Exploring the Spatial Configuration of Places Related to Homicide Events

Mobility and Homicide

Introduction

This research provides a comprehensive exploration of the spatial etiology of homicides in Washington, D.C. Three basic elements of convergence (victim’s home, offender’s home, and homicide location) and three associated measures the relative distances between the locations are analyzed. All six elements are explored both individually and jointly to increase our understanding of homicides. The initial analysis focuses on the patterns of the three locations separately and then examines the distances between locations. The second phase analyzes the spatial interactions among victims and offenders through the application of both traditional and distance spatial typologies. Finally, the third phase is a comprehensive exploration of techniques for visualizing the distributions and associated relationships. In sum, this research fills a gap in the criminological literature by (1) disaggregating homicides by motive to provide a more exact analysis of movement for each particular type; (2) exploring the distances to homicide for victims and offenders; (3) describing the relationships between victims,

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