TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Gang-related crime in Los Angeles remained stable following COVID-19 social distancing orders JO - Criminology and public policy A1 - Jeffrey Brantingham, Paul A1 - Tita, George E. A1 - Mohler, George SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - RESEARCH SUMMARY: The onset of extreme social distancing measures is expected to have a dramatic impact on crime. Here, we examine the impact of mandated, city-wide social distancing orders aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 on gang-related crime in Los Angeles. We hypothesize that the unique subcultural processes surrounding gangs may supersede calls to shelter in place and allow gang-related crime to persist. If the normal guardianship of people and property is also disrupted by social distancing, then we expect gang violence to increase. Using autoregressive time series models, we show that gang-related crime remained stable and crime hot spots largely stationary following the onset of shelter in place. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: In responding to disruptions to social and economic life on the scale of the present pandemic, both police and civilian organizations need to anticipate continued demand, all while managing potential reductions to workforce. Police are faced with this challenge across a wide array of crime types. Civilian interventionists tasked with responding to gang-related crime need to be prepared for continued peacekeeping and violence interruption activities, but also an expansion of responsibilities to deal with "frontline" or "street-level" management of public health needs.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1538-6473 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12541 ID - ref1 ER -