Understanding the Spatial Patterns of Police Activity and Mental Health in a Canadian City

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarah Hodgkinson ◽  
Martin A. Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Point Pattern ◽  
Calls For Service ◽  
Canadian City ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Density Analysis ◽  
Kernel Density Analysis ◽  
The City

Mental health–related calls for service are increasing across Canadian communities. However, the spatial dynamics of these calls for service and their potential relationship with concentrations of crime has not been fully investigated in the Canadian context. The current study examines mental health and other calls for service in a medium-sized (approximate population of 250,000), midwestern Canadian city in the year 2014. Using kernel density analysis and a spatial point pattern test, the study explores the concentration and spatial patterns of mental health calls for service across the city. Findings indicate that mental health calls for service differ from other crime-related calls for service, except for violent crime. Possible explanations for this pattern and considerations for policy and policing are discussed.

scholarly journals Geographical modelling based on spatial differentiation of fire brigade actions: A case study of Brno, Czech Republic

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (35) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Popelínský ◽  
Jan Vachuda ◽  
Ondřej Veselý
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Spatial Differentiation ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Fire Brigade ◽  
Open Access Database ◽  
Density Analysis ◽  
Kernel Density Analysis ◽  
The City

Abstract The paper analyzes crisis situations solved by The Fire Rescue Service of the South Moravian Region (FRS) in the city of Brno during 24 weeks between 7th April 2013 and 20th September 2013. The article deals briefly with all FRS actions and then focuses on fires. The open-access database of FRS is used for analysis. It is accessed from a database of the innovative web application StreetAlert, which allows users to learn about current fire brigade actions in the specified distance from the mobile phone. The data are processed in PostgreSQL and then spatial analysis is performed using the most detailed administrative division of the city – basic settlement units. As this division of urban space is used also in the most recent Czech census (2011), it is possible to use sociodemographic statistical data for comparison. The article identifies spatial regularities in the distribution of fires, describes the structure of the fires in terms of the type of event (fires of waste, fires of grass and forest, fires of buildings), discovers their possible dependence on the specific characteristics of urban space, finds potentially dangerous places (kernel density analysis), draws valid conclusions applicable to similar settlements, and shows the possible use of the data for local government. The main benefit of the research lies in revealing the spatial distribution of the examined phenomena.

scholarly journals ECOLOGY OF CRIME IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREA – SPATIAL PATTERNS OF CRIME IN NIS (SERBIA)

2020 ◽  
pp. 037
Author(s):  
Dušan Stanković
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Routine Activity Theory ◽  
Point Pattern ◽  
Spatial Point Pattern ◽  
Spatial Point ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City ◽  
Spatial Point Pattern Test ◽  
Crime Pattern

Ecological perspective in criminology has been introduced with the cartographic school at the beginning of criminology science. Ecology theory of crime has been developed in the city of Chicago and it is followed by the routine activity theory, crime pattern theory, and rational choice theory. The impact of the ecological theory in research of crime is noticeable in today's studies too. Modern scientists, researchers, and practitioners are studying crime using the geographic information system, mapping crime, using statistical and geostatistical methods. With the aim to study spatial patterns of crime, empirical research of the poverty and violent criminal acts committed in the City of Nis, Republic of Serbia, during the years 2008, 2013 and 2018. All the cases are geocoded into spatial units that represent urban and suburban areas in Nis. A descriptive statistic is used to identify areas where crime happens the most. The application of Andersen’s Spatial Point Pattern Test is used to check the hypothesis that spatial crime pattern is stable over time. This hypothesis is not confirmed and it is found that crime move from the city core towards cities’ urban and suburban settlements. The results from the empirical research are of scientific and practical value. This kind of spatial analysis is one of the first in Serbia and Balkans, and the application of the Spatial Point Pattern Test is very first in this region. The results could be useful when creating security strategies and policies to prevent crime by the police, decision-makers, and others.

Variations in Mental Health Act calls to police: an analysis of hourly and intra-week patterns

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Vaughan ◽  
Kathryn E. Wuschke ◽  
Ashley N. Hewitt ◽  
Tarah Hodgkinson ◽  
Martin A. Andresen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Circular Statistics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Police Service ◽  
Calls For Service ◽  
Health Related

Purpose Investigating the day of week and hour of day temporal patterns of crime typically show that (late) nights and weekends are the prime time for criminal activity. Though instructive, mental-health-related calls for service are a significant component of police service to the community that have not been a part of this research. The purpose of this paper is to analyze calls for police service that relate to mental health, using intimate partner/domestic related calls for police service for context. Design/methodology/approach Approximately 20,000 mental health related and 20,000 intimate partner/domestic related calls for police service are analyzed. Intra-week and intra-day temporal patterns are analyzed using circular statistics. Findings Mental-health-related calls for police service have a distinct temporal pattern for both days of the week and hours of the day. Specifically, these calls for police service peak during the middle of the week and in the mid-afternoon. Originality/value This is the first analysis regarding the temporal patterns of police calls for service for mental health-related calls. The results have implications for police resourcing and scheduling, especially in the context of special teams for addressing mental health-related calls for police service.

scholarly journals Financial Fraud, Mental Health, and Quality of Life: A Study on the Population of the City of Madrid, Spain

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Encarnación Sarriá ◽  
Patricia Recio ◽  
Ana Rico ◽  
Manuel Díaz-Olalla ◽  
Belén Sanz-Barbero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Financial Fraud ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The City

Over the past few decades, the financial system has engaged in abusive practices that meet the definition of fraud. Our objective is to compare the prevalence of psychological distress and levels of health-related quality of life according to having been exposed to financial fraud and its economic impact on family finances. The City of Madrid Health Survey 2017 included specific questions on exposure to financial fraud—this section was administered to half of the participants (n = 4425). Mental health need or caseness was defined by a score greater than two on the 12-item version of the Goldberg health questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the Darmouth Coop Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA (COOP/WONCA). The prevalence of financial fraud was 10.8%. The prevalence rate ratio for caseness of those who experienced severe economic impact due to fraud was 1.62 (95%, CI 1.17–2.25; reference: no fraud), after adjustment by age, sex, social class, and immigrant status. Women experienced a decreased quality of life, even with a moderate impact of fraud, while men experienced a decreased quality of life related to fraud with severe economic impact. The current study contributes to a growing body of literature showing the effects of economic shocks on health as a result of financial fraud.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Mental Health: An Examination of 911 Calls for Service

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim M Lersch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Calls For Service ◽  
Spot Area ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Suicide Threats ◽  
The City ◽  
Zip Code

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the rate and geographic distribution of 911 calls for service related to mental health issues during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the City of Detroit, MI, USA. The results suggest that the total number of calls for mental health issues was at the lowest level when compared with the same time period for the previous 3 years. Furthermore, as both the daily reported COVID-19 cases and related deaths increased over time, there was a significant decline in both suicide threats and suicides in progress. Significant hot spots were found for the total calls as well as for threats of suicide. These hot spots did not coincide with the spatial distribution of reported cases of COVID-19 by ZIP code. While higher and lower areas of reported cases were found, these differences by ZIP code were not found to be significant. When compared with the previous 3 years of data, the hot spot area was much smaller in 2020, implying that the mental health-related calls for service were more evenly spread throughout the city.

scholarly journals The limits of our knowledge: tracking the size and scope of police involvement with persons with mental illness

FACETS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 424-448
Author(s):  
Laura Huey ◽  
Lorna Ferguson ◽  
Adam D. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Calls For Service ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Suicide Threats ◽  
Police Interactions

Significant public discourse has focused recently on police–civilian interactions involving with persons with mental illness (PMI). Despite increasing public attention, and growing demands for policy change, little is actually known about the myriad of ways in which Canadian police encounter PMI in the context of routine police work. To assist policymakers in developing evidence-informed policy, this paper attempts to shed light on present difficulties associated with addressing fundamental questions, such as the prevalence of mental health related issues in police calls for service. To do this, we attempt to map the size and scope of police calls for service involving PMI, drawing on both the available scientific data and the limited knowledge to be gleaned from available police reports. Our focus is on two broad categories of police interactions with citizens: public safety concerns (wellness checks, suicide threats, missing persons, mental health apprehensions) and crime prevention and response (encountering PMI as victims–complainants and (or) as potential suspects). We also explore the challenges policy-makers face in relying on police data and the importance of overcoming weaknesses in data collection and sharing in relation to the policing of uniquely vulnerable groups. This paper concludes with some key recommendations for addressing gaps highlighted.

scholarly journals Working conditions and mental health functioning among young public sector employees

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110454
Author(s):  
Jaakko Harkko ◽  
Hertta Ranta ◽  
Tea Lallukka ◽  
Hilla Nordquist ◽  
Minna Mänty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Job Control ◽  
Physical Workload ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Public Sector Employees ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The City

Background: The associations between adverse working conditions and mental disorders are well established. However, associations between adverse working conditions and poor mental health functioning is a less explored area. This study examines these associations among younger public sector employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. Methods: We use data from the Young Helsinki Health Study with a representative sample of the employees of the City of Helsinki, aged 19–39 years ( n=4 217). Mental health functioning was measured with mental composite summary of the Short Form 36. Working conditions included factors related to both the psychosocial (job control and job demands) and the physical work environment (physical workload). To examine the associations, we used logistic regression models with adjustments for socio-demographics, other working conditions and health-related covariates. Results: After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, poor health, health behaviours and other occupational exposures, high job demands (OR=1.69; 95% CI=1.45–1.97) and low job control (OR=1.65; 95% CI=1.40–1.94) were associated with poor mental health functioning. High physical workload was not associated with the outcome (OR=0.87; 95% CI=0.72–1.05) after the adjustments. Conclusions: Adverse psychosocial working conditions were associated with mental health functioning, whereas physical working conditions were not. As impaired functioning is likely to cause health-related lost productivity and can lead to work disability, further research and interventions with a balanced approach focusing on both psychosocial working conditions and mental health functioning are recommended.

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