{"title":"They might all be marauders.","authors":"Jeff P Hamm","doi":"10.1080/13218719.2022.2073286","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Circle theory predicts most offenders will reside within the smallest circle that encloses a pattern of offense locations, which defines the offender's crime range. Those who reside within the crime range reflect a marauder decision pattern, with the remainder reflecting a commuter decision pattern. Random simulations of marauders were conducted to determine the failure rate of the smallest circle to correctly identify a marauder decision pattern. Failure rates were higher as the number of offenses was reduced, but were systematic and predictable. Moreover, the published rates of the marauder vs commuter patterns correspond well with the predicted failure rate. A method for estimating the true size of an offender's criminal territory is presented and it is suggested that the vast majority of offenders are likely to be adopting a marauder decision pattern, and that true commuters may be far less than indicated by the circle test.</p>","PeriodicalId":51553,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Psychology and Law","volume":"30 5","pages":"632-654"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2022-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10512840/pdf/TPPL_30_2073286.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychiatry Psychology and Law","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2022.2073286","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Circle theory predicts most offenders will reside within the smallest circle that encloses a pattern of offense locations, which defines the offender's crime range. Those who reside within the crime range reflect a marauder decision pattern, with the remainder reflecting a commuter decision pattern. Random simulations of marauders were conducted to determine the failure rate of the smallest circle to correctly identify a marauder decision pattern. Failure rates were higher as the number of offenses was reduced, but were systematic and predictable. Moreover, the published rates of the marauder vs commuter patterns correspond well with the predicted failure rate. A method for estimating the true size of an offender's criminal territory is presented and it is suggested that the vast majority of offenders are likely to be adopting a marauder decision pattern, and that true commuters may be far less than indicated by the circle test.
期刊介绍:
Psychiatry, Psychology and Law is rapidly becoming a driving force behind the up-to-date examination of forensic issues in psychiatry and psychology. It is a fully refereed journal with outstanding academic and professional representation on its editorial board and is aimed at health, mental health and legal professionals. The journal aims to publish and disseminate information regarding research and development in forensic psychiatry, forensic psychology and areas of law and other disciplines in which psychiatry and psychology have a relevance. Features of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law include review articles; analyses of professional issues, controversies and developments; case studies; original empirical studies; book reviews.