Chapter Four: Choice Theory: Because They Want To

Any Questions to date? Important Due Dates Review assignments APA requirements

Development of Rational Choice Theory Has its roots in the classical school of criminology These ideas declined by the end of the 19 th century and re-emerged in the 1960s

Rational Choice Law-violating behavior is the product of careful thought and planning Offenders choose crime after considering both personal and situational factors The reasoning criminal evaluates the risk of apprehension, the seriousness of the expected punishment, and the potential value or benefit of the criminal enterprise, his/her ability to succeed, and the need for criminal gain

Offense-Specific Crime The idea that offenders react selectively to the characteristics of particular crimes

Offender-Specific Crime The idea that offenders evaluate their skills, motives, needs, and fears before deciding to commit crime

Personal Factors Contributing to Criminality Economic need/opportunity False expectations Personal traits and experience Learning criminal techniques

Structuring Crime The decision to commit crime is structured by: where it occurs the characteristics of the target

Controlling Crime Rational choice theorists suggest four ways to reduce crime: situational crime prevention general deterrence specific deterrence incapacitation

Situational Crime Prevention Criminal acts will be avoided if: potential targets are carefully guarded the means to commit crime are controlled potential offenders are carefully monitored

Situational Crime Prevention Strategies Strategies designed to reduce or eliminate a specific crime problem include: increasing the effort needed to commit a crime increasing the risk of committing crime reducing the rewards of crime inducing guilt reducing provocation removing excuses

Benefits of Situational Crime Prevention Diffusion ~ when efforts to prevent one crime unintentionally prevent another crime as well Discouragement ~ when crime control efforts targeting a specific location help reduce crime in surrounding areas

Costs of Situational Crime Prevention Displacement ~ when crime control efforts redirect offenders to alternative targets Extinction ~ when crime reduction programs produce a short-term positive effect, but benefits dissipate as criminals adjust Replacement ~ when criminals move to new offenses because crime control efforts have neutralized their crime of choice

General Deterrence A crime control policy that depends on the fear of criminal penalties, convincing the potential law violator that the pains associated with crime outweigh its benefits The greater the severity, certainty, and speed of legal sanctions, the lower the crime rate

Specific Deterrence The view that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that offenders will never repeat their criminal acts

Incapacitation The idea that keeping offenders in confinement will eliminate the risk of their committing further offenses