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Outline

Gang Territoriality, Graffiti, and Homicides in Los Angeles by Alejandro A Alonso Geography Department University of Southern California

"Introduction" Introduction Hypothesis Purpose Definitions Data & Methodology Findings Conclusion

Introduction Several studies on graffiti in the 1960s and early 1970s emerged. Geographers David Ley and Roman Cybriwsky where the first to study gang graffiti. They identified gang territories by analyzing graffiti. They differentiated between tagger and gang graffiti. Taggers  made temporary claims to space while gangs occupied a more fixed territory.

Definitions Aggressive graffiti: graffiti written by gang members that crosses out the pre-existing graffiti of a rival.  Sometimes it can include disrespectful taunts and threats against a rival gang and or its members, but it must always cross out the other graffiti Gang-related homicide: murders committed by gang members regardless if the victim was a gang member or innocent bystander.

Hypothesis Externally aggressive graffiti messages are more prevalent on the boundaries of gang territories The spatial relationship between aggressive graffiti and gang-related crime should be significant.

Purpose To test the theory that aggressive graffiti is more prevalent on the boundaries of gang territories in Los Angeles. Do gang-related homicides occur more frequently on the boundaries of gangs territories.

Data and Methodology Gang Territories of 1996 collected in the field examining graffiti and conducting interviews Aggressive Gang Graffiti observing graffiti in gang neighborhoods only 60 observances of over 1,000 graffiti sites Gang-Related Homicides provided by LAPD from 1993-1997

Findings Aggressive Graffiti total of 60 occurrences identified as either boundary, interior, or near boundary. Eighty-eight (42) percent occurred on a boundary

Findings Homicides Of the ninety-nine homicides, sixty-five victims were African-American categorized as either boundary, interior, interior near boundary, neutral near boundary, and neutral. Twenty-two percent occurred on a boundary. Interior locations represented sixty percent of the incidences.

Conclusion Aggressive graffiti does occur in more frequency on boundaries similar. Homicides where not more prevalent on the boundaries The geography of aggressive graffiti and homicides is significantly different.