Which of the following theories (deterrence, routine activities, rational choice, or situational choice) best explains why someone would or would not engage in the criminal behavior in each scenario? Make sure to fully explain your answer (i.e. I should know that you understand the basic tenets of each theory). You may only use each theory one time, so I expect you to use all four theories in this assignment.
1) A $100 bill is lying on the ground in the middle of campus. No one is close to it and there are few people outside. Is the money taken?
2) A car is left running at a video store. It is snowing heavily and it would take 30 minutes to walk home. The person does not have a cell phone and no other means to get home. Would the car be “borrowed” to get home?
3) In the library a book bag is left unattended. A zipper is open and an IPod along with books are visible. There are few people in the library but no one is next to the table with the bag. The person has never heard of anyone getting caught taking things from unattended bags in the library. Are the IPod and books stolen? Is the bag stolen?
4) A single parent of three young children works part-time but hardly has enough money to pay the bills. The parent’s family and friends also have money troubles and cannot loan anymore money to help put food on the table or pay the past due credit card bills and rent. The person has an opportunity to be a drug mule (run drugs to a different city) and make a fast $4000. What does this parent do?
*Responses must be numbered*
