Understanding Crime

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Understanding Crime
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Causes Of Crime

• We left off discussing theories why crime occur.
• There are differing opinions.
• The opinion you hold affects crime fighting
  tactics
• That impacts quality of life, schools, taxes...
• Choice Theory
• Biological Theories
• Psychological Theories
• Sociological Theories
• Conflict Theories
• Integrated Theories
• Victimization Theories

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Causes Of Crime

• Sociological Theories
• Social Structure Theory
• Strain Theory
• Social Process Theory
• Differential Association Theory
• Social Control Theory
• Labeling Theory

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Sociological explanations of crime are most
  common

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Why are sociological theories of crime so
  important?

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theory
• Obvious social class distinctions in America.
• Upper, Middle and Lower Class

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Conflicts and problems of urban social life and
  communities control the crime rate.
• Transitional Neighborhoods
• Social Disorganization
• Value Conflict

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Poverty 17,029 income for family of four (4)
• Median US Household Income 40,800
• Are there racial differences in the poverty rate?
• If so, what is the effect on people and society?

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Life in deteriorated housing areas
• These areas attract crime, drug
  dealing,prostitution
• These problems, and the criminal environment that
  goes with them, are more acute for racial and
  ethnic minorities.
• Negative racial and ethnic stereotyping can lead
  to lower employment opportunities and greater
  income inequality.

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Culture of Poverty

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Effects of being Truly Disadvantaged

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Realities of being Truly Disadvantaged
• Inner city poverty is eternal and unchanging
• Manufacturing jobs formerly available
  disappearing
• Scarce work results in loss of discipline
  structure
• Children are not socialized in mainstream society
  

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• Does racism really still exist in America?
• If it does, is it becoming more subtle? How?
• What exacerbates the problem?

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Structure Theorycontd
• What would be the effect of constant assaults on
  your self image and sense of worth?

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Middle Class Values
• Education
• Hard Work
• Sexual Abstinence
• Honesty
• Sobriety

• Lower Class Values
• Being Cool
• Promiscuity
• Intemperance
• Fearlessness
• Scorn Authority
• Live for Today
• Seek Excitement
• Shun Formal Education

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Why do lower class youth often have such
  different values?

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Lower Class Focal Concerns
• Trouble Status from fighting, drinking, sex
• Toughness Reject sentiment, Accept fighting,
  athletic
• Smartness Streetwise, Outsmart, Con, Gambling
• Excitement Sex, fighting, gambling
• Fate Believe in spiritual forces Hitting the
  jackpot
• Autonomy Losing control is weak, Independence
  from parents, teacher, police is cool.

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Social Structure TheoryPractical Implications

• Social Structure Theory
• Linked to the Rehabilitation Perspective
• If poverty and strain cause crime, efforts to
  improve economic opportunity should be able to
  help reduce crime.

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• 2. Strain Theory
• A subset of Social Structure Theory
• Robert Merton Formulated Strain Theory

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Recall
• Anomie The absence or weakness of rules, norms,
  or guidelines as to what is socially or socially
  acceptable.

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Strain TheoryContd
• Inability of lower class to achieve culturally
  defined goals results in alternative solutions to
  meet their need for success.
• Innovation Steal, Sell Drugs, Extort Money
• Retreatism Drug Abusers, Alcoholics, Wanderers
• Rebellion Revolutionaries

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Strain TheoryContd
• Robert Agnew Expanded Anomie Theory
• Recognized sources of strain besides financial
• Negative Experiences
• Child Abuse
• Loss of Positive Supports
• End of Romantic Relationships

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• 3. Social Process Theories
• Learning Theories
• Differential Association Theory
• Control Theories
• Social Control Theory
• Labeling Theory

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories
• Theories that people learn to commit crime by
  exposure to
• Antisocial Behaviors
• They believe criminal behavior depends on
  experience with rewards and punishments.
• Rewards for deviance leads to crime.
• NOTE Similarity to Behavioral Theory

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories
• Fact People abuse drugs in all strata of society
• Fact Most poor people have conventional values
• Fact Most poor people are not criminals
• Conclusion Something common to all social strata
  must be affecting crime.

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories
• Crime and Delinquency Risk
• Home

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories
• Crime and Delinquency Risks
• Educational

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories
• Crime and Delinquency Risks
• Peers

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories--Learning Theories
• Differential Association Theory

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories--Learning Theories
• Social Control Theory

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Social Control TheoryPractical Implications

• Social Process Theories--Learning Theories
• Social Control Theory
• Linked to the Rehabilitation Perspective
• Advocates programs to strengthen
• Societal Bonds
• Family Involvement
• Counseling Programs
• School Prevention Programs
• Inmate Treatment and Educational Programs

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Causes Of CrimeSociological Theories

• Social Process Theories--Learning Theories
• Labeling Theory

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Labeling TheoryPractical Implications

• Social Process Theories--Learning Theories
• Labeling Theory
• Linked to the Noninterventionist Perspective
• Advocates limited offender contact with CJ System
• Prefers
• Deinstitutionalization
• Restitution Programs

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Causes Of CrimePolitical Theories

• Conflict Theory

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Conflict TheoryPractical Implications

• Conflict Theory
• Linked to Restorative Justice Perspective
• Advocates restoration of damages social relations
  by
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Restitution
• Forgiveness

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Causes Of CrimeIntegrated Theories

• Integrated Theories
• Latent Trait Theory
• Developmental Theory

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Causes Of CrimeIntegrated Theories

• Integrated Theories
• Latent Trait Theory
• Belief that some people have a personal
  characteristic that controls their likelihood to
  commit crime.
• Low Intelligence
• Impulsive Personality
• Genetic Defect

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Causes Of CrimeIntegrated Theories

• Integrated Theories
• Best Known Latent Trait Theory
• General Theory Of Crime
• Criminals have a here and now orientation
• Refusal to work for long term goals
• Lack diligence, tenacity and persistence
• Criminality Appeal Immediate Gratification
• Money without work
• Sex without courtship
• Revenge without court delays

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Causes Of CrimeIntegrated Theories

• Integrated Theories
• Developmental Theory

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Causes Of CrimeIntegrated Theories

• Integrated Theories
• Developmental Theory
• Key Turning Points in a Criminal Career
• There is a positive combined effect

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Developmental TheoryPractical Implications

• Integrated Theories
• Developmental Theory
• Fact Building social capital (positive
  relationships that foster self worth and inhibit
  crime) and social bonds reduces long term
  criminality.
• Fact Life events help terminate of sustain
  criminal careers.

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Causes Of Crime Theories Of Victimization

• Some theories of crime examine the role victims
  play in provoking or encouraging crime.
• Lifestyle Theory
• Routine Activities Theory

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Causes Of Crime Theories Of Victimization

• Lifestyle Theory
• Partying and drug use increases likelihood of
  violent crime involvement

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Causes Of Crime Theories Of Victimization

• Routine Activities Theory

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Break

• Read assignments.
• Participate in class discussions.
• Review notes weekly.