Routine Activity Theory

Demographics:

-According to routine activity theory, demographics are a component in identifying victims of crime. -Research indicates that crime victims are often single men or women, adolescents, and African Americans. -Although it is not a definitive finding, researchers assume that the lifestyle of people who fit a particular demographic may be the cause of victimization. (For example, single men and adolescents become targets for motivated offenders because they tend to spend more time outside their homes.)

Major Components of Routine Activity Theory

-Cohen and Felson, the originators of routine activity theory, suggest that the probability of crime increases when these three components come together in space and time. - motivated offenders are most likely to commit crimes when they are influenced by the routine activities of potential victims -to commit a crime, a motivated offender closely tracks the routine activities of a suitable target to identify times when a capable guardian is absent. -Cohen and Felson propose that the absence of any of the three components of this theory may help prevent crimes

Motivated offender

-An offender who is motivated and capable of committing a crime is necessary for the crime to happen. -these motivated offenders need suitable opportunities to carry out crimes. -suggests that the structural conditions of the environment and communities provide ample motivation for committing a crime. For example, habitual burglars typically come from families that fall below the poverty line. The economic conditions, or surroundings in which they live, give them sufficient motivation to steal habitually. -Cohen and Felson propose that society will always have motivated offenders who are on the lookout for suitable targets when there are no capable guardians around. When they find suitable opportunities to fulfill their needs, they are more likely to commit crimes.

Social activities:

-In the United States, social trends and routine activity structures combine to increase incidents of criminal victimization. -Researchers of routine activity theory claim that the kind of social activities that people pursue may offer possible explanations for criminal victimization. -Today, an increased number of people have an active lifestyle outside their homes. They spend more time in offices, gyms, shopping malls, clubs, and so on. -This is perhaps one of the reasons why more people become targets of motivated offenders in the absence of capable guardians.

Economic status:

-Researchers of routine activity theory propose that criminal victimization is common for people who belong to lower socioeconomic groups. -Their vulnerability makes them more susceptible to crimes, even though they do not possess high-value belongings. -Lower income groups usually lack capable guardians because they belong to troubled families or neighborhoods. Therefore, they become potential targets for motivated offenders. -Another perspective offered by routine activity theory is that victims of crime belong to lower income groups, are often unemployed, and move in the same circles as the motivated offenders. Therefore, there is a higher chance that their social situation may bring them under the influence of offenders.

Alcohol and drug abuse:

-Routine activity theory suggests that habits such as alcohol and drug abuse are linked to violence and abuse, and therefore offer another extension of the opportunity for crime. -Researchers propose that people who habitually consume alcohol and drugs are more likely to be targeted as victims of crime. They often belong to families or surroundings that lack capable guardians; therefore, they are more vulnerable to becoming targets of crime -The degree of vulnerability to crime depends on the setting in which alcohol or drug abuse occurs. (For example, a person consuming alcohol in a public place may be more susceptible to criminal victimization than is a person consuming alcohol at a friend's home.)

Suitable target:

-The intent of the motivated offender and the available opportunities influence the choice of a suitable target for crimes -These targets could be -a person -property -electronic items -vehicles -personal items, and so on. -When a motivated offender wishes to steal a communication device, a cell phone becomes a tempting target if it is lying unattended. -A person wearing attractive jewelry, or carrying cash, can be a suitable target in a deserted area.

Absence of capable guardians

-The routine activity theory suggests that a motivated offender is discouraged from committing a crime in the presence of capable guardians. -Cohen and Felson suggest that: civilians are common capable guardians in a society. Examples of common capable civilian guardians include: -parents and neighbors. -Environmental factors, such as the presence of: security cameras in homes and offices, high walls, or spiked fences around a house or neighborhood, can also serve as capable guardians against crimes. -EXAMPLE- (For example, when motivated offenders notice that their target bank is protected by security guards and the vaults are equipped with modern alarm systems, they are discouraged from robbing the bank. On the other hand, if the offenders discover an absence of tough security systems, they view this as an opportunity to rob the bank.)

Purchase Trends and Routine Activity Theory

-Theorists of routine activity theory suggest that changes in purchase trends after World War II are another important factor leading to criminal victimization. -hen World War II ended, there was a global economic boom accompanied by a spurt in technology, employment, and disposable incomes. There was also an increase in women's participation in the workforce. With more people going to work, travel away from home became commonplace. Therefore, the market for durable goods expanded and there was a boom in the consumer goods industry, with items such as television sets and automobiles leading the trend. -Between 1960 and 1970, sales of consumer goods increased. For example, the shipment of electronic household appliances increased from 56.2 to 119.7 million units. In addition, there was an increase of 71 percent in consumer expenditures for motor vehicles and parts during this time. -According to Consumer Reports Buying Guide, the consumer goods market witnessed a growth trend in the purchase of small, lightweight items. Researchers proposed that this trend of size shrinkage in valuable goods such as television sets, radios, record players, and so on, made them more attractive as targets for motivated offenders, because they were easy to carry away and conceal. -Routine activity theorists proposed that motivated offenders had access to an attractive pool of targets in all situations where consumers could afford to purchase high-value items (For example, in the case of a working couple, typically both partners or spouses had cars. ) -This increases the possibility of both spouses and their cars being targeted by motivated offenders. In addition, people buying more items from retailers and wholesalers increased the level of business activities at various establishments. -This trend not only exposed a higher number of consumers as suitable targets, but also made businesses more vulnerable to motivated offenders and fraud. -Internet fraud is a common crime seen today because of rapid developments in technology. -An increase in the use of the Internet for commerce makes users potential targets of online consumer fraud. -Researchers argue that internet fraud occurs because of a lack of capable guardians, such as network security systems. Therefore, while technology is helpful in many ways, it also provides tempting targets for motivated offenders.

Community structural variables:

-This dimension of opportunity assesses the various aspects of a community or neighborhood. -Researchers suggest that the way people interact in a community and the community setting are two factors that attract potential offenders (or example, neighborhoods with business families may attract property crime. Social activities like frequent trips to public places (such as nightclubs and bars) in some communities that have a deficiency of capable guardians may expose victims to motivated offenders.) -communities with fewer or no security facilities (such as security cameras or protective fencing) make the people in such neighborhoods susceptible to crime.

Routine activity theorists propose that:

-routine activities in people's lives provide opportunities for motivated offenders to commit crimes. -Such offenders often track the day-to-day activities of a suitable target when they plan a crime. (For example, a bank robbery can take place only if motivated offenders track the routine activities of bank personnel and devise a plan to execute the crime.)

A capable guardian

-someone who guards or protects something (or a person) against crimes. -The routine activity theory suggests that a motivated offender is discouraged from committing a crime in the presence of capable guardians. -(Common examples of capable guardians include police officers, security guards, parents, neighbors, and friends)

Dimensions of Opportunity

The two indicators of opportunities for a motivated offender are: -the presence of a suitable target and -the absence of capable guardians. Researchers of the routine activity theory suggest that five lifestyle components are dimensions of opportunity for criminal victimization. Although each component influences crime, researchers argue that a combination of all five explains the process of criminal victimization.

major components of routine activity theory

a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. example: You may be familiar with stories of children stealing cookies from jars when their parents are not around. This example of children's behavior highlights the major components of routine activity theory. These components are: a motivated offender (the child), a suitable target (cookies), and the absence of a capable guardian (the parent).