1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Probability of Target Selection

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 6/5/2019
A Suitable Target
A Person
An Object
A Place

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 6/5/2019
So, for a crime to occur: ...a motivated offender must find a suitable target in the absence of a capable guardian...

12. 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.

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 6/5/2019
The 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.

24. Does the 80-20 Rule Apply? Repeat Offenders
6/5/2019
Does the 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).

25. 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!!

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

27. 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.
One crime produces the opportunities for another.

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 6/5/2019
Thank You!