A Critical Evaluation of two Research Methods, Qualitative and Quantitative

Throughout the novel Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Beak-ins, the authors Richard T. Wright and Scott Decker study the interactions of those who are within the subculture of being burglars and how, why and who they commit these offenses toward. Within this paper we will be discussing the relationship of Merton's anomie theory and how this theory correlates to the acts and motivation of the individuals to accomplish the ability to acquire the means of society. Also we will be evaluating these individuals by explaining Hirschi's social bonds theory allowing this to help us better understand those who have personal relationships and what effects this has on the

The initial experimental group was made up of 47 residential burglars who participated in the study in St. Louis, Missouri. The majority of the subjects were considered to be career burglars for the most part. All subjects thought of themselves as active burglars at the time of the study. The control group of subjects was made up of 34 individuals and was taken from community centers with mainly poor and unemployed individuals. First there was a line of questioning during interview to assess whether they have participated or were familiar with property crime and burglary. The characteristics included in the study included race, gender, and age. The two groups did not differ in age and race and sex were evenly shown in summarization.

Males, especially working class males, are responsible for more crime than females, and are disproportionately over represented in crime statistics (“Intersectionalities II”, February 22, 2017). However, when girls are involved in crime this normalization of boys involved in crime creates the notion that “boys will be boys and girls will be good”, therefore authorities and society view girls who deviate as having something wrong with them, usually offered treatment as a probational order by judges (“Intersectionalities II”, February 22, 2017). The offences girls are most likely to be arrested for are, more notably, prostitution, running away from home, and curfew violations (Chesney-Lind and Sheldon, 2004), by girls are also are sentenced much more harshly than boys for these

Scarce research is available on active offenders due to their unwillingness to corporate with researchers and past and convicted offenders may have changed their perspectives after being convicted or left their lifestyle of crime. The most reliable data on these offenses and their perpetrators may come from active burglars themselves. Richard T. Wright and Scott Decker’s book, Burglars on the Job seeks to explain the reasons why burglars commit the crimes they do. They have taken their research to another level by gaining the trust of active offenders in the St. Louis area and gaining inside knowledge of these criminals’ daily lives and their crimes. This paper will address

#2 Discuss three different social patterns regarding subculture and crime, i.e., who are more likely to be perpetrators? Victims? Who is most likely to be incarcerated? What crimes are females more likely to commit than males? What is the “gender contract”?

According to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (232) Feminist theory has been on the back burner of modern criminology until the late 19th century. As with the other criminology theories there are many thoughts and ideas on why females commit crimes. In the beginning the theories seem to revolve around the victimization of the female gender. Then criminologist took a look at female delinquency, prostitution, and gender inequality in the criminal justice system. Lilly (233) wrote that Lombroso used physiological traits to determine what type of women would commit crime. Lombroso also argued that the women that committed the most crime were more masculine then the women who did not commit crime. He used physiological immobility, and passivity to make the argument. Lilly (235) also wrote that Sigmund Freud believed the reason women committed crime was because they has “penis envy”. Since women were physical different than men, women would become more aggressive trying to act like the male counterpart in order to fit in with the status quo.

Burglary is more likely to occur in homes and neighborhoods that have fewer guardians. Burglaries do not occur as often in homes where more members of a family stay at home, acting as guardians. In recent years there has been an increase in burglaries due to lack of guardianship that is correlated to the increase of women in the workforce versus women being “house wives”. With no one home during the day, the house becomes a more suitable target. In better-established neighborhoods there is a higher likelihood of neighbors acting as guardians to help prevent property crimes. With that being said, better-established neighborhoods do not always have lower burglary rates. Burglars often choose homes by the attractiveness or the value in which the burglars associate with the physical appearance of a home. A neighborhood full of nice homes could potentially become a target because of the valuable items that are predicted to be inside the homes according to how valuable the house appears on the outside.

It appears from current trends that the rates of crime committed on part of female violators is trending higher as compared to that of male counterparts that comprise the population starting in the year 2000 with female prison population rising to 2.2% verses that of male prison incarceration numbers being only 1.6% in comparison (Sipes, 2012). However it should be noted that the total number of actual prisoners of males is estimated to be 1.5 million with only 113,000 being women or just 14% of the total prison

Crime is everywhere, as we begin to realize each and everyday crime begins to become normalized. Each and every day the news about crime is shared, as normal as the morning weather. Whether it is something as small as vandalism or an individual driving recklessly ending the life of another. With the connection between property crime and violent crime being made for the reason of gains. Property crime, categorized as a crime, which includes, amongst others burglary, theft, shoplifting, arson, and vandalism. Violent crimes are crimes committed against others, such as homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery and the list continues. Throughout the following essay we will deliberate two particular offenses, a property crime: vandalism and

In order to design criminal justice that matches the specific needs and strengths of women, one should consider the history and demographics of the female criminal and the patterns that are reflecting the life factors and offending. The vast majority of female offenders are drug related or property crimes.

Gender is clearly one of the major factors in the causes of crime as men commit far more crimes than women. “90% of those found guilty are men.” – the poverty site

The involvement of females in crime and as the committers of crime was once a rare phenomenon but in recent years a dramatic increase has been seen all over the world. In England and Wales statistics have shown between 1994 and 2006 female crimes have steadily increased and have since continued to do so (MOJ 2009). Many sociological explanations and interpretations have arisen to coincide this surge in female offending as to understand its recent development in society. This assignment will look at different feminist explanations and critically evaluate them and their value in understanding female crime.

Distraction burglary is a type of crime that is carried out by deceptive individuals, whose main motive is to enter someone’s property, in order to illegally possess their belongings (Staffordshire Police, 2014). One of the ways in which offenders get their way with potential victims is through face to face communications, where culprits pretend to act on behalf of utility companies such as Gas and Electricity providers (Kent Police, 2013). This essay will provide a critical evaluation of distraction burglary as a very disturbing crime in society. In addition to this, much emphasis will be put on those responsible, as well as the Criminal Justice Agencies’ response to the crime, including the victims who are affected by this particular crime and how they are impacted. Finally, the media and its influences will be explored in order to show how its coverage spreads fear.

Theories that relate to gender norms as the cause of deviance of women take off from the view that the power relations in society which is dominated by men result to pushing women into deviant behavior through victimization, role entrapment, and economic marginality (Seguino 2007). It is the case that for sociologists coming from this perspective, gender norms bring about inequality. And such inequality plays a crucial role into leading women into deviant behavior. Studies have shown that struggling on the streets leads to other offenses and crimes (Chesney Lind 1989) and this includes prostitution and drug-dealing (English

Female Criminality consists of several outdated statistics regarding the rise of female offending. However, in viewing the current research on the subject, it appears that the overall theme of this dissertation's discussion is still relevant despite changes in the accompanying statistics as seen in viewing the following topics: the rise in female offending; the continual rise that females are committing more crimes than men; and the types of crimes that women are committing. In viewing Bruce Gross's 2009 article, "Battle of the Sexes: The Nature of Female Delinquency," as well as Elizabeth Cauffman's 2008 article, "Understanding the Female Offender," one can begin to see where current statistics regarding the female criminal lie.