Outdoor Lighting

This report examines the impacts of street lighting on crime rates in New York City. In 2014 the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) identified increased street lighting as a potential strategy to reduce outdoor nighttime crime in and around New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing developments. In response to these discussions, the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab New York (CLNY) partnered with the city to design a randomized study of the effect of temporary outdoor lighting on crime in NYCHA developments in all five boroughs of New York City. The study sought to estimate the impact and cost-effectiveness of temporary street lights on crime and other measures of community well-being. The study found robust crime reductions outside at night, specifically for index crimes, felony crimes and, to a lesser degree, assault, homicide, and weapons crimes.