Modelling Crime and Criminality

Question 1

Pease (2002) noted that crime has been understood in terms of what…?

Answer 1

Structure: poverty and inequality, and other major social issues that are seen as linked to crime.

Human psyche: concerns the attributes of the criminal as a person and why he/she has the propensity to commit offences.

Circumstance: a key factor for causing crime- an opportunity presented to the potential criminal that is the primary reason the crim takes place.

Question 2

What is the rational choice theory (Cornish and Clarke, 1986)?

Answer 2

Assumes that criminals who decide to commit offences to employ the same kind of thought processes as non-cirminals making everyday, non-criminal decisions.

I.e if the crimes are easy to commit and rewarding people will.

Question 3

What is the routine-activity theory (Felson, 2002)?

It defines criminal opportunities in which three interrelated and necessary components?

Answer 3

Predicated upon an understanding of the relationship between individuals everyday experiences and their criminal behaviour.

1. A motivated offender
2. A suitable target
3. The absence of a guardian

Question 4

Some of the constituent elements of crime can be considered as being ‘hot’. What does this mean?

Answer 4

Both frequently occurring and worthy of attention.

Question 5

What are hot spots?

Answer 5

Places that are particularly prone to crime, such as railway stations, shopping malls, town centres, particular ships and houses, post offices or flats.

This may be related to the easy pickings for people intent on theft.

May be related to opportunity, e.g vicinity to of cash machines.

Question 6

What are hot offenders?

Answer 6

Defined as the relatively small number of people who are responsible for the majority of crime.

Question 7

What are hot products?

Answer 7

Items we know are more attractive to burglars or street robbers, and there is a logic to what they choose to steal.

Question 8

What is the menmonic for rating hot products (Clarke, 1999)?

Answer 8

C     Concealable
R     Removable
A     Available
V     Valuable
E     Enjoyable
D     Disposable

Question 9

What are hot victims?

Answer 9

A person more vulnerable than average to crime.

Victimisation makes them more likely to be victim again.