Journey to Crime (From Punishment, Places and Perpetrators: Developments in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research, P 169-181, 2004, Gerben Bruinsma, Henk Elffers, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-206450)

• NCJ Number: 206460
• Author(s): George F. Rengert
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This examination of the elements of a criminal's geographic journey to crime encompasses the journey's starting point or reference point, the direction in which the criminal moves from the reference point, and the distance of the crime scene from the reference point.

Abstract

A variety of locations, not just the offender's home or place of evening residence, can be the reference point or starting point from which the journey to a crime can be measured. Scholars must carefully identify and justify the reference point of the journey to crime in their research methodology. Research on the direction criminals take from their starting point refutes the popular theory that criminals journey from the inner city to the suburbs to commit their crimes. The city is in fact where most opportunities for crime exist. With the exception of large suburban shopping malls, the city has parking lots that attract auto thieves, large stores that attract shoplifters, and corporate headquarters that house white-collar criminals. In their routine activities, most offenders travel from the suburbs to the city, where they assess the many opportunities and sites for crime. When crimes are not preplanned (most are not), the offenders generally respond to crime opportunities they encounter in their daily routines. The distance criminals will travel from their reference point to the place where they commit a crime depends on the type of crime committed. Confrontational crimes, for example, will be committed far enough from the offender's home neighborhood for the offender not to be recognized by victims or witnesses. Nonconfrontational crimes such as the burglary of empty homes will tend to be committed closer to the offender's home because of the opportunities for the offender to observe residents' patterns of house occupation. Another factor that should be considered in the direction and distance in the journey to crime are barriers to movement. These are not just physical barriers, such as blocks to escape routes, but also social and psychological barriers that have conditioned the offender. These types of barriers should be explored more thoroughly. 44 references