1. Repeat Victimization and Routine Activity Theory: Identifying Key Determinants of Risk for Household Property Crime.
- Author
-
Coulthard, Julie
- Subjects
CRIME victims ,OFFENSES against property ,HOUSEHOLDS ,GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
Traditionally, victimization has assumed a simple victim/non-victim dichotomy, as researchers have been primarily interested in modelling what has been termed the 'hurdle of victimization'. However, more recent research has shown that the strongest, and most consistent, risk predictor of a future victimization event is the occurrence of a prior victimization experience. The primary focus of the present analysis is the incidence of single and repeat property crime victimization of households in Canada, examined within the context of routine activity theory. The possibility that criminal victimization is disproportionately distributed with respect to particular locations, individuals, and/or households suggests considerable advantage for public policy if the concentration of preventative resources could be allocated to where they are most needed. Consistent with previous research, the present analysis indicates that many correlates are observed to be consistent determinants for both single and repeat victimization, confirming that the distribution of risk is indeed, disproportionate. The present research has determined that the likelihood of future victimization is greater for certain households in Canada and, armed with this knowledge, the next step can be an investigation into more effective crime prevention policies aimed towards specifically targeting households identified to be at highest risk of property crime. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008