Routine Activities and Rational Choice Theories Routine Activities

Routine Activities and Rational Choice Theories

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

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

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

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

Target Suitability Motor vehicles and parts Electronic appliances Large, durable goods Furniture Amount stolen per $100 spent $26. 44 $6. 82 $0. 08 $0. 12 Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979

Household Guardianship Burglary/Robbery Rates (per 1, 000) Number in Household Age Two +. 095. 079 Ratio 18 -35 36 -55 One. 20. 161 56 + . 107 . 01 1. 76 All Ages . 144 . 081 1. 78 2. 11 2. 04 Also, proportion of households unattended has increased over time Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979

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

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

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