NCJ Number
10767
Date Published
1973
Length
347 pages
Annotation
EXAMINATION OF BURGLARY AS A PROCESS INVOLVING OFFENDER, CITIZEN AND POLICE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE EMPIRICALLY BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
Abstract
'THE STUDY OF A CRIME SUCH AS BURGLARY IS LIKE TRACKING GAME - ONE IS CONSTANTLY RECONSTRUCTING A TRAIL OF EVIDENCE OF THE PRIOR PRESENCE OF THE ANIMAL ... AND RARELY DOES ONE ENGAGE IN THE CAPTURE OF THE QUARRY.' THIS REPORT EXAMINES BURGLARY AS A PROCESS TO DEVELOP EMPIRICALLY GROUNDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS PREVENTION AND CONTROL. THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA OF FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, MARYLAND IS THE STUDY ENVIRONMENT. THE OFFENSE, THE OFFENDER, THE VICTIM, THE SOCIAL CONTROL AGENTS, AND THE CITIZEN ARE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH BURGLARY OCCURS, THE OPPORTUNITY SETTING IN WHICH IT THRIVES, AND THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY THAT IMPELS ITS PRACTITIONERS. A CONCEPTUAL ORIENTATION FROM WHICH TO ANALYZE THE CRIME OF BURGLARY IS PRESENTED. THIS BEHAVIORAL APPROACH SUPPLIES THE BURGLAR'S PERCEPTIONS OF HIS NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THEM, MEANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH OPPORTUNITIES, DECISIONS ABOUT ALTERNATE ROUTES, AND THE EXISTENCE OF OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. BY DRAWING ON DATA FROM POLICE AND CENSUS RECORDS, A DIFFERENTIATION IS MADE OF BURGLARY OFFENSES IN TERMS OF TYPE OF STRUCTURE ENTERED, TIME OF DAY, AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. CITIZEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO DECREASE THE PROBABILITY OF VICTIMIZATION BY BURGLARY ARE CONSIDERED IN SUBSTANTIAL DETAIL. THE THIRD MAJOR CATEGORY STUDIED IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO COUNTER THE MOVES OF THE OFFENDER AND AID THE CITIZEN IN CRIME PRECAUTIONS. THE WORK CONCLUDES WITH A LIST OF MAJOR FINDINGS AND APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNTER MEASURES AND CONTAINS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUPPORTING STATISTICAL DATA. THIS SECOND EDITION IS A REVISED AND ENLARGED VERSION OF PATTERNS OF BURGLARY, FEBRUARY 1972 (SNI ABSTRACT)