This chapter presents an analysis of the Chicago School’s approach to the study of crime and deviance, and its influence on the criminology of place. The shortcomings of place-based approaches are explored, demonstrating how all theories are a product of their context. In concentrating on the relationship between people and their environments Chicago School theorists set the foundations for more contemporary theories known as the criminology of place. The focus on place as a unit of analysis for understanding crime and victimisation patterns has remained at the forefront of crime prevention, with CPTED, crime mapping and justice mapping influencing how governments respond to offending and victimisation. However, the persistent problems are that power imbalances and political distortions seem to be missing from the analysis, and manipulation of the physical environment is favoured over more structural changes and long-term changes to social structures.
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