Hostname: page-component-669899f699-7tmb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-25T06:15:39.674Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What every mathematician should know about modelling crime

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2010

MARCUS FELSON
MARCUS FELSON*
Affiliation:
School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA email: felson@newark.rutgers.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper by a criminologist explains why it makes more sense to model criminal acts than to model criminals, how many preconceptions about crime can mislead modellers and offers some simple crime modelling ideas. Many opportunities for simulation now exist, and new opportunities for real-data modelling are emerging. The author suggests mathematical models of crime, including offender foraging for crime targets, as a rich area for future research.

Type
Papers
Information
European Journal of Applied Mathematics , Volume 21 , Issue 4-5: Criminality , October 2010 , pp. 275 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Bernasco, W. (2009) Foraging strategies of homo criminalis: Lessons from behavioral ecology. Crime Patterns Anal., 2 (1), 5–16. Available at URL: http://www.eccajournal.org/V2N1S2009/Bernasco.pdGoogle Scholar
Brantingham, P. J. & Brantingham, P. L. (1991) Environmental Criminology, Beverly Hills, CA, Sage.Google Scholar
Brantingham, P. J. & Tita, G. (2008) Offender mobility and crime pattern mobility from first principles. In: Lui, L. & Eck, J. (editors), Artificial Crime Analysis Systems: Using Computer Simulations and Geographic Information Systems. Hershey, PA: Ideas Press, pp. 193–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, R. V. & Eck, J. (2005) Crime analysis for problem solvers. In: 50 Small Steps Washington, US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (Available online in English, Estonian, German, Italian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish).Google Scholar
Eck, J. (2003) Police problems: The complexity of problem theory, research and evaluation. In: Knutsson, J. (editor), Problem-Oriented Policing: From Innovation to Mainstream. Crime Prevention Studies, vol. 15, Monsey, New York, Criminal Justice Press and Willan Press, UK.Google Scholar
Felson, M. (2003) Crime and Everyday Life, 3rd ed., Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.Google Scholar
Felson, M. (2006) Crime and Nature, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Felson, M. & Clarke, R. V. (1998) Opportunity Makes the Thief: Practical Theory for Crime Prevention. Home Office Police Research Series No. 98, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. (available online).Google Scholar
Groff, E. R. (2007a) ‘Situating’ simulation to model human spatio-temporal interactions: An example using crime events. Trans. GIS, 11 (4), 507–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groff, E. R. (2007b) Simulation for theory testing and experimentation: An example using routine activity theory and street robbery. J. Quant. Criminol. 23, 75–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, S. D., Summers, L. & Pease, K. (2009) Offender as forager? A direct test of the boost account of victimization. J. Quant. Criminol. 25, 181–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, L. & Eck, J. (editors) (2008) Artificial Crime Analysis Systems: Using Computer Simulations and Geographic Information Systems, Information Science Reference, Hershey, PA.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rengert, G. (2004) The journey to crime. In: Bruainsma, G., Elffers, H. & de Keijser, J. (editors), Punishments, Places, and Perceptions. Devon, UK: Willan Publishing, pp. 169–181.Google Scholar
Rengert, G., Chakravorty, S., Bole, T. & Henderson, K. (2000) A geographic analysis of illegal drug markets. Crime Prevention Studies. Vol. 11, Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, pp. 219–239. Available at URL: http://www.popcenter.orgGoogle Scholar
Rossmo, D. K. (1995) Place, space and police investigations: hunting serial violent criminals. Crime Prevention Studies. Vol. 4, Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, pp. 218–235.Google Scholar
Rossmo, D. K. (1999) Geographic Profiling, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.Google Scholar