This article, titled “Where the Action Is at Places: Examining Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Juvenile Crime and Places Using Trajectory Analysis and GIS”, focuses on the theory that “crime places” (i.e. places where crime occur) are more helpful in crime prevention than focusing on individual people who have committed crimes. Written in 2009 by Groff et al, this work draws from the theories of environmental criminology and routine activity theory, which emphasize the role of places in impeding or inspiring criminal activity. This analysis aims to answer the question of whether micro areas (such a blocks) vary in their criminal activity, or whether these aggregations occur on more of a macro geographic level (neighborhoods, Census Tracts, etc.). Through a dataset created by Weisburg et al of juvenile crime in Seattle, WA over a 14 year period, trajectory analysis, and spatial autocorrelation, Groff et al found that there were both positive and negative relationships between the different blocks.
Overall, I found this analysis to be quite interesting. The article was quite long, over 20 pages, so I do believe that they could have shortened it, or added interesting facts about the Seattle area as opposed to GIS issues that were not necessary. I wish the maps were in color as well, but I know that choice was likely up to the journal. I would score this analysis an 8.5 out of 10.