Criminology 101 - Lecture 2

Front 1

Criminal Event Theory

Back 1

- Examines the precursors, transactions, and attachments of criminal events
- Examines the settings in which criminal events take place

Front 2

The "Typical" Offender

Back 2

- Most offenders young males 15-24, lower socioeconomic status, unemployed/temporarily unemployed
- 15-24 age group represented 14% of population in '03; while accounting for 45% of violent crime reports & 32% property crime

Front 3

The Police

Back 3

- Police often have direct influence on whether or not an act comes to be regarded as a crime
- May let someone off with warning if they come from a "good family", yet arrest someone who does same thing because they're "street kid"

Front 4

Proactive Policing & Reactive Policing (DEFINITIONS)

Back 4

Proactive Policing: have more patrols and actively searching out crimes; higher likelihood of an act being defined as criminal
Reactive policing: only respond to crimes reported to them or that they happen to witness; fewer acts are likely to be defined as crimes

Front 5

Reporting Crimes

Back 5

- Many crimes don't come to the attention of police
- Victims decide for some reason not to report them
- Unreported/unknown amount of crime is estimated as high as 66% + of all crimes committed
- Victims more likely to report serious crimes or where serious crimes where perpetrator is a stranger
- Less likely to report less serious crimes, or crimes where perpetrator knows them (family, friend, etc.)
- Victims of crime sometimes involved in criminal activities themselves, and are reluctant to draw attention of police to their own activities

Front 6

The Dark Figure of Recording (Reporting Crimes)

Back 6

- Once crime is reported to police, goes through process of assessment, classification and sometimes recording
- Police decision making influenced by variety of factors: relationship (if any) b/w offender & victim; policing style of individual officer; suspects characteristics; preferences of the complainant

Front 7

The Kansas City Experiment (1972-73; Kansas City)

Back 7

- Tested proactive, reactive and control responses to police visibility
- Surveyed 15 beats - 5 proactive, 5 reactive, 5 control

Results:
- 40% + police officer's time uncommitted
- No statistically significant differences in crime rates over period of study
- Lowest crime rate reported in reactive beats
- No significant increase/decrease in arrest rates between three groups
- No significant increase in citizens' perceptions of crime risks

Front 8

The Social Setting

Back 8

- Crime rates generally higher in urban areas than rural
- Higher in economically disadvantaged urban areas w/ unstable population (Hastings)
- Lower in "better off" urban areas with stable population (Suburbs)

Stats:
- 50% of all victimizations take place in/around homes of victims (other private residences)
- 25% take place in commercial settings (malls, restaurants, bars)
- 25% take place in public places (parks, streets, parking lots)

Front 9

The Temporal Setting

Back 9

- Criminal events also occur at predictable times in particular places
- Criminal activity is shaped/influenced by time of day, day of week, month of year and season
- Robberies and assaults most likely to occur at night (b/w 6pm & 6am)
- Homes more susceptible to breaking and entering during the summer