Spatial Analysis of Spatial Analysis of Domestic Violence Domestic Violence

Presented at the University of California, Presented at the University of California, Irvine Irvine

ByByMichelle Plyer Michelle Plyer

May 14May 14thth, 2005, 2005

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Mentor: Professor Jim MeekerMentor: Professor Jim Meeker Advisor: Professor Valerie JennessAdvisor: Professor Valerie Jenness Graduate Student: Phil GoodmanGraduate Student: Phil Goodman

Funding: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Funding: Undergraduate Research Opportunities ProgramProgram

Santa Ana PoliceSanta Ana Police Legal Aid of Orange County Legal Aid of Orange County

Domestic Violence As A Social Domestic Violence As A Social Problem Problem

Nearly one-third of Nearly one-third of American women American women report being physically report being physically or sexually abused by or sexually abused by an intimate partner at an intimate partner at some point in their life.some point in their life.

Intimate partner Intimate partner violence is primarily a violence is primarily a crime against women. crime against women. (85% of victims).(85% of victims).

3 women are killed a 3 women are killed a day by an intimate day by an intimate partnerpartner

Institutional Responses Institutional Responses

Police Policies Police Policies Sentencing Sentencing

PoliciesPolicies Resources for Resources for

Victims Victims

Objective Objective

To locate areas in Santa Ana with To locate areas in Santa Ana with high rates of domestic violence in high rates of domestic violence in order to assist Legal Aid with their order to assist Legal Aid with their outreach.outreach.

And to identify possible variables And to identify possible variables related to occurrences of domestic related to occurrences of domestic violence. violence.

Previous Domestic Violence Previous Domestic Violence Research Research

AsAs Diversity Diversity increases there are less increases there are less shared values, and domestic violence shared values, and domestic violence increases. (Buzawa, 2003)increases. (Buzawa, 2003)

AsAs Poverty Poverty increases, domestic violence increases, domestic violence increases. (Benson, 2004, Lyon, 1997)increases. (Benson, 2004, Lyon, 1997)

As As Affluence Affluence increases, domestic violence increases, domestic violence decreases. decreases.

AsAs Population Density Population Density increases, domestic increases, domestic violence increases. (Buvnic, 2000, Carson, violence increases. (Buvnic, 2000, Carson, 1998)1998)

Hypothesis Hypothesis

The rate of domestic violence calls for service The rate of domestic violence calls for service in Santa Ana is related to certain demographic in Santa Ana is related to certain demographic variables such as poverty/affluence, diversity, variables such as poverty/affluence, diversity, foreign born status, and population density. foreign born status, and population density.

Data Sources Data Sources

Police Calls For ServicePolice Calls For Service Legal Aid Cases Legal Aid Cases U.S. Census BureauU.S. Census Bureau

MethodsMethods

Statistical Analysis of DataStatistical Analysis of Data• • Bi-Variant CorrelationsBi-Variant Correlations

••Multi-Variant CorrelationsMulti-Variant Correlations

••Multiple RegressionsMultiple Regressions

Independent VariablesIndependent Variables

Affluence Affluence Created newCreated new variable variable using Owner using Owner Occupied and Median Occupied and Median Income.Income.

Population Density Population Density Defined as population Defined as population per square mile.per square mile.

Percent Foreign Born Percent Foreign Born Total number of Total number of Foreign Born citizens Foreign Born citizens divided by population. divided by population.

Diversity Diversity Used Simpson’s Used Simpson’s model of diversity model of diversity with a modification of with a modification of (1-(Simpson’s (1-(Simpson’s equation)equation)

      

      

      

  Police Calls

LegalAid Cases

Diversity Foreign Born

Population Density

Affluence

Police Calls

1 .101 .004 -.042 -.102 -.200*

Legal AidCases

.101 1 .193* .086 .017 -.045

Diversity .004 .193* 1 .558** .158* -.019

Foreign Born

-.042 .086 .558** 1 .627** -.320**

Population Density

-.102 .017 .158* .627** 1 -.448**

Affluence -.200* -.045 -.019 -.320** -.448** 1

      

Correlations of Dependent & Independent Variables

*p<.05 **p<.001

Linear Regression for Police Calls for Service

b(SE) Beta

Diversity 2.908 0.045

(6.106)

Affluence -1.576*** -0.310

(0.432)

Population Density -0.785* -0.236

(0.352)

Percent Foreign Born -0.622 -0.018

(4.097)

R= .295 R2= .087 AdjR2= .064 F 4,164 =3.819**

*p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001

Linear Regression for Legal Aid Cases

b(SE) Beta

Diversity 1.043* .221

(.465)

Affluence -.024 -.063

(.033)

Population Density -.004 -.017

(.027)

Percent Foreign Born -.118 -.047

(.312)

R= .203 R2= .041 AdjR2= .017 F4,164= 1.716

*p<.05

Methods (Cont.)

GIS

(Geographical Information Systems)

Affluence Based on Standard Deviations From the Mean

Affluence

Affluence & Police Calls

Affluence

Police Calls

Affluence & Legal Aid Cases

Affluence

Police Calls

Affluence & Police Calls for Service Hotspots

Affluence

Police Hotspots

Population Density (population per square mile)

0-6000

6000-1200012000-18000

18000-24000

24000-30000

Population Density

30000 & greater

Population Density & Police Calls

Population Density

Police Calls

Population Density & Legal Aid Cases

Population Density

Legal Aid Case

Population Density & Police Calls for Service Hotspots

Population Density

Police Hotspot

Percent Diversity

Percent Diversity

Percent Diversity & Police Calls

Percent Diversity

Police Calls

Percent Diversity & Legal Aid Cases

Percent Diversity

Legal Aid Case

Percent Diversity & Police Calls for Service Hotspot

Percent Diversity

Police Hotspots

Police Hotspot & Legal Aid Cases

Police Hotspots

Legal Aid Cases

Santa Ana Boundary

SummarySummary

Affluence is negatively correlated Affluence is negatively correlated with Police Calls for Service for with Police Calls for Service for domestic violence.domestic violence.

Population Density is negatively Population Density is negatively correlated with Police Calls for correlated with Police Calls for Service for domestic violence.Service for domestic violence.

Diversity is positively correlated with Diversity is positively correlated with Legal Aid cases for domestic Legal Aid cases for domestic violence.violence.

DiscussionDiscussion

This research confirms what prior research This research confirms what prior research has found, that affluence is negatively has found, that affluence is negatively correlated with domestic violence rates. correlated with domestic violence rates.

This research did not show a positive This research did not show a positive correlation between population density correlation between population density and domestic violence rates. and domestic violence rates.

The research also showed a positive The research also showed a positive correlation between diversity and Legal correlation between diversity and Legal Aid cases, however the linear regression Aid cases, however the linear regression equation was not significant.equation was not significant.

Further ResearchFurther Research

Additional Data

• Additional Years for Police Calls for Service for domestic violence and Legal Aid Cases.

• Hotline Calls for Legal Aid

Additional Cities

• Long Beach & Anaheim

For Further Inquiries For Further Inquiries

Feel Free to Contact:Feel Free to Contact:

Michelle PlyerMichelle Plyer

Department of Criminology, Department of Criminology, Law & Society Law & Society

University Of California, IrvineUniversity Of California, Irvine

mplyer@uci.edumplyer@uci.edu

Percent Foreign Born

Percent Foreign Born

Percent Foreign Born & Legal Aid Cases

Percent Foreign Born

Legal Aid Case

Percent Foreign Born & Police Calls

Percent Foreign Born

Police Calls

Percent Foreign Born & Police Calls for Service Hotspots

Percent Foreign Born

Police Hotspots