What's the Deal with Summer Crimes?

If you asked, just about any first-year law student or police academy newbie could quickly tell you which season is typically the most crime-heavy: Summer.

Of course, this isn’t strictly true—but there is a long-standing idiom that during the hottest months of the year (yes, even in the temperate Pacific Northwest), law enforcement officers and those involved in the legal system will see a little more action in certain areas.

How do we know about summer crime? It’s simple—there’s data.

Studying summer crime goes way back

A 1952 article in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology examined several scholarly papers on the influence of the seasons on crime and crime rates and noted that “in the spring quarter the crimes against the person increase and reach a maximum in the summer, while theft culminates in the winter.”

Yes, the research really goes go back that far. And what’s more, it largely holds. In 2014, a Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that “for household property crimes, the victimization data indicate that there are seasonal patterns in household burglary and larceny, with higher rates in the summer and lower rates during other seasons of the year.” Meanwhile, sexual assaults and crimes including a weapon peaked in the summer.  

The research seems fairly clear—while crime doesn’t necessarily spike across the board in the summertime, certain crimes do tend to see an uptick in the warmer months.

What’s behind the summer crime uptick?

The same thing that makes summer a popular season for vacationers and beach-goers is what many sociologists and legal professionals believe make it ripe for crime.

Heat is believed to play a major role in increased summer crime, and not just because people are more irritable when they’re hot; warm weather tends to lead to more crimes of opportunity, like break-ins due to open car or home windows.

Additionally, tourists and other travelers are more likely to leave their valuables unattended in busy areas (who hasn’t seen a rolling suitcase left standing at Pike Place Market?), which makes petty theft more appealing to criminals.

The increase in summertime crime has many law enforcement agencies on notice—Governing magazine found that many major metropolitan departments launch special summer crime initiatives, which means police are out in full force.

If you’ve been caught in the net of increased summer crime—wrongfully or otherwise—get in touch with one of our attorneys, who believe that every person deserves their day in court, regardless of the season.

If You’ve Been Charged with A Crime in Seattle, Contact the Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers at Baker, Lewis, Schwisow & Laws

The expert defense team at Baker, Lewis, Schwisow & Laws, PLLC vigorously defend the rights of individuals facing a multitude of charges in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our online contact form to get more information or to get a free case review!