Offender Decision-Making and Displacement

• Published in: Justice quarterly 2021-04, Vol.38 (3), p.375-405
• Main Authors: Rossmo, D. Kim, Summers, Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burglary; Crime; Crime prevention; Criminals; Decision making; Displacement; offender interviews; Offenders; Prevention; Rational choice; Robbery
• ISSN: 0741-8825; 1745-9109
• DOI: 10.1080/07418825.2019.1666904

Rational choice approaches to offender decision-making typically focus on the choice to offend or not. In this mixed-method study, we explore how offenders respond to crime control and prevention measures using a framework incorporating displacement options. Semi-structured interviews of 200 adult offenders convicted of burglary, robbery, or theft were conducted in Texas. Subjects first described experiences in which they wanted to offend but chose not to do so due to a control measure. They then evaluated a list of control measures and indicated whether they led to desistance or displacement. Finally, they were given situational crime vignettes involving a prevention measure, followed by five displacement choices and a desistance option. Responses often favored crime displacement, highlighting the need to go beyond a dichotomized offend/desist choice, and suggesting displacement is more prevalent than previously thought. Displacement should be considered when designing crime control measures to help maximize their impact.