Where and when? Examining spatiotemporal aspects of sexual assault events Samantha Balemba & Eric Beauregard* Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Abstract This research investigates the where and when of sexual assaults to determine what types of sexual crimes are committed at different time and place classifications. Exhaustive CHAID (chi-squared automatic interaction detection) analyses are conducted, examining factors associated with crimes that were committed indoors or outdoors, in private or public places, during the day or at night, and during the week or on the weekend. These methods are applied to a sample of 361 sexual crime events committed by 72 serial sex offenders. The results are strikingly different dependent on which spatial or temporal aspect of the crime is examined, which implies the complexity of sexual crime events and their situational components. This research brings to light possible policy implications with respect to situational crime prevention. Keywords CHAID; serial sex offending; situational crime prevention; spatial; temporal; time and place Introduction Most studies examining the offending patterns of sex offenders have neglected to consider their spatiotemporal characteristics. However, recent policies and legislations specific to sex offenders have highlighted the importance of investigating times and places of sexual assaults. For instance, where and when the crime is committed is central to measures of residence restriction, registration, curfews and community notification. To begin to comprehend spatial and temporal patterns of sex offending requires in-depth examination into the decision-making processes of these offenders. Why does the offender decide to commit his crime at that time and in that location? Does he need to act in the dark in order to not to be recognised by his victim? Does he need to act in a public location, such as a park, to gain access to potential victims? Does he act during the day and in a private location, such as his home, to be able to get his victim to participate in the sexual abuse without risking being interrupted? These are not questions easily answered, especially if the goal is to extrapolate to meaningful groups of offenders and affect policy change. *Corresponding author: E-mail: ebeaureg@sfu.ca Journal of Sexual Aggression, 2013 Vol. 19, No. 2, 171190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2012.703702 # 2013 National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers