Criminology Exam 2

Developmental & Course theories of crime has an emphasis on…

On evolution and desistance of criminality over time 

Focus of Developmental and Life Course Theories of Crime

development of antisocial behavior, risk factors at various ages, effect of life events development

How do risk factors for committing crime change as we age?

What is Criminality?

dynamic process influenced by social experiences and individual characteristic

Life Course Perspective

how an individual’s life is shaped by social, historical, and individual factors

Relevant Life course concepts

trajectory, transition, feedback loops

Trajectory

long-term patterns and sequences of behavior 

Transition

Specific life events embedded in trajectories (major life events)

• Adaption to these situations can create new trajectories

Feedback loops

risk factors reinforce other risk factors

• negative peer influence —> offending —> negative peer influence

Moffitt’s Developmental Taxonomy

there are two distinct types of offenders: Life Course Persistent Offenders and Adolescent-Limited Offenders

Life Course Persistent Offenders

• begin offending early in life and continue crime far into adulthood

  • unable to break the cycle of crime and continue to break the law well into adulthood, and perhaps for the rest of their lives

Adolescent Limited Offenders

• Childhood misbehavior ends by adulthood 

  • Teen delinquent behavior occurs for reasons other than negative trajectory 

    • Assert independence→ makes them feel like they have agency

Focus of Critical Criminology

How stratification intersects with crime

• most commonly —> class, race, gender

Labeling Theory

• Not too concerned with WHY 

• How criminal behavior labeled, how society reacts 

• Receiving/avoiding a label related to power

Primary Deviance

 early deviant acts (criminal or noncriminal) that go against norms, typically have minor consequences 

• No change in self-image 

• Bad behavior, not a bad person 

Secondary Deviance

deviance in response to society’s reaction and labeling

• labeling a person as a criminal or deviant

• People label you as deviant→ you accept that label →you continue to commit deviant acts because of the internalization of that label

White Collar Crime

An act that is business/financial-related in some way that uses deceit, deception, or dishonesty to carry out a crime 

Costs of White Collar Crime

• economic costs

• causes more financial damage than all other crimes combined

Perceptions of White Collar Crime

leads to decreased trust in lead/large institutions

-people are less likely to trust the media, government, etc.

-seen as less serious than street crime

Examples of White Collar Crime

fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, insider trading

American perceptions of crime

• the idea that crime is problematic- at an all time high

  • People dramatically overestimate violent crime

Factors associated with the crime decline period (1990s-early 2010s)

• deterrence by incapacitation

  • Sentencing & Reform Act of 1984 (longer prison sentences)

• increase in police

• increased surveillance technology

• economics (good economy=less crime)

Homicide Epidemic

-Increase in homicide from 2015-2021

• Homicide up 55% 2015-2021 

• Diverging trend 

• Unlike previous crime 

• Most dramatic increase in the Midwest 

  • Not the most homicidal, just the most change 

• Probably not economically motivated 

• Not related to number of police or closely related to police

Deterioration of psychosocial well-being (Malaise)

strain/decline for standard of living —> negative emotions

increased substance use—> more violent assaults —> more homicide

Institutional decline

Americans have less trust in institutions (police violence & protests against police + more gun sales) = increased homicide rate