Nuisances, or physical incivilities, (e.g., cigarette butts and graffiti) are items in public spaces that could be considered public eyesores or obstructions and are typically associated with neighborhood disorder and increased crime rates or fear of crime [7,8,33-35]. Territoriality has been defined as “the presence of physical markers which carry non-verbal messages of ownership, monitoring and protection, and a separation between one’s self or family and ‘outsiders’” [7].…”