Time and Space Compression in Criminology
John M. Landry · 2008
This report discusses the effect of globalization on the perception of time and space and the subsequent compression of those entities. It explores facts surrounding crime rate increases and international issues and discusses evolving crime patterns and new types of offenses. In addition, the article examines social compression theory and the compression of time and space and the subsequent effect it has had on twenty-first century crime, including computer crimes (cybercrimes) and traditional crimes that have now been affected by the Internet’s ability to link victims with offenders. It also discusses criminological theories as they relate to contemporary cybercrime and computer-related crime issues. This paper defines the phenomenon of time and space compression and attempts to explain changes in crimes and crime causation in terms of this phenomenon. It is not a common term, at least not yet; however, time and space compression can be easily explained and understood. Like other academic terms or phrases, time and space compression sounds much more scientific and academic than it really is. The term