The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Crime

Abstract

Since the emergence of COVID-19, people around the world have been immobilized by mandatory lockdown restrictions and social distancing protocols. The opportunity for crime to occur changes as more people remain stuck at home. While overall crime rates have declined worldwide during COVID-19 restrictions, certain types of crimes have increased. Specifically, cybercrime, intimate partner violence, and anti-Asian hate crimes have become exacerbated consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the aforementioned forms of crime during the ongoing pandemic, specifically discussing their development and prevalence. This paper informs the need to address increasing rates of cybercrime, anti-Asian hate crime, and intimate partner violence during the pandemic and thereafter. Further research is warranted on these specific crimes as COVID-19 continues to spread around the world.