When the temperatures are low, Court Street revelers are more likely to go home than pick a fight, according to local law enforcement.
When it's cold and nasty
people hurry to get from point A to point B said Chief Andrew Powers of the Ohio University Police Department, adding that rush limits vandalism and theft.
Statistics and on-the-field experience indicate cold weather deters certain types of crime, said Richard Mayer, Athens Police chief, adding, however, no studies have been done locally.
The Athens Police Department responded to four assaults in December when students were out for break, the lowest number for a month between March 2008 and February 2009. During that period, the least amount of burglaries were logged in January with three recorded, and domestic violence reports were lowest in December with three.
Winter months are less busy with outdoor activities that lead to arrests, Powers said.
There are no street parties in the middle of winter Powers said.
Holidays are an exception to the rule. Violence from high-stress family situations, drunken driving from holiday parties and theft for Christmas presents keeps Athens Police busy in November and December, Mayer said.
People get together with relatives
cram a bunch of people into one house
and tempers flare
Powers said.
All else equal, the summer months tend to see the most crime. Outdoor parties with plenty of alcohol and higher temperatures encourage irritability and fights, said Lt. Bryan Cooper of the Athens County Sheriff's Office.
It's easier to get set off when you're hot
Cooper said.
The Athens County Sheriff's Office responded to 35 dispute calls in August, five times December's number. A dispute is any argument deputies respond to, not necessarily involving physical violence. Domestic disputes or violence peaked in August with 47 calls compared to 17 calls in December.
Last year, Five Fest expanded into the county where the city's noise ordinance does not apply, Cooper said. Policing that event increased dispute calls in May. The Athens County Sheriff's Office responded to 13 calls for loud music or parties in May, its busiest month for noise calls.
Assaults in the county were highest in early winter and late summer. Cooper said the November and December fights might be spurred by being cramped inside houses.
Crime handled by OU and Athens police did not peak in the summer, when most students leave, but warm weather in early fall and spring still facilitates the parties and fights that keep both departments busy.
Athens police logged the 25 assaults in September, the highest of this past year. November was the second-busiest month with 22 assaults, with many carrying over from Halloween, Mayer said.
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Jessie Balmert
