NCJ Number
75154
Journal
Urban Life Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1977) Pages: 123-148
Date Published
1977
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This analysis of mugging encounters explores how muggers prepare for their crimes and how they attempt to maintain control over their victims; information was obtained for analysis during 1973-1974 in New York City.
Abstract
The study is based on 28 individual interviews and four group interviews with 17 individuals, all of whom had committed at least one mugging in the past 6 years. The results showed that most muggings are planned immediately before their occurrence, and that coping with preoffense fear is a central concern. Muggers fear above all the possibility that they will not be able to control their victims, and that this inability will result in personal injury or apprehension. However, once bent on committing a mugging, offenders manage fear by changing the definition of the situation from one of high risk to one of low risk and by attempting to control the elements in the situation in ways which were judged to reduce risks. With increasing experience, muggers gained more self-confidence as they noticed positive effects and a lack of negative consequences, and many began to enjoy the feeling of power over victims and the experience of retribution for what they viewed as past injustices inflicted on them by society. In addition, participation in group muggings often relieved fears. The selection of victims is usually dependent upon opportunities and upon the muggers' attitudes which make particular types of victims more or less emotionally acceptable as targets. Once the victim has been approached, the mugger's success depends on an ability to control the victim through a posture of toughness or through the use of physical force. If the toughness posture failed as a primary method of control, the mugger was likely to turn to violent means. Sample responses, nine footnotes, and a 20-item reference list are included.