Crime Theory

8/8/2019 Crime Theory

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Theory is Your FriendTheory is Your Friend

Theory is

For some: a bad memory of dry professors

using big words from college.

For others: a scary thought of dry professors

using big words in a college somewhere.

Reality: Theory is your friend.Reality: Theory is your friend.

Not My FriendNot My Friend

Theories can be painfully complex

Not all necessarily relate to Crime Analysis

Some major theories relate very closely.

Break specific ones into smaller components Key for Crime Analysis


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Social DisorganizationSocial Disorganization

Shaw & McKay Chicago 1900s

Theory rooted in older cities & towns

Disorganizationin the social sense.

Centers around the urbanization of an area.

Looks at the social dynamics of

neighborhoods


Cities grew in a certain way

Evolved around specific factories or

industries:

Certain populations grew around industry Mainly immigrant populations

At the time, these populations were thought to

be unsocialized and feebleminded


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Theory actually developed from biological/

ecological theories of plant life.

Competition over land use as populations grow

Where are the resources

Who can get them

Translated into social theory, same idea.

Competition for land use

Resources are jobs and housing


In 1925, Burgess describe Social Disorganizationas:

The process of competition led to adaptationsresulting in eventual cooperation in acontinuing dynamic equilibrium. However, inthis process, areas of the city would experiencechanges that would render social institutionsineffective.

Sheley, 1995


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WHAT!!!!!???WHAT!!!!!???

Translation:

People continuously competeted for jobs,

housing and other resources in specific areas of

the city.

As people moved into and out of the worst

areas

Created area of constant change Caused a break down in social institutions

Shaw & McKays Concentric CirclesShaw & McKays Concentric Circles

Cities grow in concentric circles

Centrally: Industry where people worked

Circles form around the inner city

Like a bulls eye.

Each circle is defined

by specific characteristics


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The ZonesThe Zones

The Inner Circle or Zone One: Industry

Industrial/ commercial area of the city

Zone Two: Zone of Transition

Constantly being encroached on by industrial areas

Low income, dense, less desirable housing

Zone Three: Suburban housing

Still dense, but homes for middle class

Zones Four & Five

Bigger, better homes, stable neighborhoods Wealth

Zone Two: Crime Analysts DreamZone Two: Crime Analysts Dream

Zone of Transition was known for higher

rates of deviance and criminal activity.

Why?

Three key characteristics: Poverty

Ethnic Heterogeneity

Residential mobility


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Zone Two continuedZone Two continued

Poverty

Lowest paid workers, worst jobs

Ethnic Heterogeneity

Immigrants from different countries & cultures

Language & cultural barriers to forming social

networks

Residential Mobility As residents made more moneymoved out

Population ever changing

Social Disorganization TodaySocial Disorganization Today

Not exact circles

May not be exactly in the geographic centerof the city

Visually identifiable through census andcrime data.

Poverty

Residential mobility

Additional factors


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Renter

OccupiedHousing

Owner

Occupied

Housing

City of LowellCity of Lowell

Lowell Renter Occupied Housing with 2 or More RacesLowell Renter Occupied Housing with 2 or More Races


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Zone of TransitionZone of Transition

Zones 3,4, &5:Zones 3,4, &5:

Suburban AreaSuburban Area


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The Zone of Transition

has old, dilapidated

housing that is cheaper

than the nicer suburbanresidences on the

outskirts.

Housing in this zone also

packs as many people

into the space as possible.

Very few resources arefunneled into this zone to

assist residents in

assimilating to the area

Lack of resources

to form social

bonds contributes

to the social

disorganization


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Multiple factors, like: Racial and ethnic diversity

Poverty

High population density

Low income

Can inhibit the creation of informal social bondsor controls, which contribute to the socialdisorganization in an area.

Social disorganization can lead to higher levels ofcrime and deviance in an area.

But whats a Social Bond?But whats a Social Bond?

Social bonding theories are a whole other

session all together.

Most important: the Elements of Social Bonds

Attachment: our ties to people

Commitment: degree we want to conform to

specific codes of conduct

Involvement: time vested in conventional

activities

Belief: the strength of our attitudes towards

conformity


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Counteracting Social DisorganizationCounteracting Social Disorganization

Increase Social Bonds

Unfortunately, not that simple

Many local, state & federal grant programs

work to increase Social Bonds

Weed & Seed

Community/Neighborhood Watch

Community Policing Home Ownership programs

Routine Activities TheoryRoutine Activities Theory

Contains elements of SocialDisorganization & Social Bonding

Lawrence Cohen & Marcus Felson

Revolves around the constant interaction ofthree variables:

Suitable Targets

Absence of a Capable Guardian

Presence of Motivated Offenders


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The Crime TriangleThe Crime Triangle

Routine ActivitiesRoutine Activities

Can relate to other theories

Lack of social bonds in neighborhoods reduces

guardianship.

Lack of guardianship is an part of the crime triangle

People working and not watching neighborhood

Increase suitable targets

Where there is a target and no guardians

Motivated offenders will find their way


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Routine Activities & Crime AnalysisRoutine Activities & Crime Analysis

Remove one side of the triangle

It collapses

Change one side of the triangle

Change crime rate

Commonly taught in Community Policing


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Lack of Capable GuardianLack of Capable Guardian

Suitable TargetSuitable Target

Prince Ave. is thePrince Ave. is the

perfect locationperfect location.

Most residences

have no backyard

neighbor

Easy access on and

off major road while

still being isolated.

Condos are all

attached


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Idle Teens as Motivated OffendersIdle Teens as Motivated Offenders

Manchester, NH

Manchester Weed & Seed ProjectManchester Weed & Seed Project

Target Area

Burglaries by Time

Hotspots change

over time

32% of Burglariesoccurred between 4

and 8 pm


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Concentration

in northern

part of Target

Area

Must look at

whole picture

Central High

School

coincides with

location anddismissal time


Bored Teenagers = Motivated Offenders

Out of school, nothing else to do

Motivation

Not necessarily looking for cash or items to sell

Thrill of the crime

Lack of guardianship since many burglaries

were occurring during normal working

hours.


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Convergence in Time & Space of all 3

elements

Appearance of Crime

Counteracting Routine ActivitiesCounteracting Routine Activities

Specific Problem like Burglary

Notify Community

Information is Power

Neighborhood residents might not know they

need to increase guardianship

Overall Problem

Neighborhood Watch Programs

Crime Prevention Seminars

Personal Protection, lighting, facility securing


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Many TheoriesMany Theories

Some apply more to crime analysis than

others

Find theories that fit your situation best

Pull from those theories the potential causes

of or contributors to crime

Utilize them to create ways to better thecommunity you live in.

Resources for Further ActionsResources for Further Actions

US Census Bureau

Understand the populations in the areas you are

trying to Serve & Protect

www. Census.gov

American Fact Finder


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National Criminal Justice Reference Service National clearinghouse for federal documents

Downloadable or sent to you.

www. NCJRS.org

Highly Recommend:

Keeping Drug Activity Out of Rental Property: Establishing

Landlord Training Programs

www. ncjrs.org/pdffiles/landlord.pdf


Executive Office of Weed & Seed

www. ojp.usdoj.gov/eows

Neighborhood level interventions and funding


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Best ResourceBest Resource

The people around you

Be sure to get the business card of the

person next to you

Learn from others mistakes and

successes.

And Me!And Me!

Andrea M. Vey

Domestic Violence Crime Analyst

Lowell Police Department

(978) 446-7297

Avey@ ci.lowell.ma.us

Amvey@ hotmail.com

Crime Theory

Documents

Transcript of Crime Theory