Comments on Chapter 6 of Crime Types & Reminders

As promised, below are my comments on Chapter 6 of Crime Types. When it comes time to study for the final exam, you should focus on these comments, as well as the follow-up comments I made on chapters the families reported on.

Chapter 6: Common Property Crime

A. The chapter begins: "Unfortunately, our country's ardent commitment to capitalism and the accumulation of wealth comes with a downside: Faced with the pressing need to obtain and expend monetary resources, untold scores of people simply take from their fellow citizens as a means of getting what they want." (p. 207) which I noted in class clearly suggests the relevance of Anomie/Strain theory, as well as the Marxist theory.

B. This is, by far, the most common crime. Including burglary, it accounted for 88% of all reported crime. Official property crime rate is 3,656 per 100,000 persons. There were 1.6 million arrests in 2001.

1. Dabney cites the fact that this crime often goes unreported, except in the case of motor vehicle theft because of insurance regulations which require a police report.

2. Shoplifting alone is estimated to cost retailers about $10 billion each year.

3. But, as with other property and violent crimes, the victimization rate has come down significantly from its peek in the mid 70s (although the peak for auto theft was around 1990). pp. 210-211.

C. Common property crime is clearly correlated with large cities -- NYC, Chicago, L.A., and Houston consistently ranked among the top 5, which, again, suggests the relevance of social disorganization theory. Our rate is lower than some countries, but much higher than others, such as Japan. (bottom, p. 211)

D. Generally, unskilled. For example, a lot of car thefts are due simply to people leaving their keys in the car.

E. The setting is important, which suggests the relevance of routine activities theory (eg., stealing cars from large, crowded mall parking lots.)

F. The offenders and victims of common property crime are disproportionately young, African American men.

G. Typically, these criminals have committed many offenses. Recidivism rate is the highest for all types of crimes: 78.8% for auto thieves, and 74.6% for larceny inmates.

H. They begin their criminal careers in their early teens, guided mostly by opportunity and peer pressure. Peak is early 20s. Only a few persist into middle age. (Which I suggested has implications for 3-strikes laws -- that perhaps it is unwise and costly to incarcerate these criminals much beyond their 40s.)

I. "There appears to be a sense of situational rationality that goes into the planning and target selection aspects of common property crime." (p. 215) But drugs and alcohol are, again, often involved -- half of larceny-theft and auto-theft inmates admitted alcohol and drug use at the time of their offense.

J. Neutralization or rationalization involved. p. 216.

K. Not terribly harsh treatment in the criminal justice system and low arrest clearance rates: 17.6% for larceny theft and 13.6% for auto theft (but police are able to return 60% of stolen cars to rightful owners).

L. Finally, Dabney suggests the public is hypocritical to complain that these criminals get lenient treatment when they often do not take it seriously or attempt to stop it or even report it. (see bottom p. 218)


Selection #13: The Dynamics of Petty Crime: An Analysis of Shoplifting

All this represents is an attempt to identify the various motives (and/or rationalizations) shoplifters used to explain their behavior -- ranging from the rational/calculating to the nonrational/compulsive-impulsive variety. Just emphasizes the complexity of such motives, and we should not fall for simplistic explanations. It both supports and pours cold water on rational choice theory.


Selection #14: The Thrill of It All: Youthful Offenders and Auto Theft

A. Identifies three main motivations: (1) profit motive, (2) transportation motive, and (3) recreation motive. Also, there is evidence that much of the increase in this crime can be attributed to "thrill-seeking."

B. "Most prevalent 'recreational' activity reported by offenders was 'hanging-out' with friends, and using drugs and alcohol."

C. Seems to be a general lack of concern about possible court sanctions or punishments. (The above two points reflecting critically on rational chaoice theory.)

D. Control implications: "The obvious conclusions to be drawn from these findings involve the use of (1) target hardening technology, including alarms, steering wheel and ignition locks and (2) increase likelihood and severity of punishment. (p. 238)


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REMINDERS:

Don't forget the one-page response to the documentary, "A Hard Straight," which is due Tuesday, AT THE LATEST. The DVD is on reserve in the library if you missed the class showing.

Next Tuesday (11/20) we'll be seeing a video program on the drug war, which is related to the handout by Michael Massing I distributed in class yesterday.

Start reading Tulia.

Don't forget the paper due on Thursday, 11/29, after the break. This paper topic is described on the Oct. 24th blog post.