Abstract: In this study the spatial distribution of crimes along public walkways and trails in Santa Clarita, California was analyzed using ArcGIS. Ripley’s K Function, Optimized Hot Spot Analysis and geoprocessing tools were used to determine the frequency, area, clustering and statistical significance of Santa Clarita crimes that occurred on public walkways. The analysis was performed on violent and non-violent crimes that were committed within the City of Santa Clarita from 2011 to 2015. The hot spot analysis showed statistically significant clusters of crime throughout all five years in three main areas of Santa Clarita: Valencia, Santa Clarita and Canyon Country. A 30.5 meter buffer was extended from the Santa Clarita trails and was intersected with the hot spot analysis for each year resulting in areas of trail that cross a hot spot. The crimes that landed within the hot spot areas of the 30.5 meter trail buffer were statistically analyzed and graphed to show the change year to year from 2011 to 2015. The results found there to be a relationship between the spatial distribution of crime and the orientation of the trails, but causation is dependent on more variables. 

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