Skip to main content

GlobalChange.gov

Utility

  • About USGCRP
  • Agencies

Global search

  • Understand Climate Change
  • Assess National Climate Assessment
  • Explore USGCRP Highlights
  • Browse Reports & Resources
  • Engage Connect & Participate

You are here

  • Latest News

Share

Facebook logo Twitter logo Google+ logo LinkedIn logo Reddit logo

News

Posted
Sep 20, 2013
Cities & Infrastructure

Temperature and Violent Crime: Implications of Climate Change?

Featured by EPA, a member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program

Is there a link between climate change and violent crimes? Scientists at EPA and the Emory University School of Medicine are investigating whether hotter temperatures affect violent crimes, such as assault, robbery, rape, and murder.

In a recent paper published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, Temperature and Violent Crime in Dallas, Texas: Relationships and Implications of Climate Change, researchers examined the relationship between daily temperature and daily incidence of violent crime in Dallas from 1993 to 1999.

According to analyses of violent crime and temperature in Dallas, TX, researchers found that aggravated assaults and other violent crimes decrease at higher temperatures. Daily rates of violent crime increase as temperatures rise in the low to moderate range, but begin to level off at temperatures above 80°F, and actually decrease above 90°F.

To explain their findings, the researchers hypothesized that when it gets very hot people stay indoors where it is cooler. As a result, street crime and other crimes of opportunity are decreased.

Researchers also noted this is just one city and one study. Would they get the same results in different cities with different ranges of daily temperatures? To answer this question, the scientists are conducting analyses of multiple U.S. cities including Atlanta, Denver, Houston, and Chicago, and re-doing the analysis for Dallas using more recent data.

To read the full article on the EPA website, please click here.

violence_and_temperature.jpg

Regions: 
Southwest
Agencies: 
Environmental Protection Agency

Subscribe to RSS News Feed

Join our mailing list


Newsletter Archive

Follow @usgcrp

Latest News

USGCRP at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2022

Posted
Nov 10, 2022

USGCRP hosting free webinars in support of National Climate Assessment

Posted
Nov 9, 2022

Fifth National Climate Assessment Update: March 2022

Posted
Mar 8, 2022
GlobalChange.gov is made possible by our participating agencies
Thirteen Agencies, One Vision: Empower the Nation with Global Change Science
  • USDA
  • DOC
  • DOD
  • DOE
  • HHS
  • DOI
  • DOS
  • DOT
  • EPA
  • NASA
  • NSF
  • SI
  • USAID

Get Our Newsletter

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • Contact Us
U.S. Global Change Research Program
1800 G Street, NW, Suite 9100
Washington, D.C. 20006 USA

Tel: +1 202 223 6262
Fax: +1 202 223 3065
Privacy Policy