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Understanding Environmental Criminology Concepts

Nov 11, 2024

16.2 A Basic Understanding of Environmental Criminology

Key Concepts

  • Environmental Criminology: Focuses on the criminal event rather than the individual criminal.
    • Interested in spatial distribution of crime, victimization, or offenders.
    • Examines differences across cities, neighborhoods, or smaller units.
    • Analyzes physical and social characteristics of spaces to understand crime distribution.

Important Factors

  • Criminal Event: Defined by five dimensions:
    1. Space
    2. Time
    3. Law
    4. Offender
    5. Target or Victim
    • These components are necessary and sufficient for a crime's existence.

Analytical Focus

  • Spatial Distribution:

    • Studies the spatial patterns related to crime.
    • Interested in whether crime rates vary by location.
  • Factors in Analysis:

    • Number of police officers in an area.
    • Social composition of neighborhoods.
    • Physical layout of streets.

Associated Theories and Perspectives

  • Outcome of Actions: Crime as a result of deliberate actions to exploit, oppress, harm, destroy, or illegally obtain property.

References

  • Felson, 2017; Gibbs & Boratoo, 2017; Bruinsma et al., 2018; Snaphaan & Hardyns, 2019; Sidebottom & Wortley, 2016.