Question

Gary, the town mayor, is a proponent of situational choice theory. He is focusing on reducing opportunities for crime by improving the lighting in the town, increasing the number of police officers on patrol, and installing CCTV cameras throughout the community. He is pleased to announce a dramatic decrease in the town's crime rate. However, the media reports that a neighboring town is experiencing an increase in crime. This rise in crime could be an example of ________.

A) Strain theory
B) Routine activity theory
C) Differential association
D) Labeling theory

Answer 1

Crime displacement likely explains the increase in a neighboring town's crime rate due to the preventative measures taken in the first town, aligning with the routine activity theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gary, the town mayor, is utilizing situational choice theory to reduce crime by improving environmental factors. This approach has led to a crime rate decrease in his town. However, the neighboring town's crime rate increase could potentially exemplify the concept of crime displacement, where crime moves from one area to another due to increased prevention measures in the initial area. Although the answer is not explicitly provided in the question, the scenario suggests a shift of opportunities for crime rather than a crime emergence due to social or psychological factors implied by the other theories mentioned, such as Strain theory, Differential association, or Labeling theory. Routine activity theory may provide an explanation for this scenario, as it suggests that the increase in preventative measures in one area may alter criminal opportunities, causing criminals to move to areas with fewer barriers against their activities.