Influence of Environment on Crime Rates

Introduction:

An individual’s surrounding environment affects him/her in more ways than what we generally imagine. Take for example atmospheric pressure. This thick layer of air that exerts a certain amount of pressure on our bodies may make some people wonder “What if this pressure did not exist? It wouldn’t be that big of a deal right? Who cares about the weight of air?” However, the reality is pretty scary. This pressure is responsible for holding us in shape, and if it was to suddenly disappear our bodies would start expanding and explode because of the air inside our bodies. The same thing has to be kept in mind when we talk about crime. Different environments affect crime, criminals, and crime rates differently. At first, it seems like a ridiculous study, but it has its importance today. It is the 21^st century and almost 50% of the world’s population will live in urban settlements in the next 10 years. Urban areas have a much higher crime rate as compared to rural areas. Cities are becoming smart cities and countries are developing rapidly. This has given new meaning and scope to crime due to the changes in the environment. Although when we talk about the environment, it is a wide term, and hence in this article we will be talking about how natural, physical, and social environments affect crime.

Effect of Natural Environment

Forces of nature can affect individuals on a physical, mental & emotional level. This leads to them acting out of the ordinary and giving in to their inner frustrations, messing up their mind and further pushing them to commit crimes.

• According to a study conducted by Rotton & Frey (1985)[1] in South Korea, the factor of temperature was said to be the one by which we can predict certain violent crimes. It was also said that some weather conditions are such that they tend to bring about typical changes in the behaviors of people.
• One more example of temperature influencing crime can be found in a study conducted by Butke and Sheridan (2010)[2] in the city of Mardan. It was found that the crime rate increased by almost 50% when there was an increment of temperature from negative 10 degrees Celcius to 25 degrees Celcius. As a result, more crimes were seen to be happening in summer i.e. around May to September. The crimes were comparatively lesser in winters i.e. around October to February.
• When Rotton and Cohn started researching the influence of temperature on ‘disorderly conduct’, they found that temperature indeed played a role in such types of crimes.
• In a study conducted by Ranson (2014)[3] in the United States of America by analyzing 30 years of recorded data, it was found that outdoor temperature affected crime on a significant level. It was calculated in this study that between the years 2010 and 2099 the change in climate and temperature will lead to almost 260,000 robberies, 2.3 million assaults, almost 180,000 rapes, and many more.
• Temperature and humidity were also told to be the factors influencing the rate of several crimes (especially violent ones) in a study conducted by Horrocks and Menclova (2011)[4] in New Zealand.
• Similarly, the temperature was also said to have related to crimes like domestic violence as conveyed in a research carried out by Cohn (1993)[5] in Minnesota and property-related crimes as conveyed in a study carried out by Field (1992)[6] in England and Wales.
• Not just temperature alone but other environmental conditions combine themselves with temperature, such as conditions that come along with changes in weather due to season change, and affect the crime rate. This was clarified in a study by McDowall, Loftin, and Pate (2012)[7]
• In researches made by Hipp and other cowriters, property-related crimes were correlated with pleasing or nice weather conditions.
• Other studies like the one made by Harries and other cowriters suggested that the number of cases related to ‘assault’ increased by several folds in summer.
• Whereas in studies done by Cheatwood (1988)[8] in Baltimore, it was found that the number of cases related to homicide was very high as compared to other months in July, August, and December.
• Air pollution is also one of the important natural features that contribute towards affecting crime rates. Pollution in the air tends to cause neurological effects. This targets an individual’s cognitive function, reduces the same, and helps preserve crimes because of the connection between increased crime rates and low IQ.
•  In a study done by Nevin (2000)[9] in the US, he observed that the percentage of lead in gasoline was causing temporal changes in IQ levels and also leading to a noticeable increase in violent crimes. He proved the same by first testing gasoline with lead in it and another one without lead. He noticed that when lead was removed from gasoline there was a considerable decline in mentally affected people as well as in violent crimes.
• In some studies, the concentration of CO (carbon monoxide) affected the number of burglary cases. It was noted that a higher concentration of CO led to a gradual lessening in burglaries and vice versa.
• Similarly, many other studies deal with components like particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, ozone, etc, and their effects on crime rates which prove that the natural environment does indeed affect nature and the number of crimes and in turn affecting the crime rates of the place.

Effect of Physical Environment

The built environment surrounding us acts as an external force and influences our attitude and behavior. It in turn has its effects on crime and hence the society at large.

• Various developed countries today are realizing and studying the effects of the physical environment on crime. It still, however, is pretty underknown and not getting the attention it is supposed to get considering its impacts on society.
• At first, it is hard to wrap our head around the fact and we have questions like “How can physical features in our surroundings possibly go on to affect crime? What is the connection anyway? etc.” in our head. As a result, studies are done based on 3 levels to make it more understandable and explainable. These 3 levels of studying the effects of the physical environment are ‘Micro’ (study on buildings), ‘Macro’ (study on cities or towns), and ‘Meso’ (study on surroundings and neighborhoods).
• Crime Prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments.[10] CPTED aims to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas, reduce crime, and minimize fear of crime.[11]
• It has been found in many pieces of research and it is quite obvious as a fact that it has been found that places which lack physical planning and where principles laid down by the CPTED like surveillance and control access are more prone to criminal activities.
• CPTED is complemented by broken window theory (BWT), which states that a small amount of physical and social disorder results in the influence of people’s behaviors & attitudes being unresolved, leading to more crime and disorder.[12]
• It has been found that the effect of the physical environment on crime differs depending on the type of crime being committed.
• Miscreants often show a particular pattern of approach towards crimes. They mostly find ways, places, and conditions where they should be able to commit crimes easily and get away with little to no risks involved. In short, a crime takes place mostly when the miscreant finds an apt prey and he knows that even if he is spotted somehow he would be able to get away with the deed without being caught or identified.
• The physical environment affects the chances of the happening of a crime by affecting the miscreants’ thoughts and insights about a particular place which they were looking to create into a crime site. The potential wrongdoer will reconsider his/her decision after seeing a place with no easy way of entering, high chances of being seen, or no easy or direct route of escaping after committing the crime.
• More countries, especially developing ones like India, should understand the importance of this factor and take appropriate measures to reduce crime rates and turn more and more places in their country much safer.

Effect of Social Environment

A popular local Hindi saying “Sangati ka asar dikh raha hai” which means “effect of the company is evident” is a good example to understand the effect of the social environment on not just crime but almost every other human behavior. It tries to convey the fact that your company, the people who you stay and spend time with the effects you and your behavior over time. The converse of this is true as well. You too will have a certain effect on them and their behavior and thinking.

When we talk about crime especially, a negative social environment where a crime rate is much higher than usual increases the chances of an individual going down the same path. Research has revealed that poverty by itself is a very strong socio-economic factor that increases our chances of going to jail. When someone is having trouble making ends meet for themselves and their family, many a time under extreme stress the only way out as perceived by that person is a crime.

The Indian Scenario

India being a country of rich geographical diversity has different climates and weather conditions in every place. This leads to several offenses all over the country. Let’s understand with examples.

Since the increment of 1 degree (Celcius) in the temperature is said to be associated with, on average, an increase in almost 70 more suicides committed than normal, it has been seen in India that due to this and other climate changes agricultural productivity got affected and led to social unrest.[13] This was evident in a not-so-old incident of protesting in the state of MP. The police had opened fire on the farmers who were fighting for and wanting debt relief along with better prices of their crops.[14] Five people died in the commotion. Change in climate conditions can indeed aggravate the conditions of the poor, especially in fragile states. However, this is not the ‘only’ factor and also depends on how vulnerable the population is to the economy, institutions etcetera. Out of all these factors, it is important to note that vulnerable population is a factor mostly seen. These populations are generally the agriculture practicing masses. For example, according to a study it was found that with the increment in temperature the suicide rates among Indian farmers also spiked.[15]

Another example can be the increase in Naxal power due to the conflicts going on because of changing climate conditions. For example, it is comparatively easier for these Naxals and other government forces to recruit people when drought is around. This is because, to survive, fulfill their needs, livelihoods, and provide for their families, the local masses tend to help these Naxals as they have no choice due to the economic conditions they face.

Indian women especially are seen in distress due to climate-induced conflicts. It also somehow leads to the causing factor of agricultural losses. Conditions like drought, bushfires, etc lead to these losses and tend to increase the risk of crimes like domestic violence and physical harassment of women. Conditions like scarce resources due to adverse climatic conditions have led to women going in search of water, food, firewood, etc and hence making them vulnerable.

Talking about trivial crimes and other illegal actions taking place in India due to the environment, we see crimes like theft, prostitution (soliciting people for it), assault, shoplifting, use of drugs, etc in large numbers all over the country. A majority of people when in economic distress and psychological stress due to changes in their physical, social, and natural environment resort to petty crimes to begin with. Their mentality in the circumstances is mostly to gain money or physical and mental satisfaction and hence they end up committing these crimes. Some trivial crimes like theft, assault, shoplifting etcetera are common both in rural and urban areas. Whereas some, like resorting to drugs and prostitution are examples of which take place mostly in urban areas. For example, if a local businessman is facing loss after loss and he notices a change in his physical environment like his rival’s shop looking pretty after a renovation as well as earning more than him, he can get mentally depressed at one point and end up resorting to some petty crime. Another example can be a woman living in an abusive environment, say, a 19-year-old girl who has seen domestic violence for a long time in her house as well as in their neighbor’s house. She can get disturbed mentally and emotionally from such an environment and may resort to drugs in order to comfort her mind.

Conclusion

Humans are social animals and we need other people to live a happy and engaging life. However, as the saying goes, “Evil never rests”. Not all people are good and whoever is, can be affected by the germs of evil through several factors. The environment is one of the least accused factors of affecting people’s lives. Be it the natural environment the person lives in, the physical environment the person interacts in or the social environment the person engages in; all of them affect the person in their good and bad ways. Crime being one of the bad effects of these environments is a menace to society. It is common sense that a healthy, developed, and nurturing environment will always raise a good, responsible and righteous citizen, and a bad environment on the other hand will raise a violent, careless criminal-minded individual. Every country must invest in improving all three types of environments for the well-being of the citizens and to reduce already high crime rates.

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References:

[1] Air Pollution, weather and violent crimes: Concomitant time-series analysis of archival data, Rotton James Frey James, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1986-12106-001

[2] An analysis of the relationship between weather and aggressive crime in Cleveland, Ohio., https://www.scirp.org/(S(351jmbntvnsjt1aadkposzje))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=1710696

[3] Crime, weather, and climate change, By Matthew Ranson, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0095069613001289

[4] The effects of weather on crime, James Horrocks and Andrea Kutinova Menclova, 15 April 2011, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0079954.2011.572544

[5] The prediction of police calls for service: The influence of weather and temporal variables on rape and domestic violence, Ellen G. Cohn, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/abs/pii/S0272494405802166

[6] The effect of temperature on crime, Simon Field, 01 July 1992, https://academic.oup.com/bcj/article-abstract/32/3/340/319313?redirectedFrom=PDF

[7] Seasonal Cycles in crime, and their variability, David Mcdowall, Colin Loftin & Matthew Pate, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10940-011-9145-7

[8] Is there a season for homicide?, Derral Cheatwood, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-9125.1988.tb00842.x

[9] How lead exposure relates to temporal changes in IQ, violent crime, and unwed pregnancy, Rick Nevin, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935199940458

[10]The International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association, https://www.cpted.net/

[11] Id at Para 1 Line 6

[12] Urban Crime Occurences in Association with built Environment Characteristics: An African Case with Implications for Urban design, Patrik Silva and Lin Li , 10 April 2020 , www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

[13] Is climate change driving conflict, violence, and crime in India, By Shilpita Mathews, January 20, 2020, https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/01/is-climate-change-driving-conflict-violence-and-crime-in-india/

[14] Id under para 15

[15] Crop-damaging temperatures increase suicide rates in India, Tamma A. Carleton, https://www.pnas.org/content/114/33/8746