Criminological Theory Essay
Criminological theories and philosophy of criminology are virtual in the study of the relationship between crime and public transit. Variety in the criminological theories and concepts can be employed to analyze this relationship: routine activity theory, crime pattern theory, and rational choice theory always serve as bedrock in the researches related to environmental criminology, and besides these, journey to crime, iron law of troublesome places, geographic profiling, crime attractor and crime generator are also often used in these studies.
Routine activity theory (Cohen and Felson, 1979) argues that when the motivated offender, the suitable target, and the absence of the capable guardianship coexist in time and space, crime is likely to happen. Clark and Eck (2005) further expanded this theory and proposed the “Problem Analysis Triangle” (Figure 1.1). The triangle encompassed the factors which have direct influence on the three key component of the crime: offender, victim (target) and place. One bus stop and its surrounding area can be identified as a place without an all-day manager, …show more content…
Rational choice theory also advocates this argument since it emphasizes that “offenders choose to commit crime based on the perceived effort and rewards in comparison to the consequences of committing crime, including the likelihood and severity of punishment” (Cornish & Clarke, 1986, 2003). Therefore, as Crime Triangle displays (Figure 1.1), it is not only reasonable but also virtual to believe that most of the criminals are rational, and they have the tendency to find the places without managers but with many potential targets while few guardians, so that they can commit the crimes easier and have lower chance to be identified or seized. Then, public transit stops come to their
Routine activity theory (Cohen and Felson, 1979) argues that when the motivated offender, the suitable target, and the absence of the capable guardianship coexist in time and space, crime is likely to happen. Clark and Eck (2005) further expanded this theory and proposed the “Problem Analysis Triangle” (Figure 1.1). The triangle encompassed the factors which have direct influence on the three key component of the crime: offender, victim (target) and place. One bus stop and its surrounding area can be identified as a place without an all-day manager, …show more content…
Rational choice theory also advocates this argument since it emphasizes that “offenders choose to commit crime based on the perceived effort and rewards in comparison to the consequences of committing crime, including the likelihood and severity of punishment” (Cornish & Clarke, 1986, 2003). Therefore, as Crime Triangle displays (Figure 1.1), it is not only reasonable but also virtual to believe that most of the criminals are rational, and they have the tendency to find the places without managers but with many potential targets while few guardians, so that they can commit the crimes easier and have lower chance to be identified or seized. Then, public transit stops come to their