Criminology is a science that gathers and analyzes data on various aspects of crime and criminal behavior (Walsh & Hemmens 2014). The scientific method often used in criminology, allows theories to be developed that relate to crime. These theories about crime are intended to explain certain crime facts. A theory is a set of logically connected prepositions explaining and predicting a phenomena (Walsh & Hemmens 2014). A number of hypotheses can be derived and tested using a developed theory. Thus, these hypotheses can be tested in the criminal justice system. In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very important so that crime can be prevented. Many theories have developed from criminologists that seek to answer questions concerning crime. Often times, the victim of a crime wants to know the reason behind the criminal act. However, it takes many years of analyzing data to develop these theories. One of the theories that has developed is the labelling theory. This essay will contrast the labelling theory, and will show its strengths and weaknesses using various case-studies.
Determining the main cause of criminal behaviour in an individual’s is all about nature and nurture. Is a person 's genetic makeup what makes a criminal or is it the environment? Crime can be defined in many different ways; different societies all over the world choose to define crimes differently. Poverty and crime have a very close relationship. The UN and the / World Bank have crime listed as one of the obstacles to tackle a country’s development. Countries and governments that are dealing with poverty often also have to tackle the issue of crime as they try to develop their country’s economy and society. A particular social problem like those categorized as economic problems can aggravate other problems such as drug abuse, unemployment, closure of family structures and crimes. Poverty, an economic problem is seen as a factor that triggers the occurrence of other social problem such as crimes. Poverty has been considered to be an important factor in predicting the variation in city crime rates. Communities with greater poverty rates are seen to lack resources for supervision of youth and community organisations. History has proven that crime and poverty have a direct link and that they go hand in hand. Even though poverty and crime have such a big relation there are many other factors which I have researched that are causes of crime including Racism, Media, Overpopulation, Politics, inherited genes and hormones.
1. Understanding the criminal behavior system and crime typologies that the book demonstrates; it is kind of hard to distinguish what type of serial killer Robert Durst is. Judging from the book examples of different type of serial killers, I would have to say Robert Durst is a hybrid serial killer. While some of his actions from the video series, “The Jinx”, lead me to feel as if he was an expedience killer who wants to protect themselves from a perceived threat as the book states. Some of Durst’s actions also lead me to believe he was a mission killer, who had a vision for killing someone. None of his victims seemed as if they were some random act of murder. I feel as if he had a mission to kill all of them.; one reason making me suspect
It is unfortunate that crime exists in our daily lives. There really is no way to stopping crime completely, no matter how many laws or punishment are present, people will continue to keep breaking rules. There are many theories of why that may be the case, for example, Caesar Lombroso
Incarceration rates are extremely costly and the rates of incarceration are alarmingly high in the United States. Individuals engage in criminal behaviors for many reasons. Although the reasons are numerous and vary, the justice system has attempted to narrow down the causes of criminal behavior. The justice system has also put into place specialty courts that are designed to better address these particular causes of criminal behavior. The goal of these courts is to better address the individual’s reason that they engaged in criminal behavior in hopes that with the additional support, in the future the individual will become a productive member of society.
Lastly, the age issue could have to do with physical abilities. Generally, the younger you are, the better chance you have or getting away with your crime. If you are have speed and agility, your chances or not getting caught are increased. As you get older, your physicality slowly deteriorates, which could explain why majority of crimes are committed by young
In this essay, two theories specifically focusing on sexual offending against children are compared and critical evaluated. Finkelhor’s (1984) Precondition model integrates four underlying factors that might explain the occurrence of child sexual abuse and categorizes them into four preconditions: motivation to offend, overcoming internal inhibitors, overcoming external inhibitors and overcoming child’s resistance that occur in a temporal sequence where each is necessary for the other to develop. The Precondition model provides a framework for assessment of child molesters but is criticized for a lack of aetiological explanations and for paying to little attention to cognitive factors. Ward’s (2003) Pathways model suggest that clinical
Humans are complicated creatures. I proclaim that we are innately curious about everything. What, why, how, when are questions that constantly circulate in our minds. These questions then encourage us, naturally, to search for the answers. This is true in the area of crime and criminal behavior as well. Criminological theory attempts to describe why and how crime transpires by studying the countless social factors that influence someone to commit crimes. These theories are then supposed to explain both the understandings and roots of crime. Abstract outlooks offer an image of what something is and the best way of addressing that particular subject. In this section of the course we have explored different author’s sociological perspectives in the realm of theory. Each aim to explain why people engage in crime, but I will focus my attention on anomie/strain theories. First, I will provide a short summary of Merton’s anomie theory, Messner and Rosenfeld’s institutional-anomie theory and Agnew’s general strain theory. Next, I will take some time to highlight the strength or usefulness of the theories, with some critique, but mostly focusing on the positive value. Lastly, I will use the biological example of William Freeman and explain how the strain theory is directly relational.
All in the Mind: Psychology and Criminal Behavior Many people wonder why some people are able to do bad things, even when they know the consequences. To our normal brains there seems to be no reason for doing things like this. However, scientists have discovered that many criminal’s brains are
The causes of a criminal Mind Nature versus Nurture In today's society, one will find that there are many different factors that go into the development of a criminal mind, and it is impossible to single out one particular cause of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior often stems from both biological and environmental factors. In many cases criminals share similar physical traits which the general population do not usually have. For example criminals have smaller brains than properly adjusted individuals. However biological reasons cannot solely be the cause of criminal behavior. Therefore, one must look to other sources as to how a criminal mind is developed. Social and environmental factors also are at fault for developing
Nonetheless, it is not easy to assume which styles provide more “at risk” factors than others without additional rationale.
Fengguang Lin Research proposal Age and crime relationship In an age and crime relationship chart, we can see that some population involved in crimes tends to climax in age of adolescence or early stage of adulthood. Then, it declines at the same rate with age. I am really wonder is age plays a crucial role for people who committed crime? I want to focus on when a person in a certain age, what will be some reason for the person to commit crimes. Is this universal or can be said similar crimes regardless of location and historical context. What are some variations in this topic.
Criminal behavior is something that affects everyone, even if you don’t particularly engage in the act itself. Every time a crime is committed, we often find ourselves wondering what led that person to do that crime. We wonder why they did it because it is something that we could never do, so therefor we cannot fathom the act of engaging in criminal activity. Some people feel that people only engage in it just because they lack the thing that they try to steal or because of their specific background and race. In actuality, there is a link between criminal behavior and the lack of education. However there is also a link between the attainment of education and criminal behavior.
In other words, a person may be tempted to commit a crime if there not a strong enough deterrent in place. Hence, Bentham’s solution to crime control was to address this pleasure/pain response by imposing strict penalties proportional to the seriousness of the crime committed to discourage people from offending (Von Hirsch, 1992). Although he did not support the death penalty, punishment for committing crime was considered by Bentham as the lesser of two evils, necessary for the health of society and the duty of the government to impose (Bull, 2010; Hudson, 2003). Punishment, for Bentham, was a way to ensure “the greatest happiness for the greatest number” (Rosen, 2003, p 221).
Criminal law is essentially concerned with the regulation of behaviour. This may involve prohibitions on some kinds of behaviour such as stealing another person’s property or harming them deliberately. Some criminal laws may require a specific action, such as