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Crime, Geography of

  • By: James L. LeBeau
  • In: Encyclopedia of Geography
  • Edited by: Barney Warf
  • Subject:General Geography, Earth & Environmental Science

The geography of crime includes analyses of how criminal law defines crime, various approaches to the study of crime, the different types of crime, and crime mapping. This entry reviews the emergence and evolution of geographical research on crime, from the 19th century to the present day.

Criminal Law and the Causes of Crime

Often, during the first lecture of an introductory criminology course, the professor will pose the question “What causes crime?” After a few students respond, the professor will provide the answer: “Criminal laws cause crime! “To avoid the appearance of being facetious, the professor may bring up the 19th-century European maxim of Nullum crimen sine lege, nulla poena sine lege, that is, there is no crime or penalty without law. Specific behaviors, processes, ...

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