Crime 4 Flashcards
4 factors all crimes rely on
motivated offender; a suitable target; absence of capable guardians; optimal settings
Crimes occur when…
criminals and targets come together in the same place and time in the absence of guardians and when the situation maximises rewards/gains and minimises punishers/pains
Motivated offender
a person who under certain circumstances loses self-control and commits at least one illegal act
Everyone is capable of…
everyone is capable of becoming a criminal
Offender surveys indicate that…
offender surveys indicate that 95+% of people have committed at least one illegal act (including juvenile offences, traffic offences, (minor) tax evasion)
Milgram
60 - 95% of people participate in the “death” of a helpless subject in Milgram-type experiments (Milgram, 1963; 1967)
Hofling study
Hofling found that 21 out of 22 nurses in [real] hospital settings overdosed a patient with an unfamiliar drug on the phone orders of a doctor they had never met
What are the targets for offenders
90% property; 10% people
What is a suitable target
1) value to weight ratio; 2) mobility of target
Value to weight ratio
that is money, cameras and home entertainment systems are stolen but similar valued property (fridges) at the same scene are rarely stolen
Mobility of target
cars in the USA and Australia, bicycles in Netherlands
The most effective guardians are …
the most effective guardians are people in their own environment who know whether any particular activity/behaviour is legal
Example of capable guardians
Co-workers (work) or other students (school/Uni; Neighbour’s (home; Family and friends (leisure settings)
Police/security patrols
generally do not know what is going on; detect less than 5% of crimes [could maximise effectiveness by targeting “hot spots”]
Environmental analysis
60% of crimes occur in 2% of locations
