Environmental Criminology Traditional Criminology studies the origins of the offender’s criminal propensity. Environmental Criminology studies the other elements of the criminal event. EC stresses the importance of: decision making by offenders and others routine activities environment imposed constraints place imposed constraints situation imposed constraints EC assumes that offenders and victims generally use time and space in a normal (not unique or pathological) way.

Environmental Criminology 6/5/2019 Environmental Criminology Concerned with Crime not Criminals Focus on the Presence or Absence of Opportunities to Offend The Distribution of Crime is a Function of the Distribution of Opportunities To Offend Has Important Implications for Crime Prevention.

Crime Pattern Theory Offenders travel like everyone else They go no farther than they need to They find targets in their normal travels They do not use unusual methods of travel They try not to travel huge distances They often do not make special efforts to find targets

Probability of Target Selection

Routine Activity Theory 6/5/2019 Routine Activity Theory Three elements must converge in time and space for a crime to occur; Motivated offender Suitable Target Value Inertia Visibility Accessibility Lack of capable guardians The lack of any one of these elements can prevent crime

Routine Activity Theory 6/5/2019 Routine Activity Theory When offenders & targets meet at places repeatedly without controllers crime concentrations appear. Handler Guardian Offender Target Crime 3 Repeat Types: Targets/Victims Offenders Places Place Manager

Absence of a Capable Guardian 6/5/2019 Absence of a Capable Guardian A capable guardian is anything, either a person or thing, that discourages crimes from taking place. These can be formal or informal. Police Patrols Security Guards Locks Fences Lighting

6/5/2019 A Suitable Target A Person An Object A Place

VIVA Value, Inertia, Visibility, Access 6/5/2019 VIVA Value, Inertia, Visibility, Access Value - The offender must either value the target for what they gain or value the effect they have on it. Inertia - The size or weight of an item can effect how suitable it is. Visibility - How visible a target is can affect its suitability. Access - If a target is easy to get to, this increases its suitability.

Motivated Offenders Why People Commit Crime Gain/Need 6/5/2019 Motivated Offenders Why People Commit Crime Gain/Need Poverty or a drug habit Society/Experience/Environment Peer pressure, coercion, lack of education Beliefs Belief that some crimes aren’t wrong, protest

6/5/2019 So, for a crime to occur: ...a motivated offender must find a suitable target in the absence of a capable guardian...

Elements of Routine Activity Theory 6/5/2019 Elements of Routine Activity Theory A suitable target is available. There is a lack of a capable guardian to prevent the crime from happening. A motivated offender is present.

The Problem Analysis Triangle Revisited 6/5/2019 The Problem Analysis Triangle Revisited

The Complete Problem Analysis Triangle 6/5/2019 The Complete Problem Analysis Triangle

6/5/2019 Offenders can sometimes be controlled by other people: these people are know as handlers. Targets and victims can sometimes be protected by other people: those people are known as guardians. Places are usually controlled by someone: those people are known as managers

A First Cut at Prevention 6/5/2019 A First Cut at Prevention Remove one of these elements Handler Guardian Offender Target Place Manager Add one of these controllers

Situational Crime Prevention 6/5/2019 Situational Crime Prevention Too much emphasis on the origins of criminal disposition and not enough emphasis on the role of opportunity Disposition are hard to change Societal conditions are hard to change Opportunities are easier to manipulate The nature of criminal opportunities influence the amount, nature, and location of crime.

25 Crime Prevention Methods 6/5/2019 25 Crime Prevention Methods INCREASE RISK Extend guardianship Assist natural surveillance Reduce anonymity Use place managers Strengthen formal surveillance REDUCE PROVOCATIONS Reduce stress Avoid disputes Reduce emotional arousal Neutralize peer pressure Discourage imitation INCREASE THE EFFORT Harden targets Control access to facilities Screen exits Deflect offenders Control tools/weapons REDUCE REWARDS Conceal targets Remove targets Identify property Disrupt markets Deny benefits REMOVE EXCUSES Set rules Post instructions Alert conscience Assist compliance Control alcohol & drugs

Crime Pattern Theory Revisited 6/5/2019 Crime Pattern Theory Revisited

Clustering of Crime/Criminals 6/5/2019 Clustering of Crime/Criminals Repeat offenders focusing on different targets at different places Repeat victims repeatedly attacked by different offenders at different places Repeat places (or “hot spots”) involving different offenders and different targets interacting at the same place

6/5/2019 Incident Clusters Behaviors. Certain behaviors are common to the incidents. Places. Certain places can be common to incidents. Persons. Certain individuals or groups of people can be common to incidents. Times. Certain times can be common to incidents.

Conclusion Opportunity has been neglected in criminology 6/5/2019 Conclusion Opportunity has been neglected in criminology Personal and social variables are important but difficult for police to address Crime is a product of interactions between people and their environment Opportunity theory enhances prevention by focusing as much on targets and guardians as on the offender Displacement rarely becomes a problem Crime opportunity deals with one of the most important and controllable contributing factors of crime, which is the decision to commit crime

6/5/2019 The 80-20 Rule Generally, a small number of things are responsible for a large proportion of outcomes. For example, a small number of hurricanes account for a large amount of the overall damage. Similarly, small numbers of offenders (20%) are responsible for a large number (80%) of the crimes; or, 20% of the victims may account for 80% of the victimizations; or, 20% of places are the locations for 80% of the crimes. The percentages vary by the particular problem, but the rule is important because crime is highly concentrated on particular people, places, and things.

Does the 80-20 Rule Apply? Repeat Offenders 6/5/2019 Does the 80-20 Rule Apply? Repeat Offenders Repeat Targets/Victims (Hot Products) Repeat Places or Hot Spots (Risky Facilities) Repeat Times – crimes may also be concentrated in time (e.g., DWI on Friday nights).

Rational Choice Theory 6/5/2019 Rational Choice Theory Decisions to offend are constrained by time, cognitive ability and information “Perceptions” of the situation and of risks and rewards is more important that actual circumstances Decisions vary by the different stages of the offense and among different offenders Individuals who are not normally “criminals” may choose to offend based on the perceived risks and rewards If offenders choose to commit crimes based on a number of factors, then those factors can be altered to discourage them from choosing to offend Crime in many circumstances is not inevitable!!

Opportunity Theory Principle “Opportunity Makes the Thief” 6/5/2019 Opportunity Theory Principle “Opportunity Makes the Thief”

10 Principles of Crime Opportunity 6/5/2019 10 Principles of Crime Opportunity Opportunities play a role in causing all crime, not just common property crime. Crime opportunities are highly specific. Crime opportunities are concentrated in time and space. Crime opportunities depend on everyday movements of activity. 5. One crime produces the opportunities for another.

10 Principles of Crime Opportunity 6/5/2019 10 Principles of Crime Opportunity Some products offer more tempting crime opportunities. Social and technological changes produce new crime opportunities. Crime can be prevented by reducing opportunities. Reducing opportunities does not usually displace crime. Focused opportunity reduction can produce wider declines in crime.

Conclusion Opportunity has been neglected in criminology 6/5/2019 Conclusion Opportunity has been neglected in criminology Personal and social variables are important but difficult for police to address Crime is a product of interactions between people and their environment Opportunity theory enhances prevention by focusing as much on targets and guardians as on the offender Displacement rarely becomes a problem Crime opportunity deals with one of the most important and controllable contributing factors of crime, which is the decision to commit crime

6/5/2019 Thank You!