Spatial Dispersion of Intra-Urban Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract

Studies of the spatial distribution of juvenile delinquency have generally been of a correlational nature. It is felt that geostatistical techniques such as centrography can offer complementary insights into spatial patterns of urban delinquency. The spatial dispersion of delinquent activity of Phoenix, Arizona for 1968 was assessed centrographically to determine differences in the dispersion of groups within selected delinquent populations. Greatest differences in dispersion were found when both offense and residence locations of delinquents were arrayed by ethnic group membership. For most groups of delinquents, it was found that the dispersion of residence locations was greater than was the dispersion of offense locations. Suggestions are made for classroom adaptation of the spatial methodology presented.