S02 E14 — Environmental Theories of Criminology (Roger Hopkins Burke)

In this episode, we unpack Chapter 14 of An Introduction to Criminological Theory by Roger Hopkins Burke, exploring environmental criminology — a perspective that focuses not on who commits crime, but where and when crime occurs.

🌍 Key themes include:

• The evolution of environmental criminology from 19th-century geographic approaches to modern theories
• Core frameworks like routine activities theory, rational choice theory, and crime pattern theory, which explain how opportunity and space shape crime
• The importance of offender decision-making in spatial contexts
• Application of theory in urban planning, including concepts like defensible space, CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), and the broken windows theory
• Real-world implications for zero tolerance policing, situational crime prevention, and urban safety strategies

Whether you’re preparing for the CSS exam or interested in how cities and spaces influence crime, this episode brings practical and theoretical insights together in one place.