Could cutting urban blight reduce teen murders?
Monday, March 7, 2016 - 12:00
in Psychology & Sociology
Analyzing the immediate neighborhood surroundings of teenaged homicide victims, Philadelphia researchers found that neglected conditions -- vacant lots, poor street lighting, fewer parks and less-traveled thoroughfares --were in much greater abundance compared to neighborhoods where adolescents were safer. Without attributing cause-and-effect, the new study adds to previous research suggesting that modifying specific outdoor features with low-cost improvements may foster community interaction and potentially reduce youth violence in cities.