. The Rational Choice Theory and Its Role in Crime Reduction

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the role of Rational Choice Theory in crime reduction by measuring the impact of applying its logic in strengthening general and specific deterrence, activating preventive measures, and guiding security policies. The study included an independent variable, “Application of the Logic of Rational Choice Theory,” and a dependent variable, “Crime Reduction,” with its five dimensions. A quantitative methodology was employed and applied to a population consisting of employees in the Palestinian security agencies in the West Bank (Police, Preventive Security, Public Prosecution), with an estimated number of approximately 14,634 male and female employees, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Palestinian Public Prosecution. A stratified random sample of 350 participants was selected. The questionnaire was adopted as the primary tool for data collection, and its validity and reliability were verified using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. The findings revealed a statistically significant effect of applying the theory’s logic in enhancing security responses to crime, with the effect being most evident in the dimensions of preventive measures and specific deterrence. The results also showed that the effect extends to include supporting security policies and improving the efficiency of preventive interventions. The study recommended incorporating the logic of Rational Choice Theory into the design of security policies, strengthening deterrence tools based on certainty, and developing security environments that reduce opportunities for crime and render it an irrational choice.