“A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about.” – John Mayer
It is common for law enforcement agencies to experience an uptick in crime during the summer months. Some city departments deploy extra officers when the weather warms up and crime rates rise.
As the temperature rises during the summer months of June through September, so do crime rates. According to studies, crime can increase up to 35% during the summer. In a 2014 study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) on seasonal crime in the United States, researchers found that the increasing crimes in question were violent crimes and property crimes like theft and burglary.
In these months, many police departments increase patrol in their community and even launch initiatives that focus on curbing crime rates.
Why Does Crime Go Up During the Summer?
Several researchers have theories that attempt to pinpoint why both violent and property crimes increase during the summer.
Some researchers say longer daylight hours might contribute to the rise in crime rates.
Longer daylight hours encourage people to stay outside and away from their homes for longer periods of time, increasing the amount of foot traffic in public. Higher foot traffic creates more opportunity for crimes to occur.
Other researchers say students who are out of school for the summer contribute to both higher public foot traffic and higher crime as students have more free time on their hands.
Still others hypothesize that the rise in temperature causes an increase in irritability and aggressiveness, which could cause a rise in violent crimes.
Overall, higher temperatures, longer daylight hours, and more foot traffic create an increase in interaction between people which then provides more opportunity for crime.
Although studies are not conclusive enough to show how exactly warmer temperatures cause an increase in crime, researchers still agree that there is a correlation: When temperatures rise, so do property crimes.
SOURCE: Governing analysis of 2010-2012 FBI UCR Data
Where Does Crime Rise the Most During Summer?
Researchers from Governing.com found that northern cities like Minnesota and New York saw the most increases in crime during the summer.
Researchers concluded that the County of Waukesha saw some of the highest increase in the Country in crime during the summer months, at 35%. The City of Milwaukee sees an increase in crime rates of 18%.
Law enforcement agencies in northern cities say it’s likely that colder temperatures during the winter bring down overall crime rates, making the summer increase a higher jump.
How to Protect Yourself
When crime rates are at their peak, it is important to protect yourself and your family.
Exercise common sense, and keep your doors and windows locked, especially when you aren’t home. You may also want to consider replacing your locks or investing in a home security system.
If you haven’t already, make friends with your neighbors. Friendly neighbors are more likely to look out for each other. Just as you expect your neighbors to speak up if they notice suspicious activity around your home, do the same for them.
Don’t assume someone else has reported the suspicious vehicle or individual you’ve seen. Police encourage citizens to help be their eyes and ears by staying alert and making the call when something catches their eye.
We hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer. If however you or someone you know is charged with a crime it is very important that you must choose an experienced attorney who can properly fight for you. Contact us today to set up a free consultation. Please contact us by text or phone at (414) 774-6000 or email at laura@jlfwisconsin.com anytime.
*Any articles in the Libra or posted by Jones Law Firm LLC are not legal advice for a particular client or situation. Further no attorney-client relationship is intended or created with this post.*
