NCJ Number
168503
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1997) Pages: 63-74
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The study reported here considers the deterrent effect of terrorist incidents on the rates of luggage theft in railway and underground stations.
Abstract
The assumption underlying the general deterrence theory and associated criminal justice policy is that individuals calculate the risk involved in criminal activity and refrain from it, because of their fear of punishment. Opponents of the general deterrence theory argue that people tend to commit offenses almost irrespective of the risk involved. Analysis of events surrounding a major terrorist incident of February 1991 disclosed that, in the period immediately following the incident, there was a sharp but short-lasting decline in the number of cases of luggage theft. Since the number of cases of theft from persons did not show a similar decline during the same period of time, the study concluded that potential thieves' fear of being injured by exploding luggage provided an independent deterrent effect separate from and above any deterrent effect that may have resulted from extra police vigilance in the wake of the terrorist incident. Notes, figures, table, references