A Theoretical Examination of Migration and Violent Offending in Undefended Urban Environments

Given the importance of preventing violent behaviors in metropolitan areas by migrants, this study aims to examine the role of migration in the perpetration of violent acts within defenseless urban spaces. A mixed-methods approach was employed in this research. Secondary data analysis was used to identify the violent behaviors of migrants and their frequency, while participatory observation and correlation methods were utilized to understand defenseless spaces and the reasons behind variations in the types of violent behaviors among migrants. In this study, by reviewing prominent urban theories, 124 crime-prone areas in Tehran were selected as case studies, and data from 384 individuals—determined via Cochran’s formula—were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The findings indicate that both physical and social dimensions of urban spaces contribute to their defenselessness. Regarding the types of violence, social factors play a greater role than physical factors in making spaces vulnerable to harassment by migrants and have a stronger influence in predisposing areas to bag-snatching and physical altercations. In contrast, physical factors are more influential in predisposing spaces to theft by migrants. Individuals with lower education levels (illiterate or elementary education) who migrate from smaller towns to metropolitan areas—primarily for higher income and through individual migration—are more prone to committing violent acts (theft, bag-snatching, harassment, and physical altercations). However, as their duration of migration increases (beyond five years), their likelihood of criminal behavior decreases. Overall, theft is the most prevalent crime among migrants.