Connealy, N., Piza, E. and Hatten, D. (2020)

Justice Evaluation Journal, 3(1): 69-93

Study Abstract

The study analyzed the criminogenic effect of legalizing recreational marijuana dispensaries in Denver. Street segments with recreational dispensaries experienced no changes in violent, disorder and drug crime but did experience an 18% increase in property crime, and street segments adjacent to recreational dispensaries experienced some notable (but non-significant) drug and disorder crime increases. Medical dispensaries demonstrated no significant crime changes. A cost-benefit analysis found the associated crime costs were largely offset by sales revenue. Monetary benefits were much less pronounced, and barely cost effective, when only considering tax revenue.

Haberman, C., Hatten, D., Carter, J. and Piza, E. (2021)

Journal of Criminal Justice, 73: 1-12

Study Abstract

Purpose: To determine if repeat and near repeat analysis is sensitive to the geocoding algorithm used for the underlying crime incident data.

Methods: The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provided 2016 crime incident data for five crime types: (1) shootings, (2) robberies, (3) residential burglaries, (4) theft of automobiles, and (5) theft from automobiles. The incident data were geocoded using a dual ranges algorithm and a composite algorithm. First, descriptive analysis of the distances between the two point patterns were conducted. Second, repeat and near repeat analysis was performed. Third, the resulting repeat and near repeat patterns were compared across geocoding algorithms.

Results: The underlying point patterns and repeat and near repeat analyses were similar across geocoding algorithms.

Conclusions: While detailing geocoding processes increases transparency and future researchers can conduct sensitivity results to ensure their findings are robust, dual ranges geocoding algorithms are likely adequate for repeat and near repeat analysis.

Welsh, B., Piza, E., Thomas, A. and Farrington, D. (2020)

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 36(1): 56-69

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Article description to be added soon.

Kennedy, L., Caplan, J., Piza, E. and Thomas, A. (2020)

Homicide Studies, DOI: 10.1177/1088767920976183

Abstract:

In this paper, we explore the conditions under which clearance rates improve by
looking at the experience across New York City. Using one agency provides a control
on the administrative differences that appear across other jurisdictions that have
been studied, usually through cross-national analysis. Our analysis uses Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) to identify environmental features that relate to closed versus open homicide cases using two years of New York City Police Department (NYPD) data. This analysis is supplemented with an investigation of precinct-wide social structure variables to examine how context matters in influencing closure rates.