TY - JOUR
T1 - Environment and Crime in the Inner City: Does Vegetation Reduce Crime?
AU - Kuo, F. E.
AU - Sullivan, W. C.
PY - 2001/6/13
Y1 - 2001/6/13
N2 - Although vegetation has been positively linked to fear of crime and crime in a number of settings, recent findings in urban residential areas have hinted at a possible negative relationship: Residents living in "greener" surroundings report lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less aggressive and violent behavior. This study used police crime reports to examine the relationship between vegetation and crime in an inner-city neighborhood. Crime rates for 98 apartment buildings with varying levels of nearby vegetation were compared. Results indicate that although residents were randomly assigned to different levels of nearby vegetation, the greener a building's surroundings were, the fewer crimes reported. Furthermore, this pattern held for both property crimes and violent crimes. The relationship of vegetation to crime held after the number of apartments per building, building height, vacancy rate, and number of occupied units per building were accounted for.
AB - Although vegetation has been positively linked to fear of crime and crime in a number of settings, recent findings in urban residential areas have hinted at a possible negative relationship: Residents living in "greener" surroundings report lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less aggressive and violent behavior. This study used police crime reports to examine the relationship between vegetation and crime in an inner-city neighborhood. Crime rates for 98 apartment buildings with varying levels of nearby vegetation were compared. Results indicate that although residents were randomly assigned to different levels of nearby vegetation, the greener a building's surroundings were, the fewer crimes reported. Furthermore, this pattern held for both property crimes and violent crimes. The relationship of vegetation to crime held after the number of apartments per building, building height, vacancy rate, and number of occupied units per building were accounted for.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034985729&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034985729&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0013916501333002
DO - 10.1177/0013916501333002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0034985729
SN - 0013-9165
VL - 33
SP - 343
EP - 367
JO - Environment and Behavior
JF - Environment and Behavior
IS - 3
ER -