Space, Time, and Crime

Interest in the spatial distribution of crime and criminal opportunities has experienced a virtual explosion over the past several years. In Space, Time, and Crime, the authors provide an overview of the various theoretical explanations, crime control policies, and practical investigative tools used to identify high crime places, spaces, and times. Throughout the text, Hart, Lersch, and Chataway provide a highly readable and informative discussion of the important issues surrounding the geography of crime, providing real world examples and illustrations from previously published research.

Space, Time, and Crime provides a basic overview of the more popular theories that have been used to explain the concentration of crime in certain places and times. Each theory is carefully and clearly developed from its historical roots to contemporary applications, with relevant scholarship cited throughout the discussions. The reader is then moved from theory into practice, where a summary and critique of various theoretically-driven practical policy applications are presented. The basic elements of crime analysis and crime mapping, both very popular crime fighting tools for police agencies and place managers, are presented. Finally, the book closes with a discussion of how technology is advancing research opportunities within the field.

Two new chapters have been added to the fifth edition — one dedicated specifically to environmental criminology and one on future directions and new technological developments in the study of space, time, and crime, with a particular focus on mobile technologies and the collection of real-time, real-place data. Research and references have been updated throughout the text.

A set of 173 PowerPoint slides is available upon adoption. Click here to view a sample presentation. If you are a professor using this book for a class, please email bhall@cap-press.com to request your slides.

PRAISE FOR EARLIER EDITIONS

One of the best features of this text is its readability, coupled with the logical development of theoretical interpretation. Space, Time, and Crime is crafted to encourage students to examine familiar concepts from a distinctive perspective — one that frames theory logically to enhance students' understanding of the unique and powerful relationship between crime and place."

— Mary Ann Eastep, University of Central Florida

The authors provide broad coverage of topics addressing the understanding, analysis and response to the geographic patterns of crime. They include helpful historical coverage of many criminological theories pertinent to the understanding of crimes at places and variation of crime across space. Lersch and Hart also discuss crime data sources and introduce applied crime mapping and crime analysis techniques and topics, as well as applications and criminal justice responses to crime in hot spots. Of note is an unusual presentation of the complexities and conflicting evidence provided by geographic restrictions and mapping of sex offenders."

— Tammy Kochel, Southern Illinois University