Multivariate characterization and mapping of the profiles of environmental offenders: The case of Barinas, Venezuela

Abstract

A multivariate characterization and subsequent cartography of the profiles of a sample of 164 environmental criminals of the Barinas state, Venezuela, was carried out, based on information coming from the sentences published by the courts of this state, during the 2005-2014 period. To develop the profiles, the two-stage cluster analysis was used. The multivariate sociodemographic profiling showed four types of ecological offenders: 1) Mixed group (men and women); 2) Young group, which is the largest with 43.5% of individuals in the sample; 3) Group of married; and 4) Group of foreigners, which is the lowest (12.9%). The other result shows that the commission of environmental crimes presents a marked geospatial dependence since they tend to be concentrated on the central and southwestern municipalities of the state.