The number of crimes in different territories, in particular urban and suburban, varies. However, the urban environment, in contrast to the suburban environment, is also highly heterogeneous, which explains the different levels of crime in particular areas of one large city. Thus, the increased number of crimes in the city can be explained only by a complex of reasons. Researchers, along with the heterogeneous structure of the city’s population, also identify population density and mobility as the main reasons for the higher crime rate.
Currently, researchers are paying more and more attention to the consideration of predicates of increased crime rates in urban areas of large cities. Nadai et al. indicate that particular complex factors of urban neighborhoods, including socio-economic conditions, mobility, and built environment result in crimes (6-7). The main strength of this article is the identification of the factor of the presence of predicates of increased crime rates and correlations with certain factors. On the other hand, the article focuses on methods for collecting and analyzing data to create crime prevention models. Thus, she does not provide a complete analysis of the factors mentioned and also emphasizes that in different cities, the same conditions can result in different crime rates (Nadai et al. 5). Thus, the article does not give an exact answer to the reasons for the increased crime rates but allows looking at the potential roots of this phenomenon.
However, while the interactions between factors are complex, researchers underline that increased mobility is directly correlated with crime rates. Caminha et al. found that increased mobility of the urban population correlates with an increased number of property crimes (10). The strength of this article is that it shows a direct interaction between cause and effect. On the other hand, the authors do not take into account other potential drivers of the increase in the number of property crimes, which makes the results less reliable. Moreover, the authors focus exclusively on property crimes, not taking into account violent crimes. Thus, it can be concluded that the causes of crime in urban areas are complex and depend on many factors.
Modern research into the causes of crime focuses more on the mechanisms of their prevention. Fatehkia et al. researchers use Facebook user data to analyze their interests and look for potential correlations with crime rates. The researchers found that factors such as music and film preferences correlate with socioeconomic conditions (Fatehkia et al. 11-12). In turn, this can explain the number of crimes committed in the area, which is inhabited by people with certain interests. Thus, the authors emphasize the dominance of socioeconomic and cultural factors that can explain the level of crime. This article focuses on analyzing the data rather than looking for causes. However, its strong point may be the identification of socioeconomic factors as the main predicate of crime.
As the studies already reviewed, socioeconomic conditions, as well as population mobility, can be the causes of crime in cities. However, the researchers also draw attention to the fact that crime predicates in suburban areas do not differ from the situation in urban areas (Singer and Drakulich 16). Singer and Drakulich emphasize that in any field, the criminological situation is described by “the relationship between social class, race, and crime” (16). Thus, the heterogeneity of territories is, according to the authors, the main reason for the occurrence of crimes. This view is consistent with findings from other studies described that highlight the heterogeneity of population composition in terms of socioeconomic differences and mobility. It can be concluded that the increased crime rate in urban areas is due to a denser population. In turn, this factor results in a larger number of heterogeneous groups that may have disagreements or conflicts.
This assumption is also supported by researchers who consider the differences in the number of crimes in urban and suburban areas. Chang et al. investigated crime rates in cities of various sizes in the United States. The researchers found that the number of both violent and property crimes is influenced, among other factors, by “population size, income per capita and population density” (Chang et al. 1). This finding once again identifies the complexity of the causes that lead to crimes in cities. However, it can also be concluded that population heterogeneity and population density are the most important factors. In comparison with the Sabgorod territories, the urban ones have higher rates of heterogeneity and population density. In this case, population mobility should also be added as a significant factor.
Thus, the heterogeneous structure of the urban population is the main factor behind the higher crime rate compared to suburban areas. At the same time, population density and mobility are also important aspects in forming criminological situations. Researchers are placing increased emphasis on looking at factors that could help prevent crime. Therefore, it is especially important for them to consider the patterns of the formation of the criminal environment in the city and suburban areas.
Works Cited
Caminha, Carlos, et al. “Human Mobility in Large Cities as a Proxy for Crime.”PLoS ONE, vol. 12, no. 2, 2017, pp. 1-13.
Chang, Yu S., et al. “Do Larger Cities Experience Lower Crime Rates? A Scaling Analysis of 758 Cities in the U.S.” Sustainability, vol. 11, no. 11, 2019, pp. 1-16.
Fatehkia, Masoomali, et al. “Correlated Impulses: Using Facebook Interests to Improve Predictions of Crime Rates in Urban Areas.” PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-16.
Nadai, Marco, et al. “Socio‑economic, Built Environment, and Mobility Conditions Associated with Crime: A Study of Multiple Cities.” Scientific Reports, vol. 10, 2020, pp. 1-12.
Singer, Simon I., and Kevin Drakulich. “Crime and Safety in Suburbia.” Annual Review of Criminology, vol. 14, no. 9, 2019, pp. 1-19.