Notes on Developmental Theories of Criminal Behavior

Overview of Developmental Theories

• Definition: Developmental theories analyze criminal offending over the life course, focusing on the onset and progression of criminal behavior from childhood into adulthood.
• Key Questions:
  • When does criminal behavior begin?
  • What are the differences in onset age among individuals?
  • Do individuals age out of crime?

Key Concepts in Developmental Theories

• Onset of Offending:
  • Refers to when an individual begins engaging in criminal behavior (e.g., preteen years, teen years, or twenties).
• Frequency of Offending:
  • Examines how often offenders commit crimes and patterns of behavior over time.
• Duration of Offending:
  • Discusses how long an individual's criminal behavior lasts, with findings suggesting that earlier onset correlates with longer durations of offending.
• Seriousness of Offending:
  • Investigates whether offenders start with minor crimes and escalate to more serious offenses.
• Desistance from Offending:
  • Studies when and why individuals cease engaging in criminal behavior.

Major Theories to Explore

1. Robert Agnew's Theory: Explores the role of strain in delinquency.
2. Terry Moffitt’s Theory: Primary focus on life course-persistent offenders who begin their criminal activities in childhood.
3. Samson and Laub's Approach: Highlights transitions that may influence desistance or persistence of criminal behavior.

Integration of Factors in Developmental Theories

• Developmental theories incorporate social, psychological, and biological factors to explain offending behavior:
  • Sociological Aspects: Include theories like Social Disorganization and Strain Theory.
  • Psychological Factors: Examine personality influences and mental health.
  • Biological Factors: Consider physiological changes (e.g., hormonal shifts during puberty).

Juvenile Delinquency

• Legal Definition: Distinction between juvenile offenders (under 18) and adults. Different treatment in criminal justice systems.
• Reasons for Differentiation:
  • Psychological Development: Juveniles are often not fully mentally developed.
  • Life Chances: Avoiding permanent labels that may affect future opportunities.

Age-Crime Curve

• Ages 15-25: Peak crime rates occur during these years across various cultures.
• Property Crimes:
  • Peak Age: 16 years old.
  • Decline: Rates drop by half by age 22.
• Violent Crimes:
  • Peak Age: 18 years old.

Crime and Drug Use

• A misconception is that drug use leads to criminal behavior. Research indicates that criminal behavior typically initiates before drug use.
• Distinction between users (who may commit minor crimes) and distributors (who are involved in serious crimes).

Conclusion

• The intertwining of sociological and biological influences on criminal behavior is essential for understanding offending patterns. The developmental approach aids in comprehensively explaining the complexity of criminal behavior throughout an individual's life course.