Summer is often associated with fun in the sun, outdoor activities, and vacations. However, it can also bring an increase in crime. The summer months have been linked to an uptick in violent crimes like murder, assault, and robbery. But why does this happen? In this article, we'll explore the common types of crimes that occur during the summer season and potential causes for the rise in criminal activity during these months.
Potential Causes for Increased Criminal Activity During Summer Months
So why do violent crimes increase during the summer? There are several potential explanations for this phenomenon. One theory is that higher temperatures can lead to increased aggression and irritability among individuals, leading them to act in violent ways. Other accepted explanations for an increase in violent crimes in the summer include:
Long days. During the summer, the days are longer, and it stays sunnier and lighter for a longer time, which gives people more opportunity to commit a crime.
Alcohol consumption. Alcohol can affect a person’s impulse control and emotional stability and is often a contributing factor in crimes throughout the year. During the summer, people often have more free time and opportunities to drink, which can lead to an increase in crime.
Summer vacation. As school is out, children have more opportunities to commit violent crime; assault is a very common crime that juveniles commit.
Social interaction. During the summer, especially during summer holidays, people gather more frequently. At gatherings, people may get into altercations that lead to violent crime charges.
Supporting Data & Research
Research has found concrete evidence linking violent crime rates with seasonal changes - specifically an increase in serious violence during the summer months compared to winter, spring and fall seasons. A study conducted by researchers at Arizona State University found that there was a significant correlation between higher temperatures and increased criminal activity over time. Additionally, data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that most violent crimes against persons occur during summer months compared to other seasons throughout the year.
Common Summer Crimes
Here are the top five most common crimes that occur during the summer season:
Theft. Theft is one of the most common crimes during the summer months as people can become careless with their belongings while enjoying outdoor activities or traveling on vacation.
Vandalism. Vandalism is another type of crime that tends to be more prevalent during summer months due to increased numbers of people, especially juveniles, out and about. Vandalism can range from graffiti on public property to destruction of private property such as cars or buildings.
Assault. Assault is a violent crime that often occurs during summer months due to increased levels of aggression caused by higher temperatures and longer days. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), assault accounted for nearly 20% of all violent crimes reported in 2019.
Robbery. Robbery is another type of violent crime that tends to be more common during summer months due to increased opportunities for criminals looking for easy targets while people are out enjoying themselves or traveling on vacation. The BJS reports that robbery accounted for nearly 10% of all violent crimes reported in 2019.
Drug crimes. Drug offenses tend to be more prevalent during summer months due to increased availability and use of drugs among young people who have more free time on their hands than usual due to school being out for vacation or other reasons such as travel restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic this past year.
Experienced & Reliable Criminal Defense Attorneys
Backed by over four decades of collective experience, the attorneys at Balbo & Gregg, Attorneys at Law, PC offer aggressive legal counsel to our criminal defense clients. Once you retain our services, our attorneys can support you throughout the entirety of case. From investigating the prosecutorial claims and evidence to negotiating plea deals and developing a personalized case strategy, our team is equipped to help you or a loved one defend against:
Assault and battery
Drug crimes
Theft crimes
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Sex crimes
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