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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
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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 Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979
Household GuardianshipBurglary/Robbery Rates (per 1,000) 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?