Marcus Felson

Marcus Felson is an American criminologist best known for co-developing the Routine Activity Theory and for his work in situational and environmental criminology. He has held academic positions at institutions including Texas State University and Rutgers University. Felson’s work focuses on how everyday environments and social structures create opportunities for crime—and how they can be modified to prevent it.

In collaboration with Lawrence E. Cohen, Felson introduced the Routine Activity Theory (1979), which argues that crime occurs when a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian converge in time and space. This theory shifted the focus of criminology from individual offender motivation to the situational conditions that facilitate criminal acts. Felson further elaborated this framework in his influential books Crime and Everyday Life and Crime and Nature, promoting the idea that crime prevention should involve managing environments and routines to reduce opportunities. His work helped launch the field of crime science and directly influenced strategies like hot spot policing, CPTED, and situational crime prevention.

Interview

This video interview was conducted as part of the Oral History of Criminology Project. In this conversation, Marcus Felson reflects on the origins and evolution of the Routine Activity Approach, the practical relevance of environmental criminology, and his commitment to clear, accessible criminological writing.