Routine Activity Theory Essay Example for Free

custom Activity Theory EssayRoutine activity theory is a sub-field of rational choice-0 and criminology-1, developed by Marcus Felson-2 and Lawrence E. Cohen-3. Routine activity theory says that crime-4 is normal and depends on the opportunities available. If a derriere is not protected enough, and if the remunerate is worth it, crime will happen. abhorrence does not need hardened offenders, super-predators, convicted felons or wicked people. Crime just needs an opportunity. The basic premise of routine activity theory is that most crimes are first gearer-ranking theft-5 and unreported to the police-6. Crime is neither spectacular nor dramatic.It is mundane and happens all the time. An another(prenominal) premise is that crime is comparatively unaffected by social causes such(prenominal) as poverty-7, inequality-8, unemployment-9. For instance, after World War II-10, the economy of westward countries was booming and the Welfare states were expanding. During that time, cri me rose signifi toilettetly. According to Felson and Cohen, this is because the prosperity of contemporary society offers so ofttimes opportunities of crime there is much more to steal. Routine activity theory keep also attention explain the dramatic rise in crime during the 1960s.Due to the increase in female company in the labor market, the homes are left without a assailable guardian as adult caretakers at home during the day decreased. Furthermore, rapid growth of suburbs and the decline of more traditional neighborhood, led to the decline of intimate controls that would have once existed with a tightly-knit neighborhood. Lastly, with the baby-boom generation-11 coming of age in the 1960s to the 1980s, it amounted to an excessive number of do offenders and crime rate predictable increased in a similar manner.With such changes in the thermonuclear family, more and more spring chickens were lacking supervision, especially when twain parents worked outside the home the nu mber of temptations increased for youth to transport crimes. 1 Routine activity theory is controversial among sociologists who believe in the social causes of crime. But some(prenominal) types of crime are very well explained by routine activity theory including copyright infringement-12, link up to peer-to-peer file sharing-13, employee theft-14, and corporate crime-15.For crime to be move, three aspects are needed 1) A Motivated offender 2) A Suitable Target 3) The Lack of a Capable Guardian Lack of a capable guardian can range to anything that would make a suitable target easier to victimize. From a person go alone, to a poor police presence, to anyone else who would disapprove a motivated offender from offending in that circumstance. It should be noted that the guardian does not have to be a person at all, nor does the suitable target there are many examples of objects and environmental designs that act as a guardians or security measures to deter motivated offenders as we ll.This branches into the realm of CPTED-16 (crime pr til nowtion through environmental design) where seemingly small measures like the addendum of lights, fences, better locks, open or visible areas and security cameras act as the capable guardian and can prevent crime against a suitable target, in this case a building, park or other areas. 1 Furthermore, crimes rate if generally proportional to the number of motivated offenders, such as teenagers and unemployed people, in the population. Of course, motif can be lowered when legitimate means are available for offenders to achieve their goals.Motivation can increase, when the option of crime is the only viable choice available for an offender to achieve their goals. Another disincentive that influences the routine activities that produces crime is the moral beliefs and socialization of the offender. If a person has been socialized to hold conventional beliefs, even in the presence of criminal opportunities, offenders would refrai n from crime. Such is the strength of social bonds that serve as a buffer to counteract the lure of criminal activities.A criticism of routine activity theory states that opportunities to commit crime by youth do not generally lead to a crime committed when the parental controls are missing. Also suggesting that routine activity fails to ignore other theories in relation to the causes of crime, such associal learning theory-17. Another criticism of this theory says that even though opportunities for crime are high when both parents are involved in the workforce, crime can also be displaced to an area where there is low supervision by parents. Meaning regardless of situation, crime will still occur.