NCJ Number
225142
Date Published
2007
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper explains how the science of reducing opportunities for crime (situational crime prevention) can also be applied to the threats of various types of terrorist attacks.
Abstract
Situational crime prevention aims to reduce the opportunities, temptations, and provocations to offend by altering the environment of a potential target so as to make it less amenable to criminal methods and objectives. Although some argue that prevention measures applicable to traditional crimes and criminals are not sufficient to address organized, committed, and adaptive terrorist groups, this paper maintains that terrorists are no more organized, committed, and technologically sophisticated than organized criminal networks motivated to benefit themselves financially. Terrorists are rational in the sense that they choose targets and tactics that are the most vulnerable and have the greatest chance of success as measured by terrorist aims. A study of terrorist targets and methods indicates that selected targets are exposed, vital to the daily routines of the masses, have symbolic value for a targeted country, are susceptible to dramatic destruction, are occupied and used by masses of people, are near to terrorists’ home base, and are vulnerable to some method of attack. Given these terrorist criteria for target selection, situational crime prevention can counter terrorism by increasing the effort and risks of offending, reducing the rewards of and provocations to offend, and removing the excuses for offending. Some have suggested that the application of the principles of situational crime prevention to targets that are inherently attractive to terrorists will only cause them to attack other targets that are less protected. Although this is a possibility, an analysis of terrorists’ behavior suggests they will not waste their resources and personnel on targets that do not fit their criteria for a dramatic and costly impact. 2 tables and 17 references