Impact of social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic on crime in Los Angeles and Indianapolis

Governments have implemented social distancing measures to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include instructions that individuals maintain social distance when in public, school closures, limitations on gatherings and business operations, and instructions to remain at home. Social...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of criminal justice 2020-05, Vol.68, p.101692-7, Article 101692
Main Authors: Mohler, George, Bertozzi, Andrea L., Carter, Jeremy, Short, Martin B., Sledge, Daniel, Tita, George E., Uchida, Craig D., Brantingham, P. Jeffrey
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Burglary
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Crime
Disruption
Domestic violence
Guardianship
Interrupted time series
Natural experiment
Offenders
Pandemics
Personal safety
Personal space
Policing
Public health
Routine activities
Social distance
Social distancing
Victims
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Summary:Governments have implemented social distancing measures to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include instructions that individuals maintain social distance when in public, school closures, limitations on gatherings and business operations, and instructions to remain at home. Social distancing may have an impact on the volume and distribution of crime. Crimes such as residential burglary may decrease as a byproduct of increased guardianship over personal space and property. Crimes such as domestic violence may increase because of extended periods of contact between potential offenders and victims. Understanding the impact of social distancing on crime is critical for ensuring the safety of police and government capacity to deal with the evolving crisis. Understanding how social distancing policies impact crime may also provide insights into whether people are complying with public health measures. Examination of the most recently available data from both Los Angeles, CA, and Indianapolis, IN, shows that social distancing has had a statistically significant impact on a few specific crime types. However, the overall effect is notably less than might be expected given the scale of the disruption to social and economic life.
ISSN:0047-2352
1873-6203
0047-2352
DOI:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2020.101692