NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Victim Influences It is often argued that some victims of crime ask for it i. e. by their own actions they precipitate a criminal action. This is most often the response in rape cases, especially if the female in question is wearing provocative clothing, has been perceived as leading someone on or has been drinking excessively and can therefore be considered, at least in part, to play a part in the crime. However in a way it can also be the case in situations where someone lives in a lonely place, leaves a ladder in the garden or displays their silver ware in the front windows. Buying a house which is on a corner or next to an alleyway, so that there are a number of escape routes, makes a householder more likely to be a victim of crime than someone who buys a house in the middle of a terrace, as does being a woman, elderly and trusting.
All this is part of routine activity theory, also referred to as either opportunity theory or exposure theory as described by David Garson on his web page Routine Activity Theory. He states the victimization is a function of exposure to risk that is the more someone places themselves in risky positions the more likely they are to become victims. However this seems to put the onus only on victims to minimize risk, rather than placing any blame on the criminals who carry out crimes. In fact it is the motivation that people have to commit crime that is the major cause, with the availability of suitable victims being secondary and then the third factor is the lack of preventative measures such as the police or caretakers There are any number of theories as to why certain people are more likely to be victims than others such as social structure theory which states that poorer people and women are more likely to be victimized as described in Sociology 4099, but none of these deal with criminal motivation, the most important factor in crime.
References Electronic Sources Garson, G. D. , Routine Activity Theory, retrieved 22 nd October 2008 from web Sociology 4099: Victimology, retrieved 22 nd October 2008 from web
Free research essays on topics related to: routine, october 2008, 2008, exposure, motivation
Research essay sample on Routine Activity Theory Retrieved 22 Nd October 2008 Victims
