Criminologists Routine Activities Theory

“Crime is a violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status.” (Siegel, pg 18) As a society we are subjected to people who will victimize and those who will be victimized. Criminologists have studied for many years on why this happens and what can be done to lower these rates of crime. They have defined some theories that are helping us to better understand why these crimes happen to certain people and why these particular crimes continue to happen. One theory is that people often put themselves in a position where they are “asking”
This theory involves the idea that the more habitual your everyday tasks are may put you in higher risk for being victimized. Imagine your life as a college student, where you wake up go to the same classes day to day and eat in the same areas, take the same route to school and back home again. You park in the same spot so you don’t have to remember every time you come to school where in the gigantic parking lot you actually did park. You also go to the same hang out places and drink in the same bars on the weekends. In this situation you are giving someone the option to know exactly how you live from sun up to sun down which in turn allows them to follow you and make you a victim. This is not the only way you can have routine activities. Many don’t think about the purchases they make which may include new electronics or expensive jewelry or even valuable clothing, on a regular basis. More often than not friends or coworkers see this behavior which in turn will allow someone to become victimized because of their
To some they may be obvious changes, to others not so easy to change their homes or their thought process if this is all they know. Making a list of things not to do could go on forever so here are a few pointers and examples on what to do. Go to places in the day light and if you go drinking or hang out in public place make sure to always have people around and have at least one other person to walk home with. Children who are growing up in an urban community try to be involved with others who are positive and be involved in afterschool activities that include sports or learning or helping others. For those who like routine, take a new way to work, take note on where you parked so it won’t be challenging to find later, try a new lunch spot and even try meeting new people to befriend. All of these actions will allow you to become less of a target for victimization. Even though you decide to take better steps, sometimes you still fall to these victimizations under none of your