JS 319 - Lecture 2

JS 319 - CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES

University of Regina

Lecture-2 by Dr. Muhammad Asadullah

Date and Time: September 15, 2025, 8:30 am to 11:15 am

WHAT IS CRIME?

• Initial Questions: - When you think of crime, what comes to your mind?

• Examples of Crime Responses: - Tax evasion

  • Food crime

  • Environmental crimes

CRIME CONTEXT

Personal Reflection Questions:

• Have you or anyone in your family ever: 1. Driven a car under the influence of alcohol?

  2. Stolen something from a shop?

  3. Downloaded music or other materials for free when they should have been paid for?

Who Are the Criminals in the Court System?

1. Poor individuals

2. Marginalized groups

3. Other minorities

DEFINITIONS OF CRIME

1. Crime as a violation of the criminal code.

2. Crime as a violation of norms and societal values.

3. Crime viewed as social harms.

4. Crime as a violation of interpersonal relationships.

5. Crime as a politically constructed concept.

CRIMINOLOGY

Understanding Criminology:

• Criminology is a scientific study of crime that emerges from various disciplines.

• Different answers to what criminology is depending on asking different professions (e.g., a plumber vs. a criminologist).

Three Key Areas of Criminology:

1. Measurement: How much crime is there?

2. Causes: What causes crime?

3. Control: How should we control crime?

CRIME RATES

1. Questions to Consider: - Are crime rates increasing or decreasing?

2. Historical Context: - Crime rates have been decreasing since the 1980s.

   • There was a 2% increase in police-reported crime in Canada for 2022 as measured by the Crime Severity Index (CSI).

3. Specific Increases Noted: - Motor vehicle theft increased by 24%.

   • Hate crimes increased by up to 7%.

   • Refer to Statistics Canada for additional information: - Website: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily- quotidien/230727/dq230727b-eng.htm

CRIME RATES IN 2024

• The crime rates decreased by 4% in 2024.

• The CSI declined for the first time after three consecutive years of increases.

• The rate of motor vehicle theft declined by 17% from 2023.

CRIME STATISTICS FOR 2023

Crime Severity Index (CSI) Overview:

• The volume and severity of crime in Canada increased by 2% in 2023 for the third consecutive year.

• CSI Values (Percentage Change): - Newfoundland and Labrador: $86.3$ ( $+5\%$)

  • Prince Edward Island: $72.4$ ( $+17\%$)

  • Nova Scotia: $73.8$ ( $-1\%$)

  • New Brunswick: $86.1$ ( $-1\%$)

  • Quebec: $62.2$ ( $+3\%$)

  • Ontario: $60.9$ ( $+4\%$)

  • Manitoba: $145.5$ ( $-1\%$)

  • Saskatchewan: $160.2$ ( $+2\%$)

  • Alberta: $103.0$ ( $-2\%$)

  • British Columbia: $104.1$ ( $+4\%$)

  • Yukon: $218.8$ ( $+2\%$)

  • Northwest Territories: $473.7$ ( $+5\%$)

  • Nunavut: $73.5$

  • Canada Total: $429.1$ ( $+2\%$)

• Annual changes in both volume and severity of crime impact the computed CSI, which reflects broader community trends.

CRIME TRENDS AND THEORIES

Possible Reasons for the Decline in Crime Rates:

1. Economic factors.

2. Offender-based theories.

3. Impact and reforms within the criminal justice system.

4. Opportunity theories related to crime prevention.

5. Substance abuse influences.

CAUSES OF CRIME

1. Biological Explanations: - Genetic predispositions to crime.

2. Psychological Explanations: - Personality traits influencing criminal behavior.

3. Sociological Explanations: - Contextual and environmental factors contributing to crime.

4. Economic Explanations: - Relationship between poverty and crime.

5. Debate: - Discussion surrounding whether offenders are driven towards crime or choose to engage in it.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THINKERS

1. Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794): Focused on rational choice theory and deterrence.

2. Cesare Lombroso (1836-1909): Advocated for biological determinism in crime.

3. Chicago School (1990s): Focused on sociological aspects of crime.

4. Nils Christie (1928-2015): Emphasized the social construction of crime.

CRIME CONTROL STRATEGIES

1. Offender-focused Strategies: - Policing initiatives focused on apprehending offenders.

   • Zero tolerance policing approaches.

   • Challenges due to high rates of re-offending and disproportional representation.

2. Victim-focused Strategies: - Promoting victimology studies.

   • Emphasizing restorative justice models to improve recovery and societal reintegration.

CRIME PORTRAYAL IN MEDIA

1. Impact of News Media on Crime Perceptions:

   • News media shape individuals' knowledge and attitudes about crime (referencing Altheide & Michalowski, 1999; Haggerty, 2001; Sharpe, 2000).

   • Despite decreasing crime rates, public fear of crime remains constant.

   • Attention to terrorism leading to the stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs.

   • Local news media often constructing so-called "crime waves" that contribute to public fear (Weinwrath et al., 2007).

   • A 1992 study indicated that mass media is the primary information source on crime for up to 95% of the public (Schildkraut, 2017).

2. Questions and Issues:

   • Does media focus on crime distort the community’s view?

   • Sensationalism in media influencing criminal justice policy.

   • Importance of accurate crime coverage.

3. Popular Crime Dramas:

   • Shows that may influence public perceptions of crime include: - Criminal Minds

     • Law & Order

     • CSI

     • New York

     • Cold Case

     • Sons of Anarchy

     • Luther

     • Line of Duty

     • DCI Banks

THANK YOU

• Next Week’s Lecture: - Individually Based Theories of Crime - The Rational Actor

• University of Regina