A micro-level analysis of firearm arrests’ effects on gun violence in Houston, Texas

This study aims to explore the effects of firearm arrests in reducing gun violence within a micro-environment in Houston, Texas. The Knox test is extended to a bivariate spatiotemporal clustering test, and it is utilized to analyze the citywide space–time interaction between shootings and firearm arrests. Also, an event-level analysis examines specific arrests generating deterrence or escalation effect, and describes their spatial distributions. A deterrence tendency is observed several days after, and at a considerable distance from, a prior arrest. About one-third of all arrests generate possible deterrence or escalation effect, and they are most densely clustered in a unique geographical area in Southwestern Houston.