The Decision Making Process of Property Crime Offenders - Research Proposal Example

THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF PROPERTY CRIME OFFENDERS al affiliation) Key words: decision, burglars. Introduction The decision making process is a cognitive process which eventually produces a final choice. It is a five step process, whose first step is identification of the decision. This step basically entails the clarification of the decision. Step two is identifying possible decision options. In this step the decision maker is required to clearly spell out all the possible alternatives of the decision. The third step then becomes gathering and processing of information. The decision maker collects and processes the information they find. By processing we mean that they study what they have carefully. If the information appears to be irrelevant then the decision maker cannot come to a conclusion. Fourthly comes making and implementing the decision. This can only happen if the information collected is approved as relevant and significant, after which the decision should be made and implemented. Lastly the decision maker evaluates the decision. This is done to evaluate if the decision made is appropriate. He or she aims at knowing the consequences that come in with the decision and the risks that are likely to be faced during the implementation of the decision. All social behaviors occur through a process of decision making, so does criminality. As seen earlier on the decision making process is cognitive, and as odd as it may seem even criminal offenders go through the process of decision making. It is a continuous process based on an individual’s interaction with the environment that ends when an acceptable or suitable solution is reached. The main motivation of criminology is the avoidance of pain and pursuit of pleasure. Property crimes have a greater percentage of all crimes that happen. If there is an intention to commit a crime, this is burglary. If none such breaking and entering into a place alone called illegal trespass of property. (Nee.C, 2003) Body Academic and policy-driven interest in situation crime prevention has stimulated a variety of offenses-specific research from the 1980s onwards. This has resulted in considerable development in both ‘grounded’ methodological approaches and our understanding of the burglar’s behavior and decision-making during the criminal event (Nee, 2003). It is of great importance to master the psychology of the person who commits the crime. Find out why, how and for what reason. It is also important to find out the various phases that the criminal offender goes through during different stages of the offense. From their research Bennett and Wright (1984) found out that the first decision made during these offenses was the decision to find the money, the area to get the money from and finally from which specific property. They also found out that burglars were actually mentored and oriented towards environmental cues. This was probably to show them of what to expect when implementing the decision they make. For example how to handle the security people or the cameras and such. They also found out the burglars were interested in places which appeared to be secure from potential crime scenes. Thirdly, they noted that the burglars were doing their ‘work’ in a systematic and rational way. This is done so that they are able to steal goods that are likely to be exchanged for money easily. (Wright, 1995) Burglars appeared not as opportunistic, indiscriminate, somewhat out-of-control individual, but as systematic, expert decision-maker according to Cornish and Clarke (1986). Burglar cues were demonstrated with hierarchy with the young burglars being most profound and then those with no experience in burglary and finally the house holds burglars. (Nee, 2006) The study shows that the use of drugs and the decision making were part of the decision chain used especially at the crime scenes. Not only that but also some burglars target the dealers of drug. They rob them of the money and the drugs they sell forcefully. For this they too require a plan as they are dealing with people who earn their income illegally. This according to them is the hardest form of burglary and such cannot be reported to the police. While by doing this they are looking for signs of wealth in their targets, easy access to the crime scene and cover at not only the front but also back of the scene is necessary. Security is usually not their main aim of concern (McGuire, 2004). This is because by this point they usually have disabled anything that may cause alarm during their trespass. Once inside the scene, their time becomes limited. During their plan they usually have it evaluated where it is that they get their resources from. This means that during the time of the crime, no time is wasted and none of their identity revealed so as to ensure their own safety (Tunnell, 1992). Conclusion The increase in work in burglary increases the urge to prevent crime by the authorities. After mastering the basic decision making process in general that of the burglars becomes easier to learn. It makes it easier for the once in charge of security to prevent such crimes from happening (Dobinson & Ward, 1985). Just as the decision making process is a continuous process based on an individual’s interaction with the environment that ends when an acceptable or suitable solution is reached. The same motivation should be acquired by the people in authority. The main motivation of criminology is the avoidance of pain and the pursuit of pleasure while that of the authority is ensuring that that which people make a legal effort in acquiring is not taken forcefully and illegally from them. Property crimes have a greater percentage of all crimes that happen. If there is an intention to commit a crime, this is burglary. That means that burglary not only occurs when the crime is committed but also if people are busted before they accomplish their business. If none such breaking and entering into a place alone and illegally called illegal trespass of property. All burglars seem to have a thing or two in common about each other and can therefore be detected if not before, during the process of the crime. (Taylor, 1988) References Dobinson, I., & Ward, P. (1985). Drugs and crime: a survey of N.S.W. prison property offenders, 1984. Sydney: N.S.W. Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Attorney Generals Dept.. McGuire, J. (2004). Understanding psychology and crime perspectives on theory and action. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Nee, C. &. 2006. Expert decision-making in burglaries. British Journal of Criminology. Nee.C. 2003. Bulgaria research at the end of the millennium. security journal. Taylor, M. &. 1988. The role of cues in simulated residential burglary. British Journal of Criminology. Tunnell, K. D. (1992). Choosing crime: the criminal calculus of property offenders. Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers. Wright, R. L. 1995. An experimental study of the target selection process in residential burglary. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. Read More