www.cengage.com/cj/siegel

Larry J. Siegel

Valerie Bell • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Chapter FourChoice Theory:

Because They Want To

• Development of Rational Choice Theory– Classical Criminology – Thinking About Crime

• James Q. Wilson

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Concepts of Rational Choice– Evaluating the Risks of Crime– Offense-Specific Crime– Offender-Specific Crime

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Concepts of Rational Choice– Structuring Criminality

• Economic need/opportunity• Evaluating personal traits and experience• Criminal expertise

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Concepts of Rational Choice– Structuring Crime

• Choosing the place of crime• Choosing targets

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Is Crime Rational?– Is theft rational?– Is drug use rational?– Can violence be rational?

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Why Do People Commit Crime?– Edgework– Seductions of crime

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Controlling Crime– Situational Crime Prevention

• Criminal acts will be avoided if:– potential targets are carefully guarded– the means to commit crime are controlled– potential offenders are carefully monitored

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Controlling Crime– Crime Prevention Strategies

• Increase the effort needed to commit crime• Increase the risk of committing crime• Reduce rewards of crime• Induce guilt: increase crime• Reduce provocation• Remove excuses

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Controlling Crime– The Costs and Benefits of Situational Crime

Prevention• Hidden benefits• Hidden costs

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• General Deterrence– Perception and Deterrence– Certainty of Punishment

• Police and Certainty of Punishment– Severity of Punishment– Swiftness of Punishment

• Interrelationship of factors

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• General Deterrence– Critique of General Deterrence

• Rationality• System effectiveness• Some offenders – and some crimes – are more

“deterrable” than others

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Specific Deterrence– The view that criminal sanctions should be so

powerful that offenders will never repeat their criminal acts.

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Incapacitation– Incapacitation Effect

• Incarceration• Recidivism

– Can Incapacitation Reduce Crime?

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Can Incapacitation Reduce Crime?– Incapacitation Effect

• Incarceration• Recidivism

Choice Theory: Because They Want To

• Policy Implications of Choice Theory– Highly Visible Police Patrols – “Three Strikes and You’re Out” – Death Penalty

Choice Theory: Because They Want To