Chapter 3- Intro to Criminal Justice 1010

criminology

the study of offenders and offending to produce theories or models that help identify persons prone to commit criminal acts and the factors that influence offending

theory

a statement regarding the relationship between two or more variables

non-scientific theories

theories emphasizing moral weakness and evil spirits as the cause of criminality

classical school

the school of thought that individuals have free will to choose whether or not to commit crimes

positivist school

1 of 3 major schools of criminology, most psychology and sociology based, that people commit crimes because of uncontrollable internal/external factors, which can be measured and observed

determinism

the perception that individuals have no free will to choose behavior

biological determinism

a belief that crime is caused by a biological or biochemical influence and the offender has no control

psychological theory

criminal behavior is a result of emotions ,drives, and psychological disturbances or neurological deficits

social determinism

social forces and social groups are the cause of criminal behavior

Chicago School of Criminolgy

subfield of sociology that focuses on work conducted at the University of Chicago

neoclassical theories

a contemporary view of classical school theory that believes there are mitigating circumstances for criminal acts such as age, psychological health, and that punishment should fit the crime

Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) and Jeramy Betham (1748-1832)

both considered the founders of classical school theires

pain-pleasure principle

a philosophical axiom that people are rational and that people seek to do that which brings them pleasure and to avoid that which causes them pain

Neoclassical School of Criminology

a school of thought similar to classical schools theory, except for the beliefs that there are mediating circumstances for criminal acts such as age, psychological health, and punishment should fit the crime

felicitic calculus

the balancing of pain and pleasure as a means to discourage criminal behavior

utilitarianism

a philosophy believing a rational system of jurisprudence provides for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

scientific method

the assumption that repeated testing of a hypothesis should result in similar results

determinists

causes of criminal behavior are not controlled by free will choice, but rather influenced by factors that are beyond the control of the individual

Richard Dugdale (1841-1883)

engaged in research attempting to link heredity to criminal behavior in his study of the Jukes family

Henry Goddard (1866-1957)

studied Martin Kallikak’s family tree in attempt to link heredity to criminology

Ada Jukes

labeled by Richard Dugdale as the “mother of criminals”

Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)

An Italian doctor who collected data to support his Darwinist-based theory that criminal behavior is characteristic of humans who have failed to normally develop from their primitive origins

atavism

failure of humans to fully develop into modern men and women

criminal man

Lombroso’s belief that criminal's were born inferior and prehuman

atavistic stigmata

study of physical traits of criminals

biocriminology

research into the roles played by genetic and neurophysiological variables in criminal behavior

XYY chromosome theory of violent behavior

the idea that violent behavior can be in part attributed to the presence of an extra Y chromosome

psychoanalytic theory

behavior is not a matter of free will but is controlled by subconscious desires, which includes the idea that criminal behavior is a result of unresolved internal conflicts and guilt

id

unconscious desires and drives

ego

rational mind

superego

moral values system

psychological profiles

an academic/professional description of a person, usually a person who has committed a crime, based upon psychological, sociological, and behavioral characteristics

social determinism

relations, social interactions, social expectations, and pressures exerted by peers and institutions- not free will, biology, or psychology- determine criminal behavior

social disorganization theory

Park and Burgess’s research that criminal behavior is dependent on disruptive social forces, not on individual characteristics

concentric zone model (Burgess model)

theory that social environments based on status disadvantages (poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, lack of school, illegitimacy, etc.) are powerful forces that influence human interactions

anomie

a feeling of “normlessness” and lack of belonging that people experience when they become socially isolated

strain theory

the assumption that individuals resort to crime out of frustration out of not achieving economic comfort/success

social control theories

the focus on the social and cultural values that exert control over and reinforce the behavior of individuals

neutralization theory

concept that people commit criminal act and that many people are prevented from doing again because of guilt

social bond

describes 4 elements that prevent delinquency; attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief

differential association theory

concept that criminals and delinquent behaviors are learned through group interactions with peers reinforcing and rewarding these behaviors

cultural deviance theories

values of subcultural groups within the society are more influential upon individual behavioral and interactions than laws reaction formation-describes how lower-class youth’s reject middle-class values

female genital mutilation (FGM)

cultural practice of removing external genitalia of young girls or women for nonmedical purposes

labeling thoery

explains deviant behavior, especially juvenile, by examining societies reactions to behavior that are labeled as deviant

conflict theories

most politically and socially powerful individuals and organizations use the legal system to exploit less powerful individuals and retain power

radical criminologists

advocate conflict theories and class and power inequality as the causes of crime

institutional discrimination

the unjust and discriminatory mistreatment of individuals as they are engaged in police, court, and correctional-based institutions

critical race theory (CRT)

social movement that examines how social construction of race relates to institutionalized racism in law and society

feminist criminology

female criminal behavior is caused by political, economic, and social inequality between men and women

ethical standards of behavior

enforced through legal sanctions, prohibit experimentation that may harm participants and regulate the degree of deception of participants that researchers may use in an experiment

casual variables

variables that directly influence outcome of relationships

correlation

when 2 variables are associated with each other in that when 1 increases the other increases or decreases in a predictable pattern

victimology

study of victims and the patterns of how they are victimized

victim-percipitation theories

theory that victims precipitate (contribute) to or provoke outcome of their victimization

lifestyle theories of victimization

personal victimization is an outgrowth of victims high-risk behavior and associations

routine activities theory

theory that predicts a crime event based on the convergence of a motivated offender, absence of capable guardian, and suitable target

predatory crime

acts involving direct physical contact between at least one offender and at least one person/object which the offender attempts to take or damage