Criminology Professor: Vacant Buildings May Attract Bad Behaviors
August 8, 2014
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Jeffrey Ian Ross, professor in the University of Baltimore's School of Criminal Justice, tells The Baltimore Sun that vacant buildings are a source of problems that afflict the city. But he urges caution in interpreting the results of a new study that links reports of crime to areas where buildings have been abandoned.
"Vacant buildings are a magnet for all kinds of negative behavior, such as homelessness and drug dealing," Ross said.
However, because the data used in making the link between vacant spaces and crime are reliant only on crimes reported to police, the correlation may not be all that clear. The amount of unreported crime could change the outcome, he said.
Read the article.
Learn more about Prof. Ross.