ABSTRACT
The identification of crime and of criminals with particular milieus is a long-established tradition in criminology. Since much of the ecological work on crime has been based on reported rates, it is appropriate to follow the discussion of offences and offenders with a review of the contribution of ecological studies to the understanding of crime-environment relations. Ecological studies have provided varying support for a number of postulates about the causes of crime. The intention is to provide a synopsis of these in so far as they are relevant to the wider environment. Precipitating factors relate to the circumstances surrounding the criminal act. The environment provides a variety of opportunities which may be influential in determining whether or not a particular crime is committed. Individual behaviour also provides a springboard for criminal activity. C. R. Shaw and H. D. McKay inferred from their generalisations that the root of crime lay in some rather vague notion of social disorganisation.
