Routine Activity Theory
Document Type
Contribution to Book
Publication Date
11-24-2017
Publication Title
The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
DOI
10.1002/9781118524275.ejdj0095
ISBN
9781118524275
Abstract
Abstract
Crime after World War II spiked in the United States, leaving many scholars of crime puzzled as to its causes. Using official crime statistics and data from newly developed self‐report surveys, analysts began to unravel the relationship between an individual's lifestyle and daily activities and their risk of victimization. The data revealed that as people moved outside their homes for work and became more social out in their communities, their victimization risk increased. Data from official and self‐report surveys supported a theory of crime that suggested that as people come into contact with motivated offenders, their risk of being victimized increases. Theorists aptly named this approach “routine activity theory.” Over the next several decades, routine activity theory has become one of the most popular theories of crime, due, in part, to the evidence in support of its claims. Moreover, the theory has straightforward implications for law enforcement and crime prevention. This entry reviews the history behind routine activity theory, early research on the theory, the current empirical status of the theory, the policy implications of the theory, and its future.
Recommended Citation
Bacot, Joseph D., Chad Posick.
2017.
"Routine Activity Theory."
The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice (1st), Christopher J. Schreck (Ed.) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
doi: 10.1002/9781118524275.ejdj0095 isbn: 9781118524275
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/crimjust-criminology-facpubs/243
Comments
About this reference work
A compendium of more than 300 contributions written by leading scholars from the fields of criminal justice, justice sciences, social work, and sociology.
It covers the latest research, policies, and practices regarding young offenders, the processing of juveniles within the court system, and various approaches to treating and eliminating juvenile crime. The origins and evolution of the juvenile justice system, the leading theories and major theorists in the field, and the empirical support for theories and policies designed to reduce delinquency are all discussed in depth.
Organized thematically, the Encyclopedia is arranged by three key sections. The first section focuses on juvenile delinquents and delinquency, specifically the causes, correlates, and experiences of at-risk youth. The second section provides a comprehensive review of the system developed to address juvenile offending, including the historic origins of juvenile courts and the cases that have shaped the contemporary system. In the final section, authors explore current treatment programs and policy initiatives designed to mitigate and/or prevent juvenile delinquency.
Key topics covered include: Juvenile Delinquency, Explanations of Delinquency, Correlates and Contexts of Delinquency; and all aspects of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Justice Policy.
An indispensable reference resource, The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice is essential reading for both students and professionals engaged in the fields of criminology, juvenile delinquency, justice administration, and sociology.