Comments on Chapter 4

Below are my follow-up comments on Chapter 4: Robbery. Again, keep in mind that if I ask any questions about this chapter in addition to the ones the family submits, they will come from these follow-up comments.

Chapter 4: Robbery

A. This crime is underreported. The NCVS indicates that roughly 40% of robbery victims chose not to notify the police.

B. "As is the case with all forms of violent crime, increased population density yields significantly higher robbery victimization rates."
city -- 4.9 per 1,000 residents
suburban -- 2.2 per 1,000
rural -- 1.4 per 1,000 (p. 131)
(which, as I noted in class, generally supports social disorganization theory)

C. Researchers found that "injuries occurred far less frequently in robberies involving a gun than they did when a knife, club, or no weapon was present." (p. 132)

D. Robbery is different from other violent crimes in that the vast majority of robbery offenders and victims do NOT know each other.

E. Very high recidivism rate -- 70.% re-arrested within three years of release from prison.

F. Many robbers commit their crimes while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol -- one-third or more.

G."Planning does not appear to play a large role in most robberies." they may be described as "alert opportunists" for the most part. (p. 136)

H. Most "seasoned thieves" invoke some normative neutralizations to justify their behavior. Again, we see the relevance of "techniques of neutralization."

I. Dabney identifies the existence of a criminal subculture where other robbers are known as "colleagues" or they act as conspirators, or in teams. (suggesting the relevance of differential association theory)


#9 "Stick-up, Street Culture, and Offender Motivation"

A. In addition to the obvious motivation of a need for money, the authors talk about the larger culture in which they exist which is driven by the need to spend to fit in, seek pleasure in a harsh world, "life as a party" instant gratification. They are so focused on gratification, there is little consideration of consequences, often little effort at planning. (which generally runs contrary to rational choice or deterrence theory.

B. P. 146 beginning with "Without doubt,...." about the middle of the page and continuing all the way to the end of that page, Dabney captures well the world of these criminals. In some respects, one can see the relevance of anomie theory. Even though most of them do not necessarily face economic hardships, they feel the pressure to keep up with the fast-paced "life as party" lifestyle and so resort to illegitimate means to achieve that.

C. Later, Dabney says, "... the 'choice' to rob occurs in a context in which rationality not only is sharply bounded, it barely exists." (p. 148) Which, again, raises a question about the relevance of rational choice theory.


#10 "Dubs and Dees, Beats and Rims, Carjackers and Urban Violence"

A. From the abstract: "Offenders may choose to engage in the crime in response to peer pressure, boredom, or a perceived need for money, drugs, or transportation." (p. 149) reflecting the possible application of both differential association and social bonding theory, in which I interjected my "boredom theory" in the context of talking about Hirschi's bond of Involvement.

B. Underscores the lack of planning, impulsiveness often stemming from a desperate need for drugs.

C. Notes how easy targets sometimes motivated carjackers -- isolated, weak victims, desirable vehicles. See bottom of p.154-155, which suggests a calculation of greater pleasure or gain, which lends itself to rational choice theory. I would also add, routine activities theory as relevant.

D. But to counter-balance the above point about the relevance of rational choice: the thing that strikes me about alot of these interviews is that these carjackers are so focused on satisfying immediate "needs" or pleasures, that nothing else matters. There is no conception or thought of how such a lifestyle is a complete dead end no matter how successful they may be in the short run.


That's it for now. Look for my comments on Chapter 5 later (perhaps Friday). Also, I will be posting a description of our next short essay assignment soon, connected with viewing the documentary, "A Hard Straight" which I will be showing in class next Tuesday, 11/4.