NCJ Number
202000
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2003 Pages: 3-17
Editor(s)
Mahesh K. Nalla
Date Published
2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This exploratory study outlines the crime mobility patterns of 65 convicted pickpockets serving time in a medium security prison in Accra, Ghana.
Abstract
Utilizing official prison, police, and court records of 65 convicted males serving prison time in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison in Accra, Ghana, this exploratory study examined the travel patterns of criminals to Accra’s central business district (CBD) to pickpocket in 1996 in an attempt to show there was a high concentration of pickpocketing within certain parts of the city. The study also examined the education and employment history of the offenders, the times of offending, and the travel patterns of first-time and repeat offenders. The 65 offenders traveled from within metro-Accra and Tema, a port city. Criminal commute to Accra’s CBD appears to have been accentuated by the routine movements of humans, goods, and services. The study suggests that the risk of victimization within the CBD does not appear to be randomly distributed in time and space, during weekdays, and hours of the day, and across the various socio-demographic groups, but follows clear and specific trends and patterns. Potential offenders travel to the CBD with the sole intention to offend. It also suggests the existence of a definite flow of offenders from all parts of Accra and other West African nations to offend in Accra’s CBD. Further inquiry is recommended to examine the activity spaces of offenders, changes over time in offenders’ activity spaces, and the hunting styles of offenders. References