Testing Routine Activity Theory: Behavioural Pathways Linking Temperature to Crime

This study examines direct observations of outdoor routine activities to investigate the pathways through which temperatures shape crime. Daily administrative records of crime, weather and outdoor activity were assembled from 2015 to 2019 in New York City. Mediation analysis (with bootstrapped stand...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
VerfasserInnen: Thomas, Christopher (Verfasst von) ; Jeong, Jinuk (Verfasst von) ; Wolff, Kevin T. (Verfasst von)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2025
In: The British journal of criminology
Jahr: 2025, Band: 65, Heft: 4, Seiten: 859-877
Online-Zugang: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: HBZ Gateway
Schlagwörter:
Weather
temperature
Routine Activities
daily crime
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:This study examines direct observations of outdoor routine activities to investigate the pathways through which temperatures shape crime. Daily administrative records of crime, weather and outdoor activity were assembled from 2015 to 2019 in New York City. Mediation analysis (with bootstrapped standard errors) reveals that alterations in routine activities account for a statistically significant, yet modest, proportion of temperature’s relationship with homicides, shootings, assaults, larceny and public consumption violations. The comparable mediation effects across violent and nonviolent crimes support routine activity theory as an explanatory framework for understanding temperature’s impact on crime. The measures introduced here offer a novel approach for testing the theory and suggest other potential applications.
ISSN:1464-3529
DOI:10.1093/bjc/azae091