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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Study reveals how green space can reduce violent crime



Study reveals how green space can reduce violent crime

'All of us had some sort of experience [with crime], personally or through family members. And we thought maybe we can do something about it,' said Hessam Sadatsafavi, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Credit: Dan Addison | UVA Communications


Properly designed and maintained outdoor green space has the potential to reduce violent crime and gun violence, to make communities safer and keep residents healthier, a new study suggests. Conversely, green space that is poorly designed and inadequately maintained can help crime take root and spread.

The findings come from a team of scientists that has assembled a big-picture review of research on the complicated relationship between nature and in urban areas. They identified several patterns that can help inform , guide and promote neighborhoods that are safe and pleasant to live in.


The project came about because members of the research team had been touched by crime, either directly or indirectly. "All of us had some sort of experience, personally or through family members. And we thought maybe we can do something about it," said Hessam Sadatsafavi, Ph.D., of the School of Medicine. "How to control violent crime is a polarizing issue. We are interested to see, as designers whose work is to shape the physical environment, if it's possible for us to contribute to this conversation and to take some actions to see if we, personally, can contribute to reducing crime."


The Weed of Crime Bears Bitter Fruit


The research, initiated at Cornell University, sought to synthesize the findings of many previous studies that looked at the effects of various forms of green on crime and criminal behavior. "We said, OK, we have to start by understanding what is out there in terms of theory, what other people have found," Sadatsafavi said. "Green space can be a source of or increase the risk of crime in a neighborhood through some mechanism, and it can also reduce the risk. So why is that happening? Is there any way to find a solution to make the risk reduction more effective?"




Study reveals how green space can reduce violent crime

'The dream scenario for me, personally, is to raise awareness about the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of these strategies,' said Hessam Sadatsafavi, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Credit: Dan Addison| UVA Communications



The researchers initially considered more than 14,000 papers but ultimately winnowed those down to 45 done in the United States, which offered the most relevant insights into how access to nature might improve public safety.


The initial review was challenging because the topic is vast and can be approached from many angles. "You might talk about community gardens, you might talk about people's lawns," Sadatsafavi explained. "People who do the studies might go out and count the number of trees on sidewalks, or examine satellite images. Or look at the number of vacant lots that were turned into green space."



That, combined with the wide variety of crime examined and how it was reported, made it difficult for the researchers to draw specific conclusions. "But," Sadatsafavi said, "there are definitely patterns."


For example, nine studies looked at the effect of green space on gun violence. Six found that such interventions reduced crime, while three were inconclusive. "There is evidence that greening interventions at the urban level reduces , specifically gun violence," said Sadatsafavi, of UVA's Department of Emergency Medicine.


"By looking at all these studies, we were able to propose possible pathways [to reduce crime and] put together an overall picture of why this is happening, both in terms of gun violence and in terms of overall crime rate."




Study reveals how green space can reduce violent crime

Hessam Sadatsafavi, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said controlling crime is a polarizing issue. 'We are interested to see, as designers whose work is to shape the physical environment, if it's possible for us to contribute to this conversation and to take some actions to see if we, personally, can contribute to reducing crime.' Credit: Dan Addison | UVA Health



Using Nature to Reduce Crime


Sadatsafavi hopes that the researchers' findings, outlined in a paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, will lead to community interventions that keep people safe, decrease crime and promote better quality of life.


"The dream scenario for me, personally, is to raise awareness about the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of these strategies," he said. "Our next goal as a team is to develop design guidelines for, say, how a community garden or small community park should be designed, to improve the positive effects of the and provide practical, hands-on information for people who are in the field, whether landscape architects or people who are starting their own ."




Explore further



Can parks help cities fight crime?



More information:
Mardelle Shepley et al, The Impact of Green Space on Violent Crime in Urban Environments: An Evidence Synthesis, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2019). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16245119








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Study reveals how green space can reduce violent crime (2020, February 27)
retrieved 27 February 2020
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