Why People Commit Crime

1
Why People Commit Crime
Maybe its

• By Charles FeerDepartment of Criminal
  JusticeBakersfield College

2
What is a Crime

• Social definition
• Behavior that violates the norms of society.
  Antisocial Behavior
• Norm is any standard regarding what human
  beings should or should not do, think or say.

3
Crime Defined

• There is no uniform code of morality accepted by
  all of society.
• Examples Attitudes regarding gambling,
  prostitution, abortion, homosexual behavior.

4
Crime Defined cont.

• Legal definition
• An act or failure to act when required to do so,
  that is a violation of the criminal law,
  committed without defense or excuse and penalized
  by the government.

5
What is a crime?

• Anti-social behavior that has been legislated as
  behavior that can be punished.

6
What is a Theory?

• Part of an explanation of
• A statement about a relationship between two
  classes of phenomena which
• Provides a better understanding.

7
A Criminal Theory

• Explains why or how certain things are related to
  criminal behavior.
• Some theories assume that crime is a part of
  human nature.
• Such theories explain how human nature is related
  to crime.

8
Types of Theories

• Classical
• Biological
• Psychological
• Social Psychological
• Conflict
• Phenomenological
• We have no idea why

9
Classical / Free Will

• Crime is caused by the individual exercise of
  free will.
• Prevention is possible through swift and certain
  punishment.
• Punishment offsets the gain from the crime.

10
Lack of Punishment

• When the gains are greater than the punishment.
• Example Community Service

11
Biological

• Criminal Genes
• ChromosomesX and Y Patterns
• Criminals are identified through physical
  characteristics or genetic composition.
• Treatment is thought to be ineffective, but
  aggression may be usefully redirected.

12
Psychological

• Crime is the result of negative early childhood
  experiences or the product of a desire to be
  caught.
• Treatment necessitates extensive therapy.

13
Social - Psychological

• Crime results from the failure of self-direction
  or inadequate social roles.
• Treatment requires strengthened self concepts.

14
Conflict

• Crime is a natural consequence of Social,
  Political and Economic inequities.
• The Haves vs. Have Nots

15
Differential Association

• Learning theory
• The passing on of information and custom.
• A person becomes a criminal dependent upon the
  company they keep.

• Learning includes
• Techniques of committing the crime.
• Specific direction of motives, drives,
  rationalization and attitudes.

16
Phenomenological

• The source of criminal behavior is unknown, but
  available through case studies and detailed
  description of deviant life-styles.
• Treatment requires a total reorientation of the
  offender.

17
I didnt think Id get caught.

18
We Have No Idea Why
19
Five General Types of Punishment used in the U.S.

• Fines
• Probation
• Intermediate Sanctions
• Imprisonment
• Death

20
My Theory

• Blame it all on rock and roll.

Chosen One
Complicated Shadows
Blood is Thicker