Faculty Publications

Unanticipated Consequences: The Impact Of A Smoke-Free Law On Assaults Around Bars

Document Type

Article

Keywords

behavior, crime/delinquency theory, drugs and crime, ecology and crime/spatial analysis, other, violent

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Criminal Justice Review

Volume

39

Issue

3

First Page

272

Last Page

289

Abstract

Among scholars, there is a discussion regarding whether types of places, or facilities, function as crime generators or whether the association between some categories of facilities and higher rates of offending is the result of a small proportion of all facilities within a given category, or problem places. This study seeks to further inform this debate by exploring whether policy changes that alter the social functioning of a category of facilities, specifically bars and taverns, modifies the spatial association with crime. Using routine activities theory as a framework, this study builds on previous research by exploring the association between alcohol-serving establishments and violent crimes, specifically assaults, following the implementation of a smoke-free law. Using data from a pair of adjoining communities in Iowa, findings indicate the frequency of reported assaults on blocks with bars as well as on adjoining blocks declined following the implementation of a law prohibiting smoking tobacco products within bars and taverns. Implications for policies and future research are discussed. © 2014 Georgia State University.

Department

Department of Geography

Original Publication Date

1-1-2014

DOI of published version

10.1177/0734016814530147

Link to Full Text

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