Gang Activity and Overall Levels of Crime: A New Mapping Tool for Defining Areas of Gang Activity Using Police Records

In this note, a new method for defining gang activity areas based uponpolice records is illustrated using the Chicago Police Department's1996 incident files. This method is based upon standard geographictechniques and uses a uniform grid that divides the city into 150-msquares. It is shown that...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Block, Richard (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2000
In: Journal of quantitative criminology
Year: 2000, Volume: 16, Issue: 3, Pages: 369-383
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Chicago
Gangs
Geography
Spatial Analysis
Description
Summary:In this note, a new method for defining gang activity areas based uponpolice records is illustrated using the Chicago Police Department's1996 incident files. This method is based upon standard geographictechniques and uses a uniform grid that divides the city into 150-msquares. It is shown that this technique may be useful both in describinggang activity areas and in describing the spatial distribution of crime inlarge cities. A strong relationship is found between the number of gangsthat are active in an area and the general level of criminal activity.
ISSN:1573-7799
DOI:10.1023/A:1007579007011