Routine Activities and
Rational Choice Theories
Routine Activities Theory
• Direct contact predatory violations
• Illegal activities feed off of legal activities
Three Necessary Conditions for
Direct Contact Predatory Crime
• Suitable target
• Lack of capable guardianship
• Motivated offender - assumed
Criminal Motivation Assumed
• Motivation is ever-present
• Variation in suitable targets and capable
guardianship explains crime patterns
Explaining Crime Patterns
• Increase in household burglary 1950-1980
• Robbery victimization peaks at night
Target Suitability
Motor vehicles and parts
Electronic appliances
Large, durable goods
Furniture
Amount stolen
per $100 spent
$26.44
$6.82
$0.08
$0.12
Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979
Household Guardianship
Burglary/Robbery Rates (per 1,000)
Number in Household
Age
Two +
.095
.079
Ratio
18-35
36-55
One
.20
.161
56 +
.107
.01
1.76
All Ages
.144
.081
1.78
2.11
2.04
Also, proportion of households unattended has increased over time
Source: Cohen and Felson, 1979
Rational Choice Theory
• Routine activities takes macro-level view
• Rational choice takes a situational view
• Complimentary perspectives
Rational Choice Theory
• Bounded rationality decision making
• Offenders are opportunists
Implications for Crime Prevention
• If offenders decisions are situationally
bounded, then how should we go about
reducing offending?