Chicago Police Department (CPD) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPD Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary focus of the Crime Triangle strategy is on immediate concerns present in the environment, which is illustrated by the interaction of three key elements: the offender, the target (or victim), and the location (or environment). This approach emphasizes that crime occurs when a motivated offender finds a suitable target in a conducive environment. By addressing these three elements, law enforcement and crime prevention professionals can create strategies that reduce the opportunity for crime by, for example, increasing surveillance, enhancing the security of targets, or altering environments to make them less attractive to offenders.

The other options, while related to the broader study of crime, do not capture the essence of the Crime Triangle. Historical analysis of criminal behavior looks back at past patterns rather than addressing present situational factors. Psychological motivations behind crime delve into individual factors driving criminal behavior, but they do not consider the environmental context. Legal consequences of crime focus on the aftermath of criminal activity rather than preventing it by addressing situational dynamics that could be altered to deter crime.