Overview
I have a paper due, and I need more data on the following topics. It is specific to crime (people-on-people crime; no crimes such as burglaries with no victims present). I have attached my paper for reference, which examines the short-term effects of COVID-19 and containment measures in Florida and New York. (must be peer reviewed/official government sites)
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Key Areas for Inclusion
- Domestic and Family Violence (IPV): This is a critical area, as stay-at-home orders and increased household stress (financial, psychological) were widely associated with an increase in the frequency and severity of domestic and family violence.
- Sub-topics: Explore the challenges victims faced in accessing support services, the use of coercive control tactics by perpetrators using the pandemic as leverage, and the potential increase in first-time abuse cases.
- Homicide and Gun Assaults: Unlike many other types of street crime, homicides and gun assaults saw significant increases in many U.S. cities during the pandemic, particularly from mid-2020 onward.
- Sub-topics: Examine the potential drivers, such as social unrest, changes in policing practices (e.g., a pullback in proactive policing), the diffusion and availability of firearms, and whether these events were linked to pre-existing gang/drug activity.
- Public Place vs. Residential Assaults:Analyze how social distancing and business closures (bars, restaurants, etc.) shifted the location of assaults. Public space assaults generally decreased due to fewer people being out, while residential assaults saw varied trends, often linked to domestic situations.
- Sub-topics: Compare data on simple assaults (which saw a large decline) versus aggravated assaults (which often increased), and discuss how reporting behavior might have changed for different types of assaults.
- Theoretical Frameworks: Ground your analysis in established criminological theories to explain the observed changes in crime patterns.
- Routine Activities Theory: Discuss how the pandemic disrupted normal routines, changing the convergence of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and capable guardianship in time and space.
- Social Disorganization/Strain Theory:Explore how pandemic-related stressors like job loss, economic insecurity, and social isolation contributed to an environment conducive to interpersonal conflict and violence.
- Data and Methodological Challenges:Acknowledge the limitations of data sources, such as varying police recording practices, potential underreporting of certain crimes (like domestic violence or sexual assault) during lockdowns, and the reliance on calls for service data.
- Sub-topics: Discuss the use of alternative data sources like hospital records, domestic violence helpline calls, or even Google search trends to get a fuller picture of the actual prevalence of violence.
- Policy Implications and Future Preparedness: Conclude by discussing what the findings imply for future public health crises, emergency management, and crime prevention strategies.
- Sub-topics: Suggest policy interventions, such as ensuring accessible support services (telehealth, alternative reporting methods like code words in pharmacies) and addressing the underlying economic and social stressors.