Geographic Location's Influence On The Victims Of Crime

In society, there are certain individuals that are more susceptible to be victims of crime than others. There are several different factors that influence this susceptibility, and these factors generally revolve around the individual’s geographic location and their daily activities. Geographic location is a typical factor that comes to mind when discussing crime. It is a common thought by society that there are certain areas that have higher crime rates than others because there are areas of poverty, or it is in a “bad area” location wise. While poverty stricken areas and other areas with high crime rates are a definite influence on individuals who become victims of crime, there are also other factors and theories that help to understand why

This type of victimization can happen to anybody. The next theory discussed is the lifestyle theory. “Lifestyle theory stresses that some lifestyles put people more at risk for becoming crime victims” (page 76). Individuals who spend time in high crime environments are more susceptible to crime than other individuals. Some places include bars or nightclubs, and the street. Some people would argue that this theory is common sense, because the factors that “play in” to these types of environments (drinking), contributes to criminal behavior. Hanging out on the streets can also place an individual at high risk. The streets are a very common place for crime, especially depending on the location. For example, an individual walking on a street, at night, alone, would be placing himself or herself at extremely high risk to become a victim of crime. They are making themselves a prime target for perpetrators. The next theory is routine activities theory. “Routine activities theory argue that people engage in regular (hence the word routine) activities that increase their risk for victimization) (page