Crime and Delinquency Final

Classical criminology

• individuals are rational and with free will can choose criminal or non criminal behavior.

• crime is attractive when it promises great benefits with little effort

• punishment can deter crime

• punishment should be severe but not cruel, let the punishment fit the crime

Positivist criminology

• believed criminality was inherited and can be identified by criminal attritive

• used scientific methods

Atavistic anomalies

• violent offenders were throwbacks to more primitive times

• inherited criminal traits

• believed people were not fully physically of mentally developed

Lombroso

• earlier positivist whos et out ot understand criminal behavior using a scientific method approach. studied cadavers of criminals who were executed to compare criminals to criminals. father of criminology

Sociological criminology

• Emile Durkheim’s view that crime is normal and impossible to have a crime-free society. without crime society couldn’t decide their morals and values

Chicago School of Thought

• group of Urban sociologists who were the first the study the relation between the environmental conditions and cirme considered first sociology department

critical criminology

• crime is a product of capitalism

• lots of use of Marx’s works

Developmental criminology

integrated sociology, psychology, and economic elements into complex developmental view of crime causation. emphasis on the integration of multiple fields

Consensus view of crime

everyone agrees crime is horrible and should be eliminted, so punishments are necessary and agreed upon by everyone

Conflict theory

diverse groups are in constant and continuing conflict. society (esp. economy and capitalism) creates crime

Interactionist views on crime

Perception of crime is significantly influenced by interpretations of reactions of others to similar events or stimuli

History of criminal law

• common law

• code of Hammurabi

• Mosaic code

• punishments were harsh and gruesome during the middle ages

National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

• incident, offender and victim information

• better version of UCR

primary source of crime data

Survey research and self report surveys

National Crime Victimization survey (NCVS)

• Developed to catch the gap in crime reporting because not all crimes are reported to the police

• household survey done every 3.5 years

Crime Ecology

• most reported crimes occur during the summer months

• regional differences: large urban areas have higher rates of violence

• firearms are involved in more than 280,000 crimes

• about 70% of crimes

Pattern of firearm usage

Pattern of crimes: age

• age inversely related to crime

• peak age for property crime is 16 and for violent crime is 18

• the 20-24 age group makes up 21% of the population but commits 39% of violent crimes and 45% of property crimes

Cost of victimization

• very expensive for individuals and the justice system

• indirect: take a toll on family members and chuldren of victims and offenders

• direct personal cost: damager property, medical costs, lost wages, counseling, disrupt family life, etc.

Ecology of victimization

• violent crimes most likely occur in:

  • open public areas

  • commercial establishment

  • daytime or early evening hours

  • simple assaults highest in the fall

Characteristics/Nature of Victims

• males more likely to be victimized by stranger whereas females more likely to be victimized by an acquaintance or an inmate partner

• most crimes committed by a single offender over 20

• crimes tend to be intraracial

• surprising number of violent crimes committed by relatives or aquaintances

Victim precipitation theory

• passive precipitation: personal or social characteristics of victims that make them attractive targets for criminals, so vicitims may be unknowingly encouraging an attack. ex. hate crimes

• active precipitation: aggression or proactive behavior of the victim that results in victimization. ex. fights

Lifestyle theories

high-risk lifestyles increases odds of victimization

Routine activites theory

• based on location

• when there are suitable targets, absence of capable guardian, and a motivation offender, this leads to victimization

Routine activites and lifestyle theory

• combine lifestyle and routine activites, four basic concepts:

  • proximity to criminals

  • time and exposure to criminals

  • target attractivness

  • guardianship

• victimization increases if you live in a high crime area, carry valuables, engage in risky behavior, and are without friends or family

Crime victims rights

• can ask to keep identity private in a police report

• have the right to be notified of events during the prosecution process

• right to be notified if the offender was released

• attend sentencing hearings

utilitarianism

• purpose of the law is to produce and support the total happiness of the community it serves.

• punishment has four main objectives

  • to prevent all criminal offenses

  • when it cannot prevent a crime, convince the offender to commit a less serious crime

  • to ensure a criminal uses no more force than is necessary

  • to prevent crime as cheaply as possibl

Rational choice theory

• from principles of classical school of thought

• makes more sense to deter people with severe punishment than to waste public funds on trying to improve entrenched social conditions linked to crime, such as poverty

• rational decisions based on a cost benefit analysis before committing a crime. if crime outweighs the punishment, then the individual is likely to commit a crime

Clery act

• college campuses have to report crimes and publish them for the public

offender specific crime

offender evaluates their skills, motives, needs, and fears before deciding to commit the criminal act

offense specific crime

offender reacts selectively to the characteristic of a particular criminal act (ex. evaulation of target, police patrol, escape routes, etc.)

structuring criminality: offender

a number of personal factors and conditions that must be evaluated before choosing criminality:

• peers and guardianship (of offender)

• need for excitement and thrills

• economic need/opportunity

• competence and experience

Structuring crime: offense

• the decision is structured by where it occurs and the characteristics of the target

  • choosing the place and crime

  • choosing targets

  • time

  • type of crime

  • getting awy

situational crime prevention

seeks to reduce immediate and particular crime opporuntites. crimes can be prevented if

• potential targets are carefully guarded

• the means to commit crimes are controlled

• potential offenders are carefully monitored

Defensible space: modify physical environment to reduce opportunity for crime

CRAVED model

items with higher risk of theft

• concealable

• removable

• available

• valuable

• enjoyable

• disposable

Crime prevention strategies

• increase the effort needed to commit crime

• increased the risk of committing crime

• reduce the rewards of crime

• increase guilt/shame

• reduce provocation

• remove excuses

• remove opportuntites

Trait theory

• view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits

• three core assumptions

  • all individuals are biologically unqie and different from all other people

  • differences in our individual makeup account for differences in behavior

  • criminal behavior is assumed to be a result of specific differences in physical constructions and characteristics of individuals that can be identified through observation and other scientific means

individual vulnerability model

• some people develop physical or mental conditions at birth or soon after that affect their social functioning no matter where they live or how they were raised

• viewed as a direct link because biology cannot be changed.

• not used today

differential susceptibility model

• some people possess physical or mental traits that make them vulnerable to adverse environmental or social influences

• indirect-traits increase susceptibility to negative surroundings, whihc may lead to crime

biochemical conditions and crime

• exposure to smoking and drinking

• exposure to chemical and minerals

• improper diet

• sugar intake

• glucose/metabolism/hypoglycemia

• hormone levels

• lead ingestion

genetics and crime

• twin studies show that 60% of identical twins shared criminal behavior patterns, whereas 30% of fraternal twins’ behavior was related

social structure theory

• criminal behavior isn’t a function of personal traits or choice, but is linked to environmental conditions that fail to provide residents with proper human relations and development

  • neighborhood conditions

  • macro approach

  • developed from the school of Chicago

• views disadvantaged economic class position as a primary cause of crime

social disorganization theory

• links crime rates to neighborhood ecological characteristics

• crime rates are highest in transient, mixed-use, and changing neighborhoods where the fabric of social life has become frayed. residents in crime-ridden neighborhoods flee at the earliest opportunity

• birthed out of Chicago school of thought

Shaw and McKay’s work

• neighborhood disorganization weakens formal and informal social control which is the primary cause of criminal behavior

• concentric zones

strain theory

• based on the framework of the American dream

• has goal (what we are socialized to want) and means (rules we are expected to follow while striving to achieve those goals)

• conflict comes when people have the want but not the means

• adaption of innovation is the most common way to crime

cultural devince theory

• combines effects of social disorganization and strain. members of the lower socioeconomic class create an independent subculture with its own sets of rules and values. subcultural norms often clash with conventional values

Miller’s focal concern theory

• citizens who obey the street rules of lower-class life find themselves in conflict with dominant culture

• identifies core values of lower-class culture and shows their association to crime

Cohen’s theory of delinquent gangs

• status frustration of lower-class boys created by their failure to join middle class causes them to join gangs

• shows how conditions of lower-class life produce crime, violence, and destructive acts

Theory of opportunity

• blockage of conventional opportunities causes lower-class youths to join gangs

• shows that illegal opporuntites are structured in society and indicate why people become involved in a particular type of criminal activity

Communities that care model

• 5 phases

  • behind the scenes work where community leaders decide to bring in this model

  • getting organized and building a board to manage the process

  • develop a community profile. analyze data about youth the community and form priorities about what needs to be done and what resources already exist

  • create a plan to implement the prevention necessities.

  • implement the tested and effective plans

Who were the main scholars who influenced the classical school of thought?

Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham

social process theory

focuses on social interactions and how they shape human behavior. key focus is on the institutions and agents of socialization and the effect they have on people over the course of life

Social learning theory

people learn the techniques and attitudes of crime from close relationships with criminal peers. crime is a learned behavior.

social control theory

everyone has the potential to become a criminal, but most people are controlled by their bonds to society. crime occurs when the force that bind people to society are weakened or broken

institutions of socialization: family

• high levels of family social capital

  • love and care

  • morals and values

  • accountability

  • guidance

• main socialization agent in society.

• low levels of capital

  • family stress

  • divore

  • family deivance

  • violence and abuse

  • physical and emotional abuse

institution of socialization: education

• educational experience

• low capital when

  • dropping out

  • getting bullied

  • school to prison pipeline

differential association theory

• criminal behavior is learned

• criminal behavior is a by-product of interacting with others

• learning criminal behavior occurs within personal groups

• a person becomes a criminal when they perceive more favorable than unfavorable consequences to violating the law

• differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority (age), and inensity

social control theory

• Forms of social control prevents crime

• self control

• commitment to conformity

• social bonds:

  • attachment

  • commitment

  • belief

  • involvement

instrumental vs. expressive violence

• instrumental: used in an attempt to improve the financial or social position of the criminal

• expressive violence: designed not for profit or gain by to vent rage, anger or frustration.

public order crimes

behavior that is outlawed because it threatens the general wellbeing of scoeity and challenges its accepted moral principles

ex. drug use and sex work

social harm

immoral acts that can be distinguised from crimes on the basis of the injur they cause. Acts that case harm or injury that are outlawed and punished as crimes. Acts that are vulgar offensive, and depraved are not outlawed or punished if they harm no one

moral entrepreneurs

those who develop laws and policies based on their ideologies

moral crusaders

carry out the polices and laws developed by entrepreneurs

critical 8

top 4:

• antisocial personality

• antisocial attitude

• antisocial behavior

• antisocial peers

others

• trauma

• substance abuse

• school/ work problems

• recreation participation

social conflict theory

struggle for power creates conflict. believe that the cause of crime can be linked to economic, social, and political disparity. rooted in marxist theory.

• crime is a political concept designed to protect the power and position of the upper classes at the expense of those in the lowest income brackets

social conflict theory causes of crime

• surplus value: profits produced by laboring classes that are accured by business owners but are not given to the workers

• crime and social institutions

• marginlaization

• class bias and racial oppression from cradle to grave

• education disparities

• race and racism

state-orgranized crime

• criminal acts committed by government officals

• human rights violations

• corporate crime

• state violence

structural theory

criminal law and the criminal justice systems are means of defending and preserving the capitalism system. law is designed to keep the system in place, anyone who rocks the boat is targeted.

restorative justice

• focus on the needs of victims, community and offenders

• focus on nonpunititive strategies to heal wounds caused by crime

  • community service

  • estoration programs such as family group conference, sentencing circle, etc.

transformative justice

if original conditions are unjust, then restoring to original condtions means justice is not served. Looking at the root of the problem and what caused the crime. “Rresponding to violence and harm without creating more violence and harm”