Citation

Jeffrey Brantingham P, Tita GE, Mohler G. Criminol. Public Policy 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American Society of Criminology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1745-9133.12541

PMID

34230818

Abstract

RESEARCH SUMMARY: The onset of extreme social distancing measures is expected to have a dramatic impact on crime. Here, we examine the impact of mandated, city-wide social distancing orders aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 on gang-related crime in Los Angeles. We hypothesize that the unique subcultural processes surrounding gangs may supersede calls to shelter in place and allow gang-related crime to persist. If the normal guardianship of people and property is also disrupted by social distancing, then we expect gang violence to increase. Using autoregressive time series models, we show that gang-related crime remained stable and crime hot spots largely stationary following the onset of shelter in place. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: In responding to disruptions to social and economic life on the scale of the present pandemic, both police and civilian organizations need to anticipate continued demand, all while managing potential reductions to workforce. Police are faced with this challenge across a wide array of crime types. Civilian interventionists tasked with responding to gang-related crime need to be prepared for continued peacekeeping and violence interruption activities, but also an expansion of responsibilities to deal with "frontline" or "street-level" management of public health needs.

Language: en

Keywords

violence prevention; coronavirus; violent crime; gangs; hot spots; street workers