Investigation of the Spatial Pattern of Crime in Regional Levels

A brief look at the phenomenon of crime and violence generally in the world and particularly in Iran, suggests that crime occurrence especially drug-related crime can cause negative and unbearable physically, mentally and financially effects on human, social and economic developmentThe present research, with the aim of identifying and analyzing the spatial patterns of crime in zonal levels, and study of spatial patterns of committing the crimes of drug dealing and drug abusing crimes in Southern Khorasan province has tried to study the relation between the residential place and the activity of wrongdoers with the crime occurance place, ratio of crimes to population of each district and township of the province and rural and urban habitats of the province. The research method used for the patterns of crime occurance place in Southern Khorasan province was a combination of the two methods of spatial and ecological analysis. Based on finding of this paper, drug dealing and drug abusing crimes have occurred more in Birjand and Nehbandan parish in comparing with other towns of Southern Khorasan province. The crime rate was about 501-800 crimes and this rate was less in Darmian and Sarayan parish (less than 60 crimes in each parish). The general evaluation of spatial patterns of crime distribution in Khorasan area shows that the strategic and important road between Nehbandan and Ferdous which links the important cities of this region and the flows of narcotic from east to west in this line has a significant role in this pattern. It seems that for improving the security and reducing crime especially drug-related crimes in Southern Khorasan province, these suggestions should be considered as a priority for people in charge to control crime in this province, including:giving priority to the prevention strategies, remarking cultural and educational solutions with the aim of crime prevention, encouraging the public participation and using modern technologies such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) on policing are the most effective policies for controlling crime in southern Khorasan province.