Does Warm Weather Mean More Violent Crime?
If you ask any street cop or prosecutor in a large city, they’ll tell you – when the temperature warms up, violent crime seems to increase as well. While this might make sense at a practical level – after all, when the weather turns cold, even criminals would rather stay inside – a recent study supports this conclusion. While the study doesn’t explain why violent crime rates increase as the temperature rises, it does support the notion that warmer temperatures lead to higher violent crime rates.
If you have been charged with committing a violent crime in any kind of weather, the LLF Law Firm’s Criminal Defense Team is here to help. Call one of our experienced attorneys today at 888.535.3686, or fill out our contact form, and we will schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case and tell you how we can help.
It’s More Than Just the Outside Temperature
The study, published in the Environment International scientific journal by a team of four researchers, looked at crime rates in 44 cities over an 18-year period of time as the outdoor temperature changed. It also considered other factors, such as the amount of open-air “greenspace” in each city and the rate of air conditioner ownership. While not every city had data for the entire 18-year study period, the researchers were able to review an average of 12 years of data for each city. Their analysis included more than 2.4 million violent crime incidents.
The study reached a number of conclusions. One is that there was a connection between a “daily high ambient temperature” and “increased risks of violent crime.” In other words, it confirmed what many people believed to be the case: when it gets hot out, the crime rate goes up. Interestingly, however, there was some point at which it apparently gets too hot even for violent criminals; once temperatures reached a certain peak, violent crime actually tended to drop.
The study also concluded that risk factors for violent crime varied “by latitude, median temperature, vegetation density, and prevalence of air conditioning.” This suggests, for example, that planting more trees and creating more green spaces could help lower the crime rate in warm cities, because trees and green spaces help with cooling. Green spaces also provide “psychological benefits” that can “help reduce aggression and crime.”
Similarly, making air conditioning more available and affordable could also reduce violent crime such as disorderly conduct during warmer periods of the year, because people would be more inclined to stay inside where the temperature was cooler.
The LLF Law Firm Can Defend You if You’ve Been Charged With a Violent Crime
No matter what the weather, if you have been charged with a violent crime, you are entitled to a strong defense. The LLF Law Firm’s Criminal Defense Team has years of experience defending clients against serious criminal charges in courts all across Pennsylvania. We know the Pennsylvania laws, the procedures, the prosecutors, and the court system, and are ready to use our experience to protect your rights and defend you against the charges you face.
Contact the LLF Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help. You can reach us at 888.535.3686 or by filling out our online contact form. We will schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case and your defense.