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Historical Co-offending Networks: A Social Network Analysis Approach

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  • Grace Di Méo

Abstract

Recent decades have witnessed growing use of social network analysis (SNA) to study criminal activities, including that of co-offending. However, few studies have examined co-offending networks within a historical context. This paper focuses on group-based crime in a large English town during the Victorian period, employing SNA methods to examine the prevalence, structure and composition of co-offending relationships. Networks for property, violent and victimless crimes were partitioned to compare co-offending across crime categories. Results indicate that co-offending groups were typically segregated, although there was a loosely-organised community of property crime offenders connected by ‘brokers’ who collaborated with multiple groups. Evidence also suggests that co-offending was largely characterised by assortative mixing in regard to sex, age and marital status.

Suggested Citation

  • Grace Di Méo, 2023. "Historical Co-offending Networks: A Social Network Analysis Approach," The British Journal of Criminology, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, vol. 63(6), pages 1591-1611.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:crimin:v:63:y:2023:i:6:p:1591-1611.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/bjc/azad005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carlo Morselli & Katia Petit, 2007. "Law-Enforcement Disruption of a Drug Importation Network," Global Crime, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 109-130, May.
    2. David Bright & Chad Whelan & Marie Ouellet, 2022. "Assessing variation in co-offending networks," Global Crime, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 101-121, January.
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