Session: Violent Crime and Alcohol Outlet Density: A Multi-City Exploration (Society for Prevention Research 22nd Annual Meeting)

The goal of this symposium session is to present patterns of violent crime outcomes associated with alcohol outlet density across multiple cities.  These presenters will identify multiple risk and protective factors across each city which supports the conference theme of comprehensive and coordinated prevention systems. 

Presenter 1 will present research on violent crime and drug hot spots and how they are related to individual alcohol and drug use in the city of Flint, MI (currently the city with the highest rates of homicide in the US according to FBI figures). Neighborhood collective efficacy (at the block group level) as well as green space density will be included as predictors in this analysis.  We will also include individual exposure to violence (perpetrator and victim) as well as weapons experience.

Presenter 2 will present the extent to which neighborhood structural resources, as a proxy for collective efficacy, mediate the relationship between alcohol outlet density and youth violent crime at the neighborhood level. We hypothesize that the association between alcohol outlet density and youth violence in neighborhoods will be smaller, or non-existent, in neighborhoods with access to structural resources (parks, recreation centers, libraries, etc.) compared to neighborhoods with minimal access to neighborhood structural resources.

Presenter 3 will present data linking density of alcohol outlets to violent crime rates at the level of census tracts in Chicago.  In addition, this presentation will examine moderation of the effects of alcohol outlets by neighborhood structure characteristics such as concentrated disadvantage, ethnic heterogeneity, and density of other businesses.  Finally, for a sample of 30 neighborhoods, this presentation will explore moderation by neighborhood social processes such as neighborhood cohesion, norms, and informal social control.

Presenter 4 will present data examining the association between the density of alcohol outlets and violent crime in Baltimore, MD. Further, they will explore effects of recent alcohol outlet policies (e.g. restricted hours of operation) on violent crime and perceived student safety on the walk to and from school.  

At the conclusion of the presentations, the chair will moderate a discussion between the presenters and the symposium attendees.  It is expected that meeting participants will understand common risk and protective factors associated with violent outcomes surrounding alcohol outlets.