Spatial/Temporal Variations of Crime: A Routine Activity Theory Perspective

• Published in: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 1967 - 1991
• Main Authors: de Melo, Silas Nogueira, Pereira, Débora V. S., Andresen, Martin A., Matias, Lindon Fonseca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2018; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Activity theory; Brazil; Censuses; Crime; Crime - statistics & numerical data; Criminal Behavior; Criminology; Humans; Local knowledge; Means testing; Routine activity theory; Seasons; Spatial analysis; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Temporal patterns; Time; Brazil; routine activity theory; spatial analysis; crime seasonality; temporal analysis
• ISSN: 0306-624X; 1552-6933
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X17703654

Temporal and spatial patterns of crime in Campinas, Brazil, are analyzed considering the relevance of routine activity theory in a Latin American context. We use geo-referenced criminal event data, 2010-2013, analyzing spatial patterns using census tracts and temporal patterns considering seasons, months, days, and hours. Our analyses include difference in means tests, count-based regression models, and Kulldorff’s scan test. We find that crime in Campinas, Brazil, exhibits both temporal and spatial-temporal patterns. However, the presence of these patterns at the different temporal scales varies by crime type. Specifically, not all crime types have statistically significant temporal patterns at all scales of analysis. As such, routine activity theory works well to explain temporal and spatial-temporal patterns of crime in Campinas, Brazil. However, local knowledge of Brazilian culture is necessary for understanding a portion of these crime patterns.