Risk Mitigation: Using Situational Awareness to Prevent Victimization

Crimes are acts or offenses that are committed illegally and are punishable by the law. Individuals who experience crimes or offenses against them are victims. The severity of the crime will dictate the amount of damage the victim has suffered be it emotionally, physically, financially, virtually, etc. People can be victims of crime due to the lifestyle choices they make without fully analyzing the potential risks that exist; while offenders make conscious choices to victimize because the rewards outweigh the risks. Increasing a person's situational awareness allows for risk mitigation to decrease the chances of being a victim as well as increasing the difficulty for offenders to commit crimes.

A nineteen year old UVM college student named Susan, decides to go to a local frat party with her two friends. While at the party Susan, drinks, dances, and meets star athlete Jacob. Several hours later her friends, who did not drink, find her upstairs in the bathroom. She is unconscious and her clothes are disheveled. Susan is a victim of sexual assault, but who was at fault for her condition? “Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation” (RAINN, 2020). If Susan was drinking excessively to the point of incapacitation then her current state would have been self-induced. However, if Jacob had been enabling her and used the alcohol as a tool to sexually assault her then it would be classified as alcohol facilitated rape. Jacob is still guilty of sexual assault. The only difference is who is responsible for Susan’s condition.

Susan’s lifestyle choices put her at a greater risk of being a victim. “In lifestyle-exposure theory, they argued that different lifestyles expose people to varying levels of risk for personal victimization” (Fisher, pg. 37). Susan was a victim of a crime, but her friends were not. The friends did not drink or leave one another. It was Susan’s nature of her lifestyle that put her at a greater risk of being victimized. However, that does not make it her fault. Susan may be guilty of underage drinking, but Jacob is guilty of sexual assault.

Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson were criminologists who proposed and articulated routine activities theory. The theory states that a potential target who interacts with a motivated offender in an area that lacks guardianship (police, security, etc.) then there is a great risk of victimization. This theory was combined with lifestyle theory to create lifestyle-routine activities theory. “explains that victimization is a function of four important concepts: exposure to risk, proximity to motivated offenders, target attractiveness, and a lack of capable guardianship” (Fisher, pg. 44). Jacob made a conscious decision to sexually assault Susan in the bathroom at the frat party, but why did he make this decision?

Offenders are predators or wolves, that prey on members of society through a series of decisions. Italian criminologists Cesare Beccaria developed rational choice theory. The theory has evolved over time but is defined as “the view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act” (Siegel, pg. 100). Offenders analyze the situation by taking into account the environment, potential witnesses, access to a victim, and if the risks outweigh the rewards. The crime could be either offense specific or offender specific. Offense specific means offenders will react specifically to a specific criminal act. Offender specific means “offenders evaluate their skills, motives, needs, and fears before deciding to commit the criminal act” (Siegel, pg. 102). Target congruence compliments this idea. Target congruence was coined by David Finkelhor and Nancy Asdigian. The theory breaks criminal behavior down into three categories of analysis that are used by the offender: vulnerability, gratifiability, and antagonism.

Target vulnerability assess whether or not the intended victim will be easy to prey on due to small size, weakness, limitations, etc. If the offender sees a person as a potentially easy target the chance of being a victim is increased. Target gratifiability means the intended victim has something the offender wants. It can be something such as money, sexual gratification, manipulation, etc. Target antagonism means the intended victim has something the offender hates and wants to destroy. It could be a characteristic, a material possession, a skill or accomplishment, etc. These categories support rational choice theory. In the example with Jacob, he would have assessed her vulnerability first. Perhaps, he sought sexual gratification from her, or perhaps he was antagonized by her resemblance to a former girlfriend, and he had a desire to hurt her or establish dominance over her.

The environment was a tool for Jacob in regards to committing his crime. The atmosphere was loud which creates distractions, alcohol was present which inhibits cognitive processes, and with a crowd it creates chaos that can be used as a means of escaping. With the lack of guardianship there were no preventative measures to keep Jacob from victimizing Susan. “As many as one in four women experience unwanted sexual intercourse while attending college in the United States, and many of these incidents happen at or after parties” (Indiana University, 2013).

Using situational awareness does not mean an individual cannot live life or have fun. It means that the individual is taking the initiative to plan and act accordingly to any potential threat, activity, obstacle, etc. that may arise. The first step of situational awareness is being aware of what is around. Observe the environment. "Each time you enter a new environment, take a moment to identify every object in your immediate vicinity. Chairs, tables, trash, even walls and doors should all be recognized and recorded in your mind. It should only take a few seconds to identify the objects around you, but looking at your surroundings with a discerning eye and acknowledging each item is a crucial step in developing a mindful attitude” (Krav Maga Worldwide, 2019). Situational awareness is a technique/strategy that can decrease the chances of victimization. It is being mentally and physically prepared to avoid and/or handle situations should they arise.

Preplanning is one of the best skills in regards to risk mitigation. Knowing the layout of the area/environment, knowing response times for police, having first responders numbers programed in a cellphone, and have a map of the area. “Ignorance or denial of a threat make a person's chances of quickly recognizing an emerging threat and avoiding it highly unlikely….learning to trust your "gut" or intuition. Many times a person's subconscious can notice subtle signs of danger that the conscious mind has difficulty quantifying or articulating” (Stewart, 2012). If an individual wants to ensure their risk of victimization is decreased then they must be honest to themselves and admit that bad things do happen and threats exist.

A common misconception amongst the public is that carrying self-defense tools such as pepper spray or a taser will reduce the risk of being victimized. “In most cases no. The majority of people who carry those devices are not and do not train on a regular basis to use them. When stress hits people they either fight, flight, or freeze, but do not think of going for a weapon because they don’t train for it. Victimization can happen to anybody, especially ones that aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. It is important to be aware of the situations you are in and learn to avoid those sketchy situations as much as possible for your protection and well being” (Williams, 2021). If a person is going to carry a self-defense tool then they must practice and train with it regularly so it becomes second nature. Buying it and putting it in a purse or jacket pocket does not affect victimization. If an encounter with an offender happens, there is now a chance the offender could use the weapon against the person carrying it.

With Susan in the earlier example, she could have made many different choices that may have altered her experience at the party. Choosing not to consume alcohol, maintaining contact with her friends, and not leaving the area of people are all choices that could have prevented the sexual assault. However, if Susan had not chosen to go out at all and stayed in her dorm room her chances of being victimized would have been greatly reduced. People should not have to live in fear, but should be aware of the possibilities of potential harm that exist.

The majority of college campuses have a type of access control such as key car entries, visitor check-in, etc. that prevent who can and cannot enter the campus buildings. There is surveillance cameras on campuses as well as campus security or in some cases campus police officers (for example UVM Police Services). Colleges have well lit and maintained grounds, and some even have emergency contact centers spaced out along the campus. These are all deterrents for offenders. Since 1990 a federal law was enacted called the Clery Act that requires all colleges to make their policies and procedures available to the public, provide support for victims, and report all crime data that has occurred on campus.

Offenders do not want to get caught, and won’t commit crimes in well-lit/occupied areas. Offenders choose to target people they see as weak or an easy target. Don’t walk around with earbuds listening to music or looking at a cellphone. Walking upright, making eye contact, and being aware display confidence and competence. This alone can be a deterrent. “You have to hone your ability to be fully aware of your surroundings at all times, allowing you to react effectively if a dangerous situation were to arise -- and in many cases, allowing you to remove yourself from such situations in the first place” (Krav Maga Worldwide, 2019). Wolves are looking for an easy target. Exuding confidence and awareness alone will deter an offender as they want an easy target who won’t fight.

In the age of technology, distraction is a big influence on why people are not aware of themselves or surroundings. With portable computers known as cellphones people are no longer invested in the real world, but a virtual reality. “Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. Be present and keep observing your surroundings. Have a plan to remove yourself from situations that you encounter that could escalate. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations, and don’t make yourself uncomfortable” (Williams, 2021). Knowing what it going on allows a person to see something before it happens.

By increasing a person's situational awareness, it will allow for risk mitigation to decrease the chances of being a victim as well as increasing the difficulty for offenders to commit crimes. Situational awareness is not something that comes naturally or is even easy. Like all skills situational awareness must be practiced and trained on a regular basis. Accepting and acknowledging the possibilities of a bad outcome will help an individual prepare themselves for how to mitigate or how to handle the situation should it arise. Staying alert means staying alive.

References

Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics. RAINN. (2020). Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.rainn.org/statistics/campus-sexual-violence.

Fisher, B., Reyns, B. W., & Sloan, J. J. (2016). Introduction to Victimology: Contemporary Theory, Research, and Practice. Oxford University Press.

Sexual Assault is Common at College Parties. IU News Room. (2013). Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/3938.html.

Siegel, L. J. (2019). Criminology: The Core. Cengage.

Situational Awareness: 7 Tips for Improving Your Awareness. Krav Maga Worldwide | We Improve And Save Lives. (2019, April 26). Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://www.kravmaga.com/7-ways-to-improve-your-situational-awareness/.

Stewart, S. (2012, March 14). A Practical Guide to Situational Awareness. Stratfor. Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/practical-guide-situational-awareness.

Williams, L. (2021, October 4). Risk Mitigation and Situational Awareness. personal.

Appendix

Risk Mitigation E-mail Interview with Security Specialist and Law Enforcement Officer, Lynn Williams

1. In your experiences with security, what has been the most beneficial tactic to prevent criminal activity?

During an event always be observant and make sure you roam around to try to deter the event goers from doing the crimes. Try to mitigate the issues that can occur and have a plan to adjust the course of action as needed.

2. Why do you think people commit crimes?

Personal Gain (needing money or reassurance to survive their lifestyles they choose).

3. What are the best practices to minimize the possibilities of victimization?

Being observant and being aware of the possibility of it happening. Have a plan. Know where the exits are. Observe the other people in the area. Predict scenarios and how you would react to them.

4. Do you feel tasers and self-defense tools can be a good thing for people to carry or use to avoid victimization?

In most cases no. The majority of people who carry those devices are not and do not train on a regular basis to use them. When stress hits people they either fight, flight, or freeze, but do not think of going for a weapon because they don’t train for it. Victimization can happen to anybody, especially ones that aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. It is important to be aware of the situations you are in and learn to avoid those sketchy situations as much as possible for your protection and well being.

5. Do you think people become victims due to their life choices, or is it more of the criminal’s responsibility?

I say it has to do with poor choices and being caught off guard when one is most vulnerable.

6. Do you think offenders fear punishment enough to prevent them from committing crimes?

Fear is not front and center in these cases. These crimes are a type of action that signals the offenders to see how far they can get with the scenarios. There seems to be excitement, exhilarating and a mystery which makes an offender get caught up in these types of crimes.

7. Are people more likely to be victimized based on how they live their life vs. how they present themselves?

I believe it is all about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When an offender wants to commit such a crime they do whatever it takes to be successful with doing so. If you are an innocent bystander during the situation you will become a victim regardless if you have weapons or not.

8. What is the number one factor involved with people becoming victims? (Drugs, alcohol, etc.)

Lack of awareness. It could be caused by drugs, alcohol, mental health issues or just by being naive.

9. What would you recommend to someone to mitigate their potential risks of victimization?

Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations, and don’t make yourself uncomfortable. If you can, do things with friends as opposed to being by yourself.

10. How does a person increase their situational awareness?

Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. Be present and keep observing your surroundings. Have a plan to remove yourself from situations that you encounter that could escalate.