Download Neoclassical Theories of Crime: Rational Choice and Routine Activities and more Study notes Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! Evaluation of Neoclassical Theories Critics of neoclassical theories complain about the overemphasis on the rationality of human beings and criticize the theories for ignoring the social conditions that may make it rational for some to engage in crime (Curran & Renzetti, 2001, p. 21). We do need to under- stand what turns some people into “motivated offenders,” that is, what it is that makes some of us willing to expend one resource (our potential loss of freedom) to attain another (the fruits of crime). Many of us don’t spend our resources all that wisely because of a tendency to favor immediate gain over long-term consequences, and we would like to know why some of us more strongly favor immediate gain than others. In response, neoclassical theorists might insist that they do not assume a model of “pure” rationality; rather, they assume a limited rationality constrained by ability, knowledge, and time (Cornish & Clarke, 1986, p. 1). These theories do not claim to explore the role of outside forces in producing criminals, but rather they explore criminal events with the purpose of try- ing to prevent them. They seek to deny the motivated offender the opportunity to commit a crime by target hardening. Additionally, the notion that individuals are responsible for their own actions meshes well with American values. If this assumption “grants society permission” (Williams & McShane, 2004, p. 242) to punish criminals who make purposeful decisions to flout the law, then so be it, for the act of punishment presupposes free human beings and thus dignifies them. Policy and Prevention: Implications of Neoclassical Theories If you were the kind of motivated rational criminal assumed by neoclassical theorists, what sorts of questions would you ask yourself at the potential crime site before you made your decision to commit the crime or not? We bet that among them would be “Is there a quick way out of the area after the job is done?”“How vulnerable are the targets (is the car unlocked, is the door open, is the girl alone)?” “What are my chances of being seen by people in the area?”“If people in this area do see me, do they look likely to do something about it?” The pol- icy implications of neoclassical theories boil down to trying to arrange things to make crimi- nals’ choice structuring as difficult as possible, such that criminals will dissuade themselves from committing crimes. Rational choice and routine activities theories thus shift the policy focus from large and costly social programs, such as antipoverty programs, to target hardening. They shift attention away from policies designed to change offenders’ attitudes and behavior toward making it more difficult and more costly for them to offend. Examples of target hardening include antitheft devices on automobiles, the use of vandal-resistant materials on public property, improved city lighting, surveillance cameras in stores and at public gathering places, check guarantee cards, banning the sale of alcohol at sporting events, neighborhood watches, and curfews for teenagers. Environmental design is primarily concerned with defensible space, defined as “a model for residential environments which inhibit crime by creating the physical expression of a social fabric that defends itself” (Newman, 1972, p. 3). It endeavors to bring people together into a tribe-like sense of community by designing the physical environment so as to awaken the human sense of territoriality. The best possible physical environment for the growth of crime is the large barracks-like blocks of apartments with few entrances, few private spaces, and few demarcation barriers that say, “This space is mine.” Families must be given back a sense of 84 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY 03-Walsh (Introduction)-45498.qxd 2/13/2008 7:28 PM Page 84
