Critical reflections on an uncontested criminological method

• In Event: WG-PLACE 5: Crime Scripting

Abstract

Crime script analysis is embraced by practitioners and academics. The method allows to generate, organize, and systematize knowledge about the procedural aspects of the crime commission processes of a variety of crime types, and provides starting points for situational crime prevention strategies. Despite the recent upsurge of publications, still little is known about the practical value of the method. Also, critical questions can be raised about the theoretical foundations of scripting crime; to what extent does the portrayal of (organized) crime as a script reflect our current empirical understanding of crime? In this presentation, the authors argue that to fully embrace and adopt crime scripting, it is important to also reflect on its added value, opportunities, and challenges. The presentation concludes by describing future directions for evaluating the effectiveness of crime script analysis.

Authors

• Teun van Ruitenburg, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) / Avans University of Applied Sciences

• Femke Blokland, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• Edward Kleemans, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Stijn Ruiter, NSCR / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam