Choice Theory
• Development of Choice Theory
• Concepts of Rational Choice
• Rationality of Crime
• Choice Theories of Crime
• Eliminating Crime and Policy Implications of Choice
Theory
Chapter 5 - 1
The Development of Rational
Choice Theory
 Roots in the classical school of
criminology developed by Cesare Beccaria.
• Beccaria called for fair and certain punishment to
deter crime
• Beccaria argued against marginal deterrence which
refers petty offenses being subjected to same
punishment as more serious crimes
The Development of Rational
Choice Theory
 The Classical Theory of Crime
• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1833) 
– Believed people choose actions on the basis of
pleasure and avoid pain
Core Concepts of Choice or
Classical Criminology
People choose
all behavior,
including criminal
behavior.
People’s choice
can be controlled by
the fear of
punishment.
The more severe, certain and swift
the punishment, the greater its ability
to control criminal behavior.
Four Utilitarian Objectives of
Punishment
To prevent all
criminal offenses.
When it cannot prevent a
crime, to convince the
offender to commit a less
serious one.
To ensure that a criminal
uses no more force than
is necessary.
To prevent a crime
as cheaply as possible.
What does it mean to be
rational?
Rationality?
What do others say?
Are Choices Rational?
Chapter 5 - 6
Is Crime Rational?????
 Street Crime
Are there different
definitions of
“rational”?
 Drug Use
 Violence
Chapter 5 - 7
CHOICE THEORIES
and
RESULTING CRIME ELIMINATION STRATEGIES
Choice Theories
 Rational Choice
 Routine Activities Theory
Crime Elimination Strategies
 General Deterrence Theory
 Specific Deterrence Theory
 Incapacitation
 Situational Crime Prevention
Chapter 5 - 8
Choice Theories: Rational Choice

MAJOR PREMISE
Law-violating behavior
is an event that occurs
after offenders weigh
information on their
personal needs and the
situational factors involved in
the difficulty and risk of
committing a crime.
Chapter 5 - 9

STRENGTHS
Explains why high-risk youth do
not constantly engage in
delinquency acts. Relates
theory to delinquency control
policy. It is not limited by class
or other social variables.
Concepts in Rational Choice
 Marginal Deterrence
 Offense specific crime vs. offender specific
crime
• Crime vs. Criminality
 Structuring Criminality
• Economic Opportunity
• Learning and Experience
• Knowledge of Criminal Techniques
Chapter 5 - 10
Rational Choice Concepts cont’d
 Structuring Crime
• Choosing the type of crime
• Choosing the time and place
• Choosing the target
Chapter 5 - 11
Rational Choice and Routine
Activities

Routine activities provides a macro view of crime, rational choice
theory provides a micro view of why individuals offenders decide to
commit specific crimes. The connection between the two theories:
• target vulnerability is a consideration
• presence of capable guardians may deter crime
• crime rates correspond to the number of motivated criminals.

Chapter 5 - 12
The strength of this approach is that it can explain fluctuations in
crime and delinquency rates and shows how victim behavior can
influence criminal choices
Routine Activity Theory
“people make choices, but they cannot choose
the choices available to them.” (Felson, 1986:119)
 Some people are more likely than others to
confront situations where the rewards of crime
are high and the risks are low.
 For a crime to occur: a motivated offender, must
come into contact with suitable targets in the
absence of capable guardians.

Chapter 5 - 13
Routine Activity Theory
Takes motivated offenders as a given.
 Explains variation in crime as a function of
availability of suitable targets.
 Suitable targets are the benefits of crime
 Capable guardians are the costs of crime
 Discuss changes in routine activities as either
increasing or decreasing suitable targets or
increasing or decreasing capable guardians.

Chapter 5 - 14
Routine Activity
 Quite different from other theories.
Most
theories focus on the factors that motivate
offenders. Routine Activity suggest that
motivated offenders are a given and
focuses on opportunities for crime.
 Findings are generally supportive of this
perspective.
Chapter 5 - 15
Routine Activities Theory
 Cohen and Felson (1979) define routine
activities… “recurrent and prevalent
activities which provide for basic
population and individual
needs…formalized work, as well as the
provisions of standard food, shelter, sexual
outlet, leisure, social interaction, learning,
and childbearing.” (593)
Chapter 5 - 16
Routine Activities Theory
 In addition to guardians such as police
there are informal social controls.
 Change in any of the elements effects
crime
 Have researched suitable targets and
absence of capable guardians
 Cohen 1981 renamed it Opportunity Theory.
Chapter 5 - 17
Eliminating Crime:
General Deterrence
 MAJOR PREMISE
People will commit crime
and delinquency if they
perceive that the benefits
outweigh the risks. Crime
is a function of the
severity, certainty, and
speed of punishment.
Chapter 5 - 18
 STRENGTHS
Shows the relationship
between crime and
punishment. Suggests a
real solution to crime.
Studies of General Deterrence
 There is little clear cut evidence that the
perception or reality of punishment can
deter most crime
 The certainty of punishment seems to have
a greater influence on the choice of crime
than the severity of punishment
Chapter 5 - 19
Eliminating Crime:
Specific Deterrence
 MAJOR PREMISE
If punishment is
severe enough,
criminals will not
repeat their illegal
acts.
Chapter 5 - 20
 STRENGTHS
Provides a strategy to
reduce crime.
Specific Deterrence
Instead of deterring crime,
could punishment cause
more?
Would it be better to stigmatize
offenders?
What do they mean when they
say we should use
reintegrative shaming?
Eliminating Crime:
Incapacitation
 MAJOR PREMISE
Keeping known
criminals out of
circulation will
reduce crime rates.
Chapter 5 - 22
 STRENGTHS
Recognizes the role
opportunity plays in
criminal behavior.
Provides solution to
chronic offending.
Eliminating Crime:
Situational Crime Prevention
Increasing Perceived Effort
1. Target hardening
2. Access control
3. Deflecting offenders
4. Controlling facilitators
Increasing Perceived Risks
5. Entry / exit screening
6. Formal surveillance
7. Surveillance by employees
8. Natural surveillance
Reducing Anticipated
Rewards
9. Target removal
10. Identifying property
11. Reducing temptation
12. Denying benefits
Inducing Guilt or Shame
13. Rule setting
14. Strengthening moral
condemnation
15. Controlling disinhibitors
16. Facilitating compliance