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Crime Patterns: Routine Activities & Rational Choice Theories

Explore how Routine Activities & Rational Choice Theories explain direct contact predatory crime and crime patterns, focusing on suitable targets, guardianship, and offender motivation. Discover implications for crime prevention strategies.

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Crime Patterns: Routine Activities & Rational Choice Theories

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  1. Routine Activities andRational Choice Theories

  2. Routine Activities Theory • Direct contact predatory violations • Illegal activities feed off of legal activities

  3. Three Necessary Conditions for Direct Contact Predatory Crime • Suitable target • Lack of capable guardianship • Motivated offender - assumed

  4. Criminal Motivation Assumed • Motivation is ever-present • Variation in suitable targets and capable guardianship explains crime patterns

  5. Explaining Crime Patterns • Increase in household burglary 1950-1980 • Robbery victimization peaks at night

  6. Target Suitability Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979

  7. Household GuardianshipBurglary/Robbery Rates (per 1,000) Also, proportion of households unattended has increased over time Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979

  8. Rational Choice Theory • Routine activities takes macro-level view • Rational choice takes a situational view • Complimentary perspectives

  9. Rational Choice Theory • Bounded rationality decision making • Offenders are opportunists

  10. Implications for Crime Prevention • If offenders decisions are situationally bounded, then how should we go about reducing offending?

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