Are crime rates typically higher during the summer months?
Saturday, June 27, 2020
By Jacqueline Agustin
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YES
A 2014 report by the U.S. Department of Justice looked at seasonal variations in crime data over the years from 1993 to 2010. Differences between seasons were found generally to be in the single-digit percentage range. Crimes such as household property crime, intimate partner violence, and gun violence were more frequent in summer. For example, the rate of "intimate partner violence" was 11.5% higher in winter than summer. The rate of "serious violence involving weapons" was 6% lower in winter.
A 2019 study looked at Los Angeles data and concluded that days when the temperature climbed above 85 degrees saw a 2.2% increase in overall crime and a 5.7% increase in violent crime.
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