A spatio-temporal analysis of on-premises alcohol outlets and violent crime events in Buffalo, NY

This study examined the spatio-temporal relationship between on-premises alcohol outlet locations and crime events in Buffalo, New York. Specifically, this research examined whether crime became clustered around on-premises alcohol outlet locations after those locations were licensed. Data from licensed alcohol outlets and violent crime events that occurred between 2005 and 2011 were analyzed using global and local bivariate space-time k-function analyses. The global bivariate space-time K-function analyses indicated that there was dispersion between bars and crime over space and time. Personal crimes showed both dispersion and clustering. Local analyses revealed clustering between alcohol outlets and crimes at discrete space-time intervals. Spatio-temporal analysis of the association between bars and crime gives an indication of the direction of the relationship between them. If this dynamic is better understood, it could be better regulated.