Introduction to Criminal Justice

1
Introduction to Criminal Justice

• Chapter Two

2
The Study of Crime

• Criminology, the study of crime, gives us many
  philosophies as to why people break the law
• There is a difference between---
• Correlation Two variables that tend to vary
  together (Washing car)
• Causation One variable is responsible for
  the change in another (gun wound)

3
Theories of Crime

• Criminologists have developed theories
• ---Designed as explanations of happenings or
  circumstances, based on observation,
  experimentation and reasoning
• ---Researchers test theories to determine their
  validity
• ---Primarily concerned with reasons behind
  criminal behavior, but can provide practical
  guidelines for the criminal justice system

4
Choice Theories (Wilson)

• Before criminal act, person weighs benefits vs.
  costs
• Likely to commit crime when perceived benefits
  are greater (Bank Robbery example)
• Cornerstone of American criminal justice
• Severe punishment may deter crime
• Supports mandatory sentences, death penalty

5
Trait Theories

• Physical characteristics identified criminals
  (Lambroso)
• Biological and psychological traits could incline
  persons toward criminal behavior
• Biochemical conditions
• Phrenology---Bumps on the head
• The hormone testosterone
• Psychopaths---Unable to experience human
  emotions, control impulses
• Problematic theories

6
Trait Theories

• Suggest anti-social behavior should be identified
  and treated before becomes criminal activity
• There is a danger in this should we do it?
• Mood altering drugs have been used
• Group and individual therapies
• Favors rehabilitative practices (closer to the
  old medical model)

7
Sociological Theories

• Crime is a result of social conditions in a
  persons environment.
• Social Disorganization Theory (Shaw and McKay)
  said high crime neighborhoods in Chicago were
  characterized by disorganization. (Fig. 2.1, p.
  33)
• Breakdowns of traditional institutions of social
  control in those areas

8
Sociological Theories

• Disadvantaged because of poverty or racial
  discrimination more likely to commit crime
• Normal avenues of success cut off
• Changing those negative conditions can prevent
  crime e.g.---
• ---Decrease unemployment
• ---Reduce poverty
• ---Improve education in low income areas
• Question Then why does crime happen in good
  neighborhoods?

9
Social Process Theories

• Major influences on individuals are interactions
  which dominate everyday life
• Learning Theory (Sutherland)---Crime is learned
  behavior Teacher is usually a family member or
  friend
• Labeling Theory---Someone labeled criminal is
  more likely to consider himself as such
• Society creates criminals by labeling certain
  behaviors
• Policies focus on removing juveniles from formal
  system to avoid label (Diversion)

10
Social Conflict Theories

• Power Ability of one person or group to control
  economic or social positions of others
• Key component in explaining crime
• Capitalism leads to high levels of crime due to
  disparity of income it produces.
• Laws reflect values of the power holders, who use
  the system to hold that power.
• One theory---Women were traditionally confined to
  domestic roles, and did not have opportunities to
  commit crimes

11
Life Course Theories

• Deviant behavior (lying, stealing, bullying,
  conduct problems) in childhood are strongest
  predictors of future criminal behavior.
• Crime linked to low self control---Trait formed
  in childhood (Hirsch)
• Impulsive, thrill seeking, solves problems with
  violence
• Poor parenting

12
Question?

• Is there one single
• answer/theory
• to why crime?
• Which one do you
• think best?

13
Experience of Being a Victim

• Victim previously described as causative
  element, often consciously or unconsciously
  provoking the criminal act
• 1970s---Concentrated on physical, emotional and
  economic damages suffered by victim
• Some data---Same persons tend to be victims and
  offenders
• Being a victim may lead to future criminal
  behavior
• Heavy drinkers at great risk of assault when
  drinking, but no greater risk when sober

14
Identifying Victims

• National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
  identifies categories who are at most risk to be
  victimized.
• Criminologists can explore how aspects of their
  lives affect the probability of being a victim.

15
Victims Rights

• Movement began with feminist groups rape crisis
  centers in 1970s
• Advocates decry system revictimization
• Nearly 30,000 victim-friendly laws passed in last
  20 years, which focused on
• ---Enabling victim to receive restitution
• ---Allowing victim to participate in
  prosecution and sentencing of offender
• ---Protecting victims from harassment or abuse
  from criminal justice system.

16
Small Group

• What would it feel
• like to be a victim?
• 2) Of the various types of crime? Violent,
  Sexual
• Assault, Theft, etc.
• 3) How would it make you feel toward the various
  parts of the system? (Police, prosecutors,
  court, corrections)

17
The Chronic Offender

• Criminological research established idea of
  chronic offender.
• Small proportion of offenders (6) responsible
  for large amount of violent crime
• Has allowed police, courts, corrections to devise
  specific strategies to apprehend, prosecute and
  monitor these offenders

18
Serial Killers

• Our knowledge of serial killers in inadequate.
• Problem lies with serial killers motives
• Most violent crime is instrumental---used to
  achieve a purpose
• Serial killers are affective---for the thrill of
  the kill
• Victim rarely has ties to serial killer
• Often well-organized compared to other types

19
Linkage Blinders

• Exploited by serial killers
• Most local police do not communicate with each
  other.
• No means of knowing when similar murders occur in
  different areas
• Killer can avoid detection by crossing state or
  county lines.
• FBI established Violent Crime Application Program
  (VICAP) to collect, analyze and share data on
  violent crimes nationwide

20
Motivation of Serial Killers

• Some serial killers want to be in the public eye
• ---Son of Sam, Zodiac Killer, and BTK
  Killer all sent letters to media.
• ---Need to distinguish themselves as they cannot
  do in their every day lives
• Each killer is unique---unable to provide many
  clues to actions of other murderers