Introduction
A theory developed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen, Routine Activity theory can be defined as a sub-field of crime opportunity that focuses on the situation of crimes. The focus of Routine Activity Theory is that crime is affected by social circumstances, but more of the routine of the victim or victims’. In order for the crime to occur routine activity theory involves three main essentials (1) a motivated person to commit the offense, (2) a victim who is
Vulnerable, and the last being an inadequate form of protection to prevent the crime (1987). This all comes to the conclusion that if the victim does not have a sufficient amount of protection and the crime is worthwhile to the perpetrator then, the crime will happen. …show more content…
Arthur Shawcross is a prime example of being a motivated offender. He picked on women of low social class that would do anything for a quick dollar. He found that by attacking these women he was less likely to get caught (Caywood). These women needed something from him and he need something from them. Whether it was to clean his house or to preform sexual acts, Shawcross would pick victims he could over power. These women temporarily provided Shawcross with what he needed by cleaning his house, providing companionship, performing sexual acts, and so much more (2015). Shawcross would be defined as a motivated offender because the victims’ he chose had something he wanted and could not resist having. He was a lonely man that begged for the attention of women sexually, emotionally, etc. Not receiving this attention would cause Shawcross to act out and he would then kill his victim and go seek attention from yet another prostitute (Martin, 2008). The Theory focuses on things that may motivate the offender such as personal assets, physical attraction, or anything an offender may see fit in order to commit a crime or crimes. The theory does not explain why the offender is motivated, but assumes that the motivation to commit the crime is constant (1979). It suggests that when and if the opportunity presents itself the offender then will commit the crime if the crime is desirable enough. Having one piece to the puzzle does not explain routine activity theory and its
A theory developed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen, Routine Activity theory can be defined as a sub-field of crime opportunity that focuses on the situation of crimes. The focus of Routine Activity Theory is that crime is affected by social circumstances, but more of the routine of the victim or victims’. In order for the crime to occur routine activity theory involves three main essentials (1) a motivated person to commit the offense, (2) a victim who is
Vulnerable, and the last being an inadequate form of protection to prevent the crime (1987). This all comes to the conclusion that if the victim does not have a sufficient amount of protection and the crime is worthwhile to the perpetrator then, the crime will happen. …show more content…
Arthur Shawcross is a prime example of being a motivated offender. He picked on women of low social class that would do anything for a quick dollar. He found that by attacking these women he was less likely to get caught (Caywood). These women needed something from him and he need something from them. Whether it was to clean his house or to preform sexual acts, Shawcross would pick victims he could over power. These women temporarily provided Shawcross with what he needed by cleaning his house, providing companionship, performing sexual acts, and so much more (2015). Shawcross would be defined as a motivated offender because the victims’ he chose had something he wanted and could not resist having. He was a lonely man that begged for the attention of women sexually, emotionally, etc. Not receiving this attention would cause Shawcross to act out and he would then kill his victim and go seek attention from yet another prostitute (Martin, 2008). The Theory focuses on things that may motivate the offender such as personal assets, physical attraction, or anything an offender may see fit in order to commit a crime or crimes. The theory does not explain why the offender is motivated, but assumes that the motivation to commit the crime is constant (1979). It suggests that when and if the opportunity presents itself the offender then will commit the crime if the crime is desirable enough. Having one piece to the puzzle does not explain routine activity theory and its