Unraveling the County-Level Spatial Patterns of Juvenile Delinquency and Its Underlying Determinants in Texas
摘要
Youth crime is a growing concern, posing significant challenges to communities, families, and law enforcement agencies alike. In this study, we examined the distribution pattern of all types of juvenile delinquency and investigated the underlying factors contributing to such patterns within the state of Texas at the county level. Specifically, we employed the Gettis-Ord Gi* Hotspot analysis to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of delinquency. We also utilized geographically weighted regression modeling to identify significant factors associated with juvenile delinquency and engaged in correlation analysis to explore associations between different types of delinquency. The basic statistical and spatial analysis conducted on 15 delinquency types identifies several counties and regions with higher delinquency rates or clustered. It is important to note that a direct linear relationship between juvenile delinquency and the selected variables at the county level cannot be established. Nevertheless, we identify strong correlations among several delinquency types. The results have the potential to enhance our understanding of the distribution of juvenile delinquency within the state of Texas and offer valuable insights for the formulation of effective delinquency prevention policies.