NCJ Number
52489
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A THEORETICAL MODEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR MOTIVATION AND CRIME SITE SELECTION IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) HAS DEVELOPED INTO AN IMPORTANT SUBAREA OF CRIMINOLOGY. STUDENTS OF CPTED APPEAR TO FOLLOW A PROBABILISTIC APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. IN THE THEORETICAL MODEL OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT, SEVEN PROPOSITIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) INDIVIDUALS EXIST WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO COMMIT SPECIFIC OFFENSES; (2) GIVEN THE MOTIVATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE, THE ACTUAL COMMISSION OF AN OFFENSE IS THE END RESULT OF A MULTISTAGE DECISION PROCESS THAT SEEKS OUT AND IDENTIFIES, WITHIN THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT, A TARGET OR VICTIM POSITIONED IN TIME AND SPACE; (3) THE ENVIRONMENT GENERATES MANY SIGNALS OR CUES ABOUT ITS PHYSICAL, SPATIAL, CULTURAL, LEGAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS; (4) AN INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATED TO COMMIT A CRIME USES CUES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT TO LOCATE AND IDENTIFY TARGETS OR VICTIMS; (5) AS EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE GROWS, AN INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATED TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE LEARNS WHAT INDIVIDUAL CUES, CLUSTERS OF CLUES, AND SEQUENCES OF CUES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH 'GOOD' TARGETS OR VICTIMS; (6) ONCE THE TEMPLATE IS ESTABLISHED, IT BECOMES RELATIVELY FIXED AND INFLUENCES FURTHER SEARCHING BEHAVIOR, THEREBY BECOMING SELF-REINFORCING; AND (7) BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLICITY OF TARGETS AND VICTIMS, MANY POTENTIAL CRIME SELECTION TEMPLATES CAN BE CONSTRUCTED. CRIMINALS DO NOT MOVE RANDOMLY THROUGH THEIR ENVIRONMENT; RATHER, TARGET AND SITE SELECTION PROCEDURES PRODUCE CLEAR SPATIAL PATTERNS. THE THEORETICAL MODEL OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE USED TO EXPLORE BOTH HIGH-AFFECT AND LOW-AFFECT CRIMES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)