A test of routine activities theory. ¿Capable guardians or collective efficacy?

Abstract

This paper offers an application of routine activities theory. The presence of capable guardians is related to a reduction of crime and deviance, but the community is at the same time essential for that presence to take place. Cuantitative data from interviews with local police agents in Contrueces neighborhood, Gijón is used to test the hypothesis. Analysis are based in contingency tables due to the nature of the data. The presence of capable guardians is related to a reduction in opportunities for crime and deviant acts. At the same time, this presence is related to the neighborhood’s collective efficacy, when it is able to use its strength to mobilize and bring capable guardians into the neighborhood capable guardians.