RISK FACTORS

RISK FACTORS

Routine Activities Theory

Routine activities theory is commonly used to explain why and how

youth are at a heightened risk of being involved in offending behavior and

of being victimized. Since an individual’s demographics influence their

daily activities, they are predictive of their risk of victimization.

Young unmarried males experience the highest frequency of

victimization; their nightly activities, then, provide significant support for

the theory, as it is these that take them away from the security of the

home. By being out at night, these youth come into increased contact with

offenders, partake in high-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol use,

participate in delinquent activities themselves, and frequent high-risk

situations and areas (Kennedy and Ford, 1990; Lauritsen, Sampson and

Laub, 1991). Therefore, as a consequence of their routine activities and

lifestyle, they are at a substantially higher risk for victimization. Felson

(1997))

Existing research points to a powerful connection between residing in an

adverse environment and participating in criminal acts (McCord, Widom,

and Crowell, 2001). Sociological theories of deviance hypothesize that

"disorganized neighborhoods have weak social control networks; that weak

social control, resulting from isolation among residents and high residential

turnover, allows criminal activity to go unmonitored" (Herrenkohl et al.,

2001:221).

Although researchers debate the interaction between environmental and

personal factors, most agree that "living in a neighborhood where there are

high levels of poverty and crime increases the risk of involvement in serious

crime for all children growing up there" (McCord, Widom, and Crowell,

2001:89)

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS

LEAD POISONING

COPPER

MERCURY

CHLORINE

ARTIFICIAL COLORING

FOOD DYES

Sociobiological Factors

Sociobiological scholars have also drawn a connection between exposure to

dangerous contaminants – including copper, mercury, chlorine, artificial coloring,

food dyes, etc. – and both aggressive and anti-social behavior (see Rappaport, 2004;

Ellis, 2005). A great deal of recent research has focused on the possible relationship

between lead poisoning and violence.

One study, for example, found that communities with the highest concentrations

of lead in the air also reported the highest levels of homicide and other forms of

violence (Stretesky and Lynch, 2001). A number of studies have also found that lead

poisoning is one of the most significant predictors of male delinquency and

persistent adult criminality (see Denno, 1996; McCall and Land, 2004). Needleman

(1996), for example, tracked several hundred boys from ages seven through eleven

and found that those with high concentrations of lead in their bones were much more

likely to demonstrate attention deficit problems, poor language skills, delinquency,

and aggression. High lead ingestion is also linked to lower IQ scores – a factor that

can contribute to youth violence (Neisser et al., 1996).

In the last three decades, theories of crime have been greatly informed by an influx

of thinking that supersedes criminology’s traditionally myopic focus on offenders. Most

Notably, the exposure/lifestyle theory (Hindelang et al. 1978), One’s environment can

play a plethora of roles in determining the probability of deviant behavior. The risk

factors are criminal elements and pollution which can have profound effects on one’s

behavior.

Chicago Sun times

Cohen, L. E., and M. Felson. 1979. Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review 44:588–608

Drugabuse.gov

Environmental Crime and Justice. Michael J. Lynch, Paul B. Stretesky

Felson, Marcus. 2002. Crime and everyday life, 3d ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T. & Ball, R. A. (2011). Criminological Theory: Context and consequences (5th Ed.). Washington DC: Sage

Risk Factors for Delinquency: An Overview Michael Shader

Wortley, Richard, and Lorraine Mazzerole, eds. 2008. Environmental criminology and crime analysis. Cullompton, UK: Willan

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