NCJ Number
224157
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 225-238
Date Published
April 2008
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article examines the relationship between the weather and crime in eastern Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
The article indicates that higher rates of murder, manslaughter, and bodily injury resulting in death occurred on sunny days than on non-sunny days. In addition to increased activity of people on sunny days, unstable and uncomfortable weather may result in crime through induction of psychiatric stress. More hit-and-run cases occurred on rainy days than on non-rainy days, and unstable weather was also thought to be associated with traffic crimes. It was noted that the largest number of autopsies was associated with days on which the weather was unstable. As other reports have indicated a correlation between climate and crime, this work sought to examine the correlation between climatic factors and forensic autopsies. It also concluded that weather factors, in addition to social factors, were important in murder and in fatalities due to hit-and-run traffic crimes. Data were derived from 204 cases of murder or bodily injury resulting in death and 58 cases of hit and run traffic deaths investigated in the eastern part of Tokyo. These cases were among 471 forensic autopsies conducted from 1998 to 2002. Tables, figures, and references