Exploring crime through physical and social neighborhood factors: Greenspace and social disconnection in Los Angeles

IF 3.3 1区社会学 Q1 CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY

Journal of Criminal Justice Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102410

James C. Wo , Young-An Kim , Mark T. Berg

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines how crime varies across Los Angeles census tracts, emphasizing two key neighborhood characteristics: (1) greenspace as a feature of the physical environment and (2) social disconnection as a measure of resident interaction.

Methods

We employ negative binomial regression models to assess the effects of greenspace and social disconnection on violent and property crime. Greenspace is measured using two indicators: the percentage of tree canopy and the percentage of grass within census tracts. These measures are analyzed alongside social disconnection and additional neighborhood characteristics.

Results

Findings indicate that both tree canopy and grass are associated with lower counts of violent and property crimes. In contrast, social disconnection does not demonstrate a significant relationship with either crime outcome. Additionally, the crime-reducing effect of tree canopy is most pronounced in neighborhoods with high levels of poverty, highlighting the role of socioeconomic conditions in shaping its impact.

Conclusion

The findings support routine activities theory and opportunity perspectives, as greenspace effects—most notably for tree canopy—were not only statistically significant but also substantial compared to other common predictors of crime. Given its crime-reducing potential, policymakers may consider greenspace as a strategy for “designing out crime” through urban planning.

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通过物理和社会邻里因素探索犯罪：洛杉矶的绿色空间和社会脱节

目的本研究探讨了犯罪在洛杉矶各人口普查区之间的变化情况，强调了两个关键的邻里特征：（1）作为物理环境特征的绿地和（2）作为居民互动衡量标准的社会断裂。绿地使用两个指标来衡量：人口普查区内树冠的百分比和草地的百分比。结果表明，树冠和草地都与较低的暴力犯罪和财产犯罪有关。相比之下，社会断裂与这两种犯罪结果都没有明显的关系。结论研究结果支持常规活动理论和机会观点，因为绿地效应--尤其是树冠效应--不仅在统计上显著，而且与其他常见的犯罪预测因素相比也很重要。鉴于绿地具有减少犯罪的潜力，决策者可以考虑将其作为通过城市规划 "设计消除犯罪 "的一种策略。

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来源期刊

Journal of Criminal Justice CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY-

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

9.10%

发文量

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Criminal Justice is an international journal intended to fill the present need for the dissemination of new information, ideas and methods, to both practitioners and academicians in the criminal justice area. The Journal is concerned with all aspects of the criminal justice system in terms of their relationships to each other. Although materials are presented relating to crime and the individual elements of the criminal justice system, the emphasis of the Journal is to tie together the functioning of these elements and to illustrate the effects of their interactions. Articles that reflect the application of new disciplines or analytical methodologies to the problems of criminal justice are of special interest. Since the purpose of the Journal is to provide a forum for the dissemination of new ideas, new information, and the application of new methods to the problems and functions of the criminal justice system, the Journal emphasizes innovation and creative thought of the highest quality.