The Effect of the Physical Environment on Crime Rates: Capturing Housing Age and Housing Type at Varying Spatial Scales. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hipp, John R.; Kim, Young-An; Kane, Kevin
• Is Part Of: Crime and delinquency. Volume 65:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 1570
• Page End: 1595
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: neighborhoods -- crime -- housing characteristics -- housing age; Crime -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0011128718779569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-1287

Abstract

This study introduces filtering theory from housing economics to criminology and measures the age of housing as a proxy for deterioration and physical disorder. Using data for Los Angeles County in 2009 to 2011, negative binomial regression models are estimated and find that street segments with older housing have higher levels of all six crime types tested. Street segments with more housing age diversity have higher levels of all crime types, whereas housing age diversity in the surrounding ½-mile area is associated with lower levels of crime. Street segments with detached single-family units generally had less crime compared with other types of housing. Street segments with large apartment complexes (five or more units) generally have more crime than those with small apartment complexes and duplexes.