NCJ Number
124770
Date Published
1989
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This analysis of the concepts of behavioral geography concludes that many are relevant to the study of criminal behavior, although they have not yet all been applied to criminological problems.
Abstract
Behavioral geography focuses on the spatial decisionmaking of individuals prior to taking action and considers both distance and direction. The research has focused both on spatial behavior and behavior in space. Thus, it focuses on individual behavior and decisionmaking. Criminological research on spatial behavior considers how criminals use the space available to them, the amount of space with which a typical criminal is familiar, and whether the physical characteristics of a building or neighborhood influences an offender's choices. Research on criminal behavior in space examines the geographic distribution of opportunities for crimes and the social, economic, physical, and physiological constraints on criminal spatial behavior. Both approaches are likely to have a growing influence on criminal justice decisionmaking. 37 references.