NCJ Number
171934
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1997) Pages: 71-100
Date Published
1997
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This study tests a revised model of routine activity theory.
Abstract
The study contends that routine activity theory has virtually ignored the motivated offender construct in terms of its measurement. It extends previous research testing routine activity theory by more accurately modeling the effects of labor market segmentation and other structural sources of offender motivation on variation in crime rates. It also tests a revised routine activity model using data for the 100 largest cities in the United States in 1980. Findings suggest that, as secondary labor markets grow, urban crime can be expected to rise. The study attempted to provide new theoretical insights and suggestions for development and empirical testing of the routine activity approach. It was highly focused on the motivated offender construct and did not address problems associated with guardianship and criminal opportunity. The analyses can be considered a first step in assessing the assumption of the presence of motivated offenders as a given in routine activity theory. Note, tables, references