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Journal Article 1: Pratt, T. C., Holtfreter, K., & Reisig, M. D. (2010). Routine online activity and Internet fraud targeting: Extending the generality of routine activity theory. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 47, 267–296.

Abstract: Routine activity theory predicts that changes in legitimate opportunity structures (e.g., technology) can increase the convergence of motivated offenders and suitable targets in the absence of capable guardianship. The Internet has fundamentally changed consumer practices and has simultaneously expanded opportunities for cyber-fraudsters to target online consumers. The authors draw on routine activity theory and consumer behavior research to understand how personal characteristics and online routines increase people’s exposure to motivated offenders. Using a representative sample of 922 adults from a statewide survey in Florida, the results of the regression models are consistent with prior research in that sociodemographic characteristics shape routine online activity (e.g., spending time online and making online purchases). Furthermore, indicators of routine online activity fully mediate the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on the likelihood of being targeted for fraud online. These findings support the routine activity perspective and provide a theoretically informed direction for situational crime prevention in a largely unexplored consumer context.

Journal Article 2: Coyne, M. A., & Eck, J. E. (2014). Situational choice and crime events. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 31, 12–29.

Abstract: This article explores offender choice and the concept of rationality. We begin by presenting two traditional perspectives on rationality, the first being the pure economic model and the second being the sociological perspective from traditional criminologists. We then address a potential middle ground known as bounded rationality. This part of the article reviews contemporary developments in brain and cognitive sciences, which shed light on the complexity of how people make choices. We then question the usefulness of the term rational choice and instead suggest that situational choice may be a more useful term. We conclude by using situational choice to link crime science and life course/developmental perspectives and discuss broad applications of situational choice.

Journal Article 3: McNeeley, S. (2014). Lifestyle-routine activities and crime events. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 31, 30–52.

Abstract: This article presents a review of the theoretical and empirical status of lifestyle-routine activities theory, along with a discussion of its utility for policy and practice. The article covers multiple theoretical applications of the theory at different levels of analysis, along with an overview of the empirical status of the theory for each of these applications. Particular focus is given to the lifestyle-routine activities explanations of individual victimization and offending, and the research on crime and place. Then, policy implications and existing practices based on the theory are presented. Finally, it is suggested that scholars and practitioners begin to focus on (a) the interaction of lifestyle with other factors, such as gender or delinquent values; (b) virtual places and online routine activities; and (c) the use of convergent settings to facilitate co-offending.