Chapter 5 - 1

Choice TheoryChoice Theory

• Development of Choice TheoryDevelopment of Choice Theory

• Concepts of Rational ChoiceConcepts of Rational Choice

• Rationality of CrimeRationality of Crime

• Choice Theories of CrimeChoice Theories of Crime

• Eliminating Crime and Policy Implications of Eliminating Crime and Policy Implications of Choice Choice

TheoryTheory

The Development of The Development of Rational Choice TheoryRational Choice Theory

Roots in the classical school of Roots in the classical school of criminology developed by Cesare criminology developed by Cesare Beccaria.Beccaria.• Beccaria called for fair and certain Beccaria called for fair and certain

punishment to deter crimepunishment to deter crime• Beccaria argued against marginal Beccaria argued against marginal

deterrence which refers petty offenses deterrence which refers petty offenses being subjected to same punishment as being subjected to same punishment as more serious crimesmore serious crimes

The Development of The Development of Rational Choice TheoryRational Choice Theory

The Classical Theory of Crime The Classical Theory of Crime • Jeremy Bentham (1748-1833) Jeremy Bentham (1748-1833)

– Believed people choose actions on the Believed people choose actions on the basis of pleasure and avoid painbasis of pleasure and avoid pain

Core Concepts of Choice Core Concepts of Choice or Classical Criminologyor Classical CriminologyCore Concepts of Choice Core Concepts of Choice or Classical Criminologyor Classical Criminology

People’s choicePeople’s choicecan be controlled bycan be controlled bythe fear of the fear of punishment.punishment.

The more severe, certain and swiftThe more severe, certain and swiftthe punishment, the greater its abilitythe punishment, the greater its ability

to control criminal behavior.to control criminal behavior.

People choosePeople chooseall behavior, all behavior, including criminalincluding criminalbehavior.behavior.

Four Utilitarian Four Utilitarian Objectives of Objectives of PunishmentPunishment

Four Utilitarian Four Utilitarian Objectives of Objectives of PunishmentPunishment

To ensure that a criminalTo ensure that a criminaluses no more force than uses no more force than

is necessary.is necessary.

To prevent a crimeTo prevent a crimeas cheaply as possible.as cheaply as possible.

To prevent allTo prevent allcriminal offenses.criminal offenses.

When it cannot prevent a When it cannot prevent a crime, to convince the crime, to convince the

offender to commit a less offender to commit a less serious one.serious one.

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be rational?rational?

Chapter 5 - 6

Rationality?

What do others say?What do others say?

Are Choices Rational?Are Choices Rational?

Chapter 5 - 7

Is Crime Rational?????Is Crime Rational?????Is Crime Rational?????Is Crime Rational?????

Street Street CrimeCrime

Drug UseDrug Use

ViolenceViolence

Are there differentdefinitions of“rational”?

Chapter 5 - 8

CHOICE THEORIES CHOICE THEORIES and and

RESULTING CRIME ELIMINATION RESULTING CRIME ELIMINATION STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

Choice TheoriesChoice Theories Rational ChoiceRational Choice Routine Activities TheoryRoutine Activities Theory

Crime Elimination StrategiesCrime Elimination Strategies General Deterrence TheoryGeneral Deterrence Theory Specific Deterrence TheorySpecific Deterrence Theory IncapacitationIncapacitation Situational Crime PreventionSituational Crime Prevention

Chapter 5 - 9

Choice Theories: Rational Choice Theories: Rational ChoiceChoice Choice Theories: Rational Choice Theories: Rational ChoiceChoice

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISELaw-violating behavioris an event that occurs after offenders weighinformation on theirpersonal needs and thesituational factors involved in the difficulty and risk of committing a crime.

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISELaw-violating behavioris an event that occurs after offenders weighinformation on theirpersonal needs and thesituational factors involved in the difficulty and risk of committing a crime.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHSExplains why high-risk youth do not constantly engage in delinquency acts. Relates theory to delinquency control policy. It is not limited by class or other social variables.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHSExplains why high-risk youth do not constantly engage in delinquency acts. Relates theory to delinquency control policy. It is not limited by class or other social variables.

Chapter 5 - 10

Concepts in Rational Concepts in Rational ChoiceChoice

Marginal DeterrenceMarginal Deterrence Offense specific crime vs. offender Offense specific crime vs. offender

specific crimespecific crime• Crime vs. CriminalityCrime vs. Criminality

Structuring CriminalityStructuring Criminality• Economic OpportunityEconomic Opportunity• Learning and ExperienceLearning and Experience• Knowledge of Criminal TechniquesKnowledge of Criminal Techniques

Chapter 5 - 11

Rational Choice Concepts Rational Choice Concepts cont’dcont’d

Structuring CrimeStructuring Crime• Choosing the type of crimeChoosing the type of crime

• Choosing the time and placeChoosing the time and place

• Choosing the targetChoosing the target

Chapter 5 - 12

Rational Choice and Rational Choice and Routine ActivitiesRoutine ActivitiesRational Choice and Rational Choice and Routine ActivitiesRoutine Activities

Routine activities provides a Routine activities provides a macromacro view of crime, view of crime, rational choice theory provides a rational choice theory provides a micromicro view of why view of why individuals offenders decide to commit specific crimes. individuals offenders decide to commit specific crimes. The connection between the two theories:The connection between the two theories:• target vulnerability is a considerationtarget vulnerability is a consideration• presence of capable guardians may deter crimepresence of capable guardians may deter crime• crime rates correspond to the number of motivated crime rates correspond to the number of motivated

criminals.criminals. The strength of this approach is that it can explain The strength of this approach is that it can explain

fluctuations in crime and delinquency rates and shows fluctuations in crime and delinquency rates and shows how victim behavior can influence criminal choiceshow victim behavior can influence criminal choices

Chapter 5 - 13

Routine Activity TheoryRoutine Activity Theory

““people make choices, but they cannot people make choices, but they cannot choose the choices available to them.” choose the choices available to them.” (Felson, 1986:119)(Felson, 1986:119)

Some people are more likely than others to Some people are more likely than others to confront situations where the rewards of confront situations where the rewards of crime are high and the risks are low.crime are high and the risks are low.

For a crime to occur: a For a crime to occur: a motivated offendermotivated offender, , must come into contact with must come into contact with suitable suitable targetstargets in the absence of in the absence of capable capable guardiansguardians. .

Chapter 5 - 14

Routine Activity TheoryRoutine Activity Theory

Takes motivated offenders as a given.Takes motivated offenders as a given. Explains variation in crime as a function Explains variation in crime as a function

of availability of suitable targets.of availability of suitable targets. Suitable targets are the benefits of crimeSuitable targets are the benefits of crime Capable guardians are the costs of crimeCapable guardians are the costs of crime Discuss changes in routine activities as Discuss changes in routine activities as

either increasing or decreasing suitable either increasing or decreasing suitable targets or increasing or decreasing targets or increasing or decreasing capable guardians.capable guardians.

Chapter 5 - 15

Routine ActivityRoutine Activity

Quite different from other theories. Quite different from other theories. Most theories focus on the factors Most theories focus on the factors that motivate offenders. Routine that motivate offenders. Routine Activity suggest that motivated Activity suggest that motivated offenders are a given and focuses offenders are a given and focuses on opportunities for crime.on opportunities for crime.

Findings are generally supportive Findings are generally supportive of this perspective.of this perspective.

Chapter 5 - 16

Routine Activities TheoryRoutine Activities Theory

Cohen and Felson (1979) define Cohen and Felson (1979) define routine activities… “recurrent and routine activities… “recurrent and prevalent activities which provide for prevalent activities which provide for basic population and individual basic population and individual needs…formalized work, as well as needs…formalized work, as well as the provisions of standard food, the provisions of standard food, shelter, sexual outlet, leisure, social shelter, sexual outlet, leisure, social interaction, learning, and interaction, learning, and childbearing.” (593)childbearing.” (593)

Chapter 5 - 17

Routine Activities TheoryRoutine Activities Theory

In addition to guardians such as police In addition to guardians such as police there are informal social controls.there are informal social controls.

Change in any of the elements effects Change in any of the elements effects crime crime

Have researched suitable targets and Have researched suitable targets and absence of capable guardiansabsence of capable guardians

Cohen 1981 renamed it Opportunity Cohen 1981 renamed it Opportunity Theory.Theory.

Chapter 5 - 18

Eliminating Crime:General DeterrenceEliminating Crime:General Deterrence

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISEPeople will commit People will commit crime and delinquency crime and delinquency if they perceive that if they perceive that the benefits outweigh the benefits outweigh the risks. Crime is a the risks. Crime is a function of the function of the severity, certainty, and severity, certainty, and speed of punishment.speed of punishment.

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISEPeople will commit People will commit crime and delinquency crime and delinquency if they perceive that if they perceive that the benefits outweigh the benefits outweigh the risks. Crime is a the risks. Crime is a function of the function of the severity, certainty, and severity, certainty, and speed of punishment.speed of punishment.

STRENGTHSShows the relationship between crime and punishment. Suggests a real solution to crime.

STRENGTHSShows the relationship between crime and punishment. Suggests a real solution to crime.

Chapter 5 - 19

Studies of General DeterrenceStudies of General Deterrence

There is little clear cut evidence There is little clear cut evidence that the perception or reality of that the perception or reality of punishment can deter most crimepunishment can deter most crime

The certainty of punishment seems The certainty of punishment seems to have a greater influence on the to have a greater influence on the choice of crime than the severity choice of crime than the severity of punishmentof punishment

Chapter 5 - 20

Eliminating Crime:Specific DeterrenceEliminating Crime:Specific Deterrence

MAJOR PREMISEIf punishment is severe enough, criminals will not repeat their illegal acts.

MAJOR PREMISEIf punishment is severe enough, criminals will not repeat their illegal acts.

STRENGTHSProvides a strategy to reduce crime.

STRENGTHSProvides a strategy to reduce crime.

Specific Specific DeterrenceDeterrence Instead of deterring Instead of deterring

crime, could crime, could punishment cause punishment cause

more?more?

Would it be better to Would it be better to stigmatize offenders?stigmatize offenders?

What do they mean What do they mean when they say we when they say we

should use should use reintegrative reintegrative

shaming?shaming?

Chapter 5 - 22

Eliminating Crime:IncapacitationEliminating Crime:Incapacitation

MAJOR PREMISEKeeping known criminals out of circulation will reduce crime rates.

MAJOR PREMISEKeeping known criminals out of circulation will reduce crime rates.

STRENGTHSRecognizes the role opportunity plays in criminal behavior. Provides solution to chronic offending.

STRENGTHSRecognizes the role opportunity plays in criminal behavior. Provides solution to chronic offending.

Eliminating Crime:Eliminating Crime:Situational Crime PreventionSituational Crime PreventionEliminating Crime:Eliminating Crime:Situational Crime PreventionSituational Crime Prevention

Reducing Anticipated Reducing Anticipated RewardsRewards9. Target removal9. Target removal10. Identifying property10. Identifying property11. Reducing temptation11. Reducing temptation12. Denying benefits12. Denying benefits

Inducing Guilt or ShameInducing Guilt or Shame13. Rule setting13. Rule setting14. Strengthening moral 14. Strengthening moral condemnation condemnation 15. Controlling disinhibitors15. Controlling disinhibitors16. Facilitating compliance16. Facilitating compliance

Increasing Perceived EffortIncreasing Perceived Effort1. Target hardening1. Target hardening2. Access control2. Access control3. Deflecting offenders3. Deflecting offenders4. Controlling facilitators4. Controlling facilitators

Increasing Perceived RisksIncreasing Perceived Risks5. Entry / exit screening5. Entry / exit screening6. Formal surveillance6. Formal surveillance7. Surveillance by employees7. Surveillance by employees8. Natural surveillance8. Natural surveillance