Elizabeth Ehrhardt Mustaine

A Routine Activity Theory Explanation for Women's Stalking Victimizations:

Drawing on surveys administered to 861 university women in nine institutions, this article presents a routine activity theory model for predicting stalking victimization likelihood for women. Using routine activity theory, the model highlights lifestyle behaviors and interactions as predictors of stalking victimization. Whereas routine activity theory often highlights the role of demographics and statuses as predictors, this analysis emphasizes the role of womens social interactions and substance use in victimization risk. Significant predictors of victimization likelihood include substance use variables, activities in public settings, and residence off campus.

Social Disorganization and Residential Locations of Registered Sex Offenders: Is This a Collateral Consequence?

Guided by social disorganization theory, this research assesses the characteristics of neighborhoods where registered sex offenders (RSOs) reside. Drawing on data from 1,504 RSOs in 4 urban counties analysis compares both census tracts with any RSOs and high concentrations of RSOs with the counties containing these census tracts. Findings show that RSOs are likely to live in areas with greater social disorganization than their containing counties and the nation as a whole. Census tracts with high concentrations of RSOs show the most social disorganization. Results also suggest that RSOs are relegated to such locations rather than living there by choice.

Sexual Assault of College Women: A Feminist Interpretation of a Routine Activities Analysis

Sexual assault has been a frequent topic of research for several decades, especially for feminist researchers. Generally, feminist research suggest that there are high levels of sexual assault against women because of a patriarchal, rape-supportive culture. However, not all women have the same heightened risk for sexual assault victimization. Wh the feminist perspective does not adequately account for are the variations in rape victimization rates across the female population. This is where the importance of theory that focuses on individual statuses and lifestyles becomes important. By combining the two perspectives, explanations of sexual assault victimization can be made more vigorous and instructive. The data in this article come from 674 college and university women in 12 southern postsecondary institutions in eight states who completed an in-depth survey. Analyses focused on sexual assault in general and an more serious forms of sexual assault. Findings suggest tat the combination of feminism and routine activity theory enhances explanation of sexual assault victimization risks. Sexual assault victimization risks were influenced primarily by the amount of exposure that respondents had to potential offenders, especially to rape-supportive male per groups. Additionally, the finding between the models of differing degrees of sexual assault victimization are not particularly different.

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION AND MOBILITY OF REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS

Identifying the residential locations of registered sex offenders is a major concern for contemporary policy makers and communities. The present study seeks to identify whether registered sex offenders’ residential locations at time of arrest differ from their current addresses, if registrants move whether they tend to move to more or less socially disorganized neighborhoods, as well as what factors are associated with moving to more or less socially disorganized areas. Data are analyzed for 271 registrants on 11 measures of community social disorganization variables. Findings indicate that registrants already residing in socially disorganized areas were less likely to have a downward movement to more socially disorganized areas. Also, those who resided in less socially disorganized areas initially were more likely to have downward movement to socially disorganized areas.

College Students' Lifestyles and Self-Protective Behaviors Further Considerations of the Guardianship Concept in Routine Activity Theory

Routine activity theory has traditionally emphasized identifying victimization risks and suitable targets for crime. Assessments of the role of guardianship in criminal events are less emphasized. Explorations of who uses guardianship to attempt to reduce their chances for victimization have been developed only minimally, typically relying on demographics. This research goes further in assessing who uses self-protective strategies, considering lifestyles related to proximity to motivated offenders, the suitability of individuals as targets, and how these characteristics influence the use of self-protective devices. Results show the most influential lifestyle characteristics and behaviors on use of self-protective measures are exposure to potential offenders and neighborhood characteristics. Fear of crime, substance use, and individual demographics show only small relationships to guardianship.

Lifestyle Factors Associated with the Sexual Assault of Men: A Routine Activity Theory Analysis

This paper explores the role of lifestyle and routine activities in the sexual assault of adult men. Little is known about the individual factors that are associated with the likelihood of male victimization. This paper explores the role of demographics, high school experiences, lifestyle statuses, school activities, leisure activities, alcohol use, drug use and self-protective behaviors in predicting the sexual victimization of a sample of southern college/university men. Results reveal that demographics, alcohol use, drug use, and high school experiences are significant predictors of general sexual assault victimization. Demographic, drug use, high school experience, and athletic participation in college variables predict serious sexual assault victimization. Implications for the understanding of mens sexual assault and routine activity theory are discussed.

Where Registered Sex Offenders Live: Community Characteristics and Proximity to Possible Victims

Abstract Recent developments in sanctions for sex offenders emphasize use of sex offender registries and residential restrictions in efforts to raise public awareness and keep offenders away from possible victims. One consequence of such efforts is to relegate registered sex offenders to socially disorganized communities. The present study draws on census tract level data from one urban county and assesses whether offenders are likely to be found in socially disorganized communities and in communities with high concentrations of potential victims. Findings show that registered sex offenders are more likely to reside in socially disorganized and disadvantaged communities, but not in locations with large pools of most types of possible victims (e.g., women living alone, children). Residential location is explained in terms of economic factors, not desire to live near possible victims. Implications for current policies and practices are discussed.

Routine Activities And Vandalism: A Theoretical And Empirical Study

ABSTRACT Using routine activity theory this paper examines vandalism victimization rates among a sample of 1,513 American college students at nine institutions. Relying on a sophisticated set of measures of community structures, conditions, victims’ alcohol, drug and other illegal activities, lifestyle activities, and security precautions, there is strong support found for the theory. Significant predictors of vandalism victimization risks include measures of target suitability, exposure to potential offenders, victims offending behaviors, and measures of community structure, organization and cohesion.

Specifying the Role of Alcohol in Predatory Victimization

Alcohols role in violent and predatory crime is a subject of frequent study among scholars. Generally, research finds that as alcohol consumption increases, so does the likelihood of suffering a personal attack. However, it is not just the act of drinking that increases the likelihood of violent behavior or the risk of victimization. Contextual factors are also presumed to be important. Lasleys (1989) research has elaborated on how drinking behaviors are related to predatory victimization. His research has provided important findings, but there is still room to expand our understandings. The present paper utilizes more specific and detailed measures of drinking lifestyles and endeavors to illustrate the role of alcohol (and other illegal drugs), related lifestyle behaviors, and status characteristics regarding the risk of predatory, violent victimization.

Examining Rates of Sexual Offenses from a Routine Activities Perspective

Abstract Recent policies enacted regarding sex offenders include the formation of a publicly accessible sex offender registry, community notification, and residential restrictions. Often the motivation behind these policies is to get information out about sex offenders to community members so that these communities can effectively guard against any revictimization by the sex offenders among them. Theoretically, the premise for this type of legislation corresponds to relationships specified by routine activities theory. The theory states that if guardians can interrupt potential offenders as they are preying on suitable targets, these crimes-in-the-making will not occur. The present study assesses routine activities theory via a study of the presence of potential offenders (as measured by the number of registered sex offenders in the area), as well as community and resident characteristics that measure the presence and types of suitable targets and the existence of guardians and guardianship structures. We find that only the presence of certain types of suitable targets has an influence on the variation in the rate of sex offenses across these communities. Policy implications are discussed.