Crime Mapping & Analysis Spatial Theories of Crime Assignment

Crime Mapping & Analysis Spatial Theories of Crime - Assignment Example Developed countries have come up with mapping software’s that help in analyzing crime. The technology of crime mapping has proved effective in determining the quantity of resources to be allocated to patrol officers in certain areas. Crime mapping is guided by various theories of crime, which help the crime officers understand the human mind, and how the environment surrounding a criminal influences them to commit a certain crime. The spatial theories help crime analysts to analyze crime, and they support GSI. This theory focuses more on the social control of crime based on the relationships with other people. According to the theory, and offender is motivated by being in the same place with the target. This theory argues that an offender will only commit a certain crime in the absence of an effective control. Crime, therefore, occurs when the offender and the target are in the same place and in the absence of a control or presence of a powerless crime control. A crime offender is influenced by people around him/her who could either be their parents, peers, relatives or intimate partners. Such people are referred to as handlers and in their absence, or if they are weak, the offender can commit a crime. According to the theory, guardians also control crime. Guardians could be police officers, security guards or neighbors. A potential offender is likely to commit a crime is the guardians of the target are absent or if they are weak. According to this theory, criminal motivation is controlled by social structures that can either create and environment for crime occurrence or create an environment where crime occurrence is low. The theory assumes that related people or people living in the same areas are social and ready to help one another. The theory is not very effective in GSI since the modern society, socialness levels have fallen, and hence, the people around a target may not prevent crime