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Concentration of Criminal Victimization and Patterns of Routine Activities

NCJ Number
240084
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: June 2012 Pages: 573-598
Author(s)
Shih-Ya Kuo; Steven J. Cuvelier; Chuen-Jim Sheu; Jihong Zhao
Date Published
June 2012
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study attempted to explain variations in the concentration of victimization by applying routine activities as a theoretical model.
Abstract
Although many repeat victimization studies have focused on describing the prevalence of the phenomenon, this study attempted to explain variations in the concentration of victimization by applying routine activities as a theoretical model. A multivariate analysis of repeat victimization based on the 2005 Taiwan criminal victimization data supported the general applicability of the routine activity model developed in Western culture for predicting repeat victimization. Findings that diverged from Western patterns included family income to assault, gender to robbery, and marital status, family income, and major activity to larceny incidents. These disparities illustrated the importance of considering the broader sociocultural context in the association between risk predictors and the concentration of criminal victimization. The contradictory results and nonsignificant variance also reflected untapped information on respondents' biological features and psychological tendencies. Future victimization research would do well to integrate measurements that are sensitive to salient sociocultural elements of the society being studied and individuals' biological and psychological traits. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.