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Rational Choice Theory in Crime Prevention

This chapter delves into the evolution of rational choice theory in criminology, exploring how criminals make decisions and the impact on crime prevention strategies. It covers classical and positivistic views, offender-specific and offense-specific factors, crime rationality, and deterrence mechanisms. The text provides insights on factors influencing criminal behavior and how to structure crime prevention efforts effectively.

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Rational Choice Theory in Crime Prevention

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  1. Choice Theory Chapter 4 SOC 112

  2. Rational Choice • Crime: decision to violate law - greed / revenge / anger / lust / jealousy / etc. • Development - rooted in Classical School - Cesare Beccaria (late 1700s) - fair / certain punishment - crime / punishment: proportional - marginal deterrence • Classical Theory

  3. Choice, cont. - criminals choose - pleasure / pain principle a. Jeremy Bentham (early 1800s) - popularized - Utilitarianism b. Punishment - harmful / existence justified c. Four objectives:

  4. Choice, cont. i. Prevent all criminal offenses ii. Not prevent / convince criminal offenders to commit lesser iii. Ensure criminal uses no more force than is necessary iv. Prevent crime as cheaply as possible d. Classical approach declined • Positivistic view - gains mainstream acceptance

  5. Choice, cont. • Choice Theory emerges a. Public fear – mid 1970s - rehabilitation failed - crime increase - prison violence - media depictions b. Rational criminals – late 1970s - planning / fear punishment / - deserve to be penalized

  6. Choice, cont. c. Impact: crime control - tougher laws - mandatory sentencing - increase prison population • Concepts - factors considered: personal / situational a. Offense-specific crime: - react selectively - characteristics

  7. Concepts, cont. b. Offender-specific: - not automatons - random acts c. Crime versus criminality - crime: an event - criminality: personal trait • Structuring criminality - personal factors condition people

  8. Concepts, cont. a. Economic opportunity b. Learning / experience c. Knowledge of techniques • Structuring crime - rationally choose - where / when a. Choosing the crime (specialists)

  9. Concepts, cont. b. Time and place (select) c. Target (vulnerability) • Is crime rational? - rational / objective thought a. Theft - unplanned: involve risk assessment - boosters? - avoiding detection

  10. Is Crime Rational? - permeable neighborhood? b. Drug use - decision making - like a business c. Violence - vulnerable victims - careful planning - avoid detection - reinforcing

  11. Rational, cont. • Eliminating crime a. Situational crime prevention (1) Targets guarded (2) Defensible space (3) Specific crimes (4) Increase efforts - reduce opportunities

  12. Rational, cont. (5) Reduce rewards - value of crime (6) Increase risk - crime is risky (7) Increase guilt - embarrass offender (8) Costs / benefits

  13. Rational, cont. (a) Diffusion - prevent one / prevent another (b) Discouragement - target area / surrounding area (c) Displacement - effort in one / send to another (d) Extinction - short term

  14. General Deterrence • Threat of punishment - influences / controls - people’s fear a. Certainty of punishment - “tipping point” - crime persists b. Crime continues - small chance of arrest - reluctance to make arrest

  15. Deterrence, cont. - lenient punishment c. Increase police activity - possible - crackdowns - problem solving / community improvement d. Severity of punishment - certain crimes - not all criminal activity

  16. Deterrence, cont. e. Capital punishment - might actually increase - states: no difference - increase executions = reduce murder rate f. Informal sanctions - greater deterrent impact - disapproval / stigma / anger / indignation g. Shame / humiliation - powerful deterrent

  17. Deterrence, cont. - public humiliation - effect varies h. General deterrence rationality - need - greed - severity / speed 2. Specific deterrence (special / particular) - powerful sanctions / never repeat - deter crime?

  18. Deterrence, cont. (1) Majority not deterred (2) Defiance / not deterrence j. Incapacitation - reduce crime - other factors (1) Teenage population (2) Mandatory sentencing (3) Economic health (4) Gun laws

  19. Deterrence, cont. (5) Drug epidemic (6) Aggressive policing - logic behind: (1) Little evidence (2) Experienced inmates (3) Teens / young adults (4) Past crime age (5) Expensive (6) Accelerate upon release

  20. Deterrence, cont. k. Selective incapacitation - chronic career criminal - “Three strikes” (1) Age out soon (2) Severe sentences (3) Increased costs

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