Preface to WCR 5(3), 2004

Index to issue

Volume 5, No. 3, November 2004

ISSN 1096-4886 http://wcr.sonoma.edu/
Published by the Department of Criminal Justice, California State University, San Bernardino
© 2004, The Western Criminology Review. All Rights Reserved.

Preface

As guest co-editors of the Western Criminology Review, we are proud to present this special issue focusing on Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis. Two of the research articles included in this issue were originally presented at the 2004 Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis Conference held in Wellington, New Zealand. The final article was submitted to the Western Criminology Review as a general submission but is relevant to this topic. In addition to using crime data and focusing on place, all of the articles focus on the interaction of individuals with the urban backcloth — a concept integral to our understanding of environmental criminology.

In the first article, Martin Andresen and Greg Jenion examine the relatively recent addition of "aoristic analysis" to the toolbox of the environmental criminologist and crime analyst. Using burglary data, the authors test the precision of this tool by comparing its results with those produced by multinomial logistic regression. Based on their findings, Andersen and Jenion cautiously suggest that logistic regression produces more reliable results and is thus a preferred technique.

Kate Bowers and Shane Johnson use epidemiological techniques to extend our knowledge of repeat victimization. By integrating spatial and temporal characteristics of residential burglaries, the authors examine the similarity of modus operandi and spatio-temporal signatures of 'near repeat' burglaries. The results of their research point towards the promise of adopting very specific crime prevention strategies.

Broadening the prevailing concepts of place, Andrew Newton discusses the challenge of analyzing dynamic crime events - incidents that actually occur while the participants and the crime scene are in motion. Using crime and disorder on public transportation as the subject of the research, Newton presents two innovative methods for analyzing non-static crime events in their environmental context.

We would like to take a moment to thank Gisela and Steve for the opportunity to edit the issue. Also, we would like to extend our sincere appreciate for the reviewers and authors for their labor. We hope you enjoy this issue, and please don't hesitate to give us feedback.

Julie Wartell, Elizabeth Groff, and Debra Lamm Weisel
Guest Co-editors