...Final Paper Nick Beech Fort Hays State University A contemporary analysis of the term “white collar crime” is as pertinacious as various concepts within the realm of the Criminal Justice System. According to fbi.gov, there are a host of crimes ranging from health care fraud to computer crime amassed under the umbrella of white collar crime. In addition, the term is widely utilized by both criminologists and sociologists alike, incorporating a mass of non-violent behaviors related to pecuniary fraud. Beyond the fundamental description, currently there is a pervasive inaptness and disciplinary criticism of the definition and application of white collar crime. An assortment of criminologists with the focal point being on state and federal law, contend that many of the behaviors society believes to be white collar crimes are in fact not crimes at all. Short of a statute to delineate whether specific conduct is labeled as a criminal violation of law, behaviors tend to be categorized by individual standards rather than in the context. An individual evaluation of what is or is not deviant allows for a subjective approach that softens the scientific objectivity of criminology (Tappan 1977). Furthermore, the Criminal Justice system was assembled upon the foundation of individual culpability. This presents difficulties when criminal acts involve cooperative intricacies. The penalty phase in regards to the corporate criminal action was not intended to impose sanctions against groups...
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...Theories of Crime Causation: Unit 3 Individual Project Jimmie O'Neal AIU Online Theories of Crime Causation: Unit 3 Individual Project There are a few different sociological theories of crime that experts have been debating over the course of time. A few of these theories include: the Social Control Theory, the Strain Theory, the Differential Association Theory, and the Neutralization Theory. All of these theories are different looks on the reasons that criminals make the decisions that they do to commit crimes. The first theory to look at is the Social Control Theory. This theory provides an explanation for how behavior conforms to that which is generally accepted in society. For social control theory, the underlying view of human nature includes the conception of free will, thereby giving offenders the capacity of choice and responsibility for their behaviors (Leonard and Morris). This theory aligns itself more with the classical philosophy. The basic principle states that almost all criminals recognize that laws should be followed, but society has yet to stop the crime and deviance that seems to be a growing problem in the world today. One strength to this theory is that it offers an explanation that the offenders often know what they are doing and that they recognize that it is wrong. As such, they should be held accountable for whatever crime that they have committed, by the court system. The weakness to this is that it seems to never be implemented. It is casually...
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...1) Who returns an indictment? (TCO 1) Jake Robinson was convicted on a burglary and a drug offense. He was given a sentence of six years in prison for both offenses. These sentences were to run concurrently. How many years would he spend in prison? (TCO 1) The ________ collects information on crimes suffered by individuals and households, whether or not those crimes were reported to law enforcement. (TCO 1) Which of the following would be included in UCR/NIBRS murder statistics? (TCO 1) A juvenile who steals a candy bar and states “No one was really hurt,” is using which neutralization technique? (TCO 1) An 18th-century approach to crime causation and criminal responsibility that grew out of the Enlightenment and that emphasized the role of free will and reasonable punishments. (TCO 2) When a police officer induces a subject to commit a crime, a defendant will probably use: (TCO 2) Bob is sitting on a park bench minding his own business when an undercover police officer comes up to Bob and talks him into buying some marijuana. Then the officer arrests Bob for possession of marijuana. Bob can claim the defense of: (TCO 2) ________ is/are a person’s reason for committing a crime. (TCOs 3&4) Comes stabuli: (TCOs 3&4) ICE is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security responsible for: (TCOs 3&4) A neighborhood resource officer asks residents to clean up litter, remove graffiti, and install better lighting in a nearby park that is known for extensive drug dealing. Such...
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...Emeritus at the University of California’s Department of Sociology. David Matza, who focused on juvenile delinquency, is most popularly known for his work with Gresham Sykes and their theory of neutralization. Matza also ventured out on his own, giving further explanations and studies of juvenile delinquency. Because he was studying criminal activity during the mid-twentieth century, he was influenced by the social and political unrest in the United States. Even though theorists have criticized Matza’s work, it is still used by theorists today as a source of discussion on the topic of juvenile delinquency. Gresham Sykes and David Matza Techniques of Neutralization: A Theory of Delinquency Sykes and Matza wanted to build upon Arthur Sutherland’s Differential Association theory which states that an individual learns criminal behavior through “(a) techniques of committing crimes and (b) motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes” which go against law-abiding actions (Sykes and Matza, 1957:664). These techniques reduce the social controls over the delinquent and are also more applicable to specific juveniles. Neutralization is defined as a technique, which allows the person to rationalize or justify a criminal act. There are five techniques of neutralization; denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victim, condemnation of the condemners, and the appeal to higher loyalties. Denial of responsibility is a technique used when the deviant act was...
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...2012 AIU Online 6/23/2012 ------------------------------------------------- Theories of Crime Causation Unit 3 Ind. Project The Sociological Theories Abstract The author of this paper focuses on the mainstream of criminology and the sociological theories of crime that have dominated the landscape for decades. The author focuses specifically on the social control theory, strain theory, differential association theory and the neutralization theory. These theories are often spoken due to their historical significance which was discovered during research in an attempt to examine delinquency and deviant behavior. Included in this paper the author shares with you her opinion as to the strengths and weaknesses of each theory. Further, she provides you with an example of a recent criminal arrest as it pertains to one of the aforementioned theories and the relevance that it has in explaining the offenders criminal actions. The first and most influential strain theorist is Robert K. Merton (1938). His original statement of anomie/strain theory is the basis for all of the theoretical developments. The strain has two associate components the first component is strictly focused on the concept of anomie (abnormalities), while the second is centered on the social structures, and the influences that society contributes to the strain theory. If you were to separate or combined these two components either way can lead an individual to a higher level of deviance...
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...Study Guide Criminology Social structure theory- a theory that explains crime by reference to some aspect of the social fabric. Broken window thesis- a perspective on crime causation that holds that physical deterioration in an area leads to increased concerns for personal safety among area residents and to higher crime rates in that area. Crime mapping- hot spots (where the crime is) Walter Miller found that trouble is a dominant feature of lower class culture. (True) Violence more expectable in the south Techniques of neutralization- criminal offenders deny responsibility for their behavior. The concept of co-offending refers to the fact that youthful offenders tend to commit crimes in the company of their peers. They found that communities characterized by high rates of delinquency do not necessarily experience exceptionally high rates of crime or of gang related homicides. (True) Although the large majority of people growing up in inner city poverty ridden areas, for example, probably experience an inequitable opportunity structure firsthand, only a relatively small number of those people become criminal. (True) Cloward and Ohlin observed that legitimate opportunities are generally available to individuals born into middle class culture, participants in lower class subcultures are often denied access to them. African Americans are disproportionately represented in the homicide statistics as both victims and offenders. Nonprimary homicides involve victims and...
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...The theory of crime causation ELAINE WILSON 11/25/2011 D. COOPER UNIT 3 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT The social control theory is just what the name says; it is theory that a person is controlled by social circumstances, control of individual behavior by society. Social control theory stresses the idea that people in a society commit criminal acts because of the weaknesses within society, not because of the strength of forces driving them to do so. Crime is a strain on an otherwise stable system; social control is an attempt to stabilize the functioning of a society. The reasoning of social control is to fulfill society’s moral needs in the societal community. Criminal behavior is a strong indicator of the weakening bonds within society. As a function of social control, conversely, society offers restraints on people. The strain theory attempts to prove that your economic status determines crime. The lower classes are the most vulnerable to this pressure, or strain, and will maintain their dreams and desires though the economic means are not available. Frustration due to lower status would appear to be associated with more serious, repetitive offending. Incidence of crime among a low status group was found to be explained by low expectations in spite of the drive some people of lower status carry. Differential association theory is a learning theory that concentrations on why a person comes to commit a crime. A criminal and deviant act is learned through close and frequent association...
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...Crimes Theory Ontavia Johnson Strayer University Information Technology in Crime 170 Dr. Wesley E. Phillips, Jr. Crime Theory There are many digital crimes that are produced through the life of technology. Differential Association Theory is well known to be the cause of digital crime. This theory originated in the Chicago School of Criminological Theories, which embraces the sociological approach, that criminologist use to analyzing criminality. Differential Association Theory was introduced by Edwin Sutherland in 1947. He was one of the first to take an interest in the classical individualist theories of criminal behavior and concluded the Differential Association Theory. The Differential Association Theory is recognize the most relevant terms of digitals crimes, and well as can be used to clarify non-digital crimes using motivation, rationalization, and attitudes necessary for the crime. Testing several criminological theories, including strain theory, techniques of neutralization, social learning theory, and self-control theory, Morris and Higgins found that differential association was the most pronounced theoretical predictor in self-reported piracy (Morris, R. G., & Higgins, G. E. 2009). Normative conflict at the individual level is translated into individual acts of delinquency through differential association learned through communication usually in intimate groups (Sutherland, 1947). In further arguments peer pressure and peer attitudes are an influence...
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...they are at certain times throughout the day. There is no definite answer to the questions previously posed. Deviant behavior is a part of every society, but is it a necessary part of society and what causes it? There are many theories on what may cause deviance, but no single one is correct. This deviant and criminal behavior is what led to the emergence of certain laws, and it is these laws that govern the punishment for the crime. Felony crimes in the United States can range from murder to burglary, both come with penalties of imprisonment. There are four main goals of imprisonment, one of which is rehabilitation. The statistics show that this goal of rehabilitation is not being achieved because inmates being released have a high rate of committing a crime within three years. Is imprisonment the proper punishment for certain crimes? I pose the following questions for discussion: What makes for deviant behavior and what are the theories behind deviance? What type of crimes exist in the United States? What parts of the court and prison system are effective, and which parts are ineffective? 1. What makes for deviant behavior, and what are the theories behind deviance? Truthfully, deviance is only in the eyes of the beholder. In India it is considered a highly sexual act to kiss your loved one and is only done in the confines of privacy. If someone...
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...Kevin Penn American Intercontinental University Unit 5 Individual Project CRJS105 –1103b-04 Theories of Crime Causation October 26, 2011 Abstract In this paper I will describe 4 different sociological theories in some depth while looking at how each of them in some cases overlap and strengthen one another, and at the same time many of them are in direct conflict with each other. These theories are Neutralization theory by Sykes and Matza where criminal behavior is justified ., Differential Association by Donald Sutherland where it talks about pressure that cause different types of behavior, Strain theory by Robert Agnew where the strain of outside factors are the cause of this abnormal behavior,. And finally the social control theory by Travis Hirschi along with many other who have over time helped to further this theory. Along with these theories I have also talked about a man convicted of theft by taking here in the Atlanta area and what I believe to be the best theory that would apply to him. In my conclusion I will Point the one true weakness in all the theories that I have covered in this paper. Routine Activity Theory”: I have chosen the “Routine Activity Theory” It shows a meaningful view on the causes of crime and the problems surrounding it. The basic point to this theory is that these offenders many times don’t have any effective controls and they will act out on targets...
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...Class: AJS/514 professor: James L. Smith Personal Criminological Theory Social learning theory when an individual learns how; to do a various form of criminal activity within society. Like robbing banks or people, murders, kidnappings, selling drugs, assaulting with a deadly weapon in so forth. The criminal acts that people learn, from the people that he or she surround their selves with on a daily basis. That feels nothing wrong, with committing any of these forms of crimes. That the associates present stimuli according to their foundation place within the public as well as the economic location, gender, culture, class, also subculture. It the part of the theory where disparity reinforcement stress person has various social groups also situations present to him or her on a continuous basis, therefore, various relationship with different people then the learning with any conduct is a function of reinforcing stimuli also the possibility for reinforcement makes available from a person different social circumstances. (Pg.9- 183, Franklin P. Williams III, and Marilyn D. McShane, 2014).With social learning it connected, with cognitive learning theory, which says that learning controls the person mental dynamics. A behavioral theory that thinks that learning comes, from...
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...committing any of these forms of crimes. That the associates present stimuli according to their foundation place within the public as well as the economic location, gender, culture, class, also subculture. It the part of the theory where disparity reinforcement stress person has various social groups also situations present to him or her on a continuous basis, therefore, various relationship with different people then the learning with any conduct is a function of reinforcing stimuli also the possibility for reinforcement makes available from a person different social circumstances. (Pg.9- 183, Franklin P. Williams III, and Marilyn D. McShane, 2014). With social learning it connected, with cognitive learning theory, which says that learning controls the person mental dynamics. A behavioral theory that thinks that learning comes, from the reply from the environmental. With both of these theories and created four guidelines, it comes to learning that stated by Albert Bandura. They retention is cognitive, motivation uses both cognitive and environmental, awareness is environmental. The reproduction cognitive the method of learning as such known, as social learning theory based upon (Kendra Cherry, 2015). Some people learn a mixture governs conduct with immediate reinforcement given to a person also the conforming also deviant direction with morals also meaning, from past reinforcement with these other main morals. As well, meanings neutralizations, validations, also standard amplify...
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...dissociating between Wuornos and her community. Evidently, these conditions proved inadequate in developing the social and familial bonds Hirschi postulated as integral to preventing criminal conduct. (1969) Further affirming her application to control theory, Wuornos' self-defence plea demonstrates Sykes and Matza’s (1957) techniques of neutralisation. By declaring that she was victim to multiple rapes, Wournos’ claims “denial of responsibility” as a means to excuse or justify her actions also through “condemnation of the condemner” ay potential feeling of remorse are neutralised. Wuornos later changed her account claiming her crimes were motivated by robbery as an attempt support significant other Tyria Moore hence, neutralising by “appealing to higher loyalties.” Reckless (1972) posits “norm erosion as well as neutralization represent a diminution of 14 inner containment, facilitating the gravitation toward involvement in deviant and criminal behavior” (p. 52). ...
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...Money Laundering 1. What is the deviance/crime, legally what level felony? The crime of money laundering is defined as a “financial transaction scheme that aims to conceal the identity, source, and destination of illicitly-obtained money” (Featherstone & Deflem, 471). It is a federal felony in the United States, for which the penalty is “…a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both” (Laundering of Monetary Instruments). 2. Who is the victim(s)? In money laundering, there are a number of victims. The most direct victim is the financial institution through which the money passed, which is typically deceived by the money launderer as to the source of the money. The crime victimizes nations in a broader way by distorting national and global financial data. Inaccurate financial data can have many negative macroeconomic consequences, including inexplicable changes in money demand, risks to bank soundness, contamination effects on legal financial transactions, and increased unpredictability of international capital flows and exchange rates due to unanticipated cross-border asset transfers (fatf-gafi.org). 3. Is there a "typical" social background of the offender(s)? Are there any current trends . . . data issues? The typical money launderer is usually wealthy since the person or organization has a large, steady amount of excess money that needs...
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...Court Case Analysis of a Young Offender The Canadian public perception of youth crime is that it is growing out of control and that violence crime is common. Sensationalized media coverage, frustrated law enforcement officers and vote-seeking politicians, have tended to portray only parts of the overall reality of youth crime (John Howard Society, 2008). The government of Canada has evolved over the many years to deal with youth crime from installing the Juvenile Delinquency Act in 1908 all the way to the Youth Criminal Justice Act recently amended in 2012. What these acts have accomplished is the separation of youth and adult sentences (Stevenson, 2014). This was done in order to protect children because it is the belief in Canada that children are not responsible for their actions because of Doli incapax or the inability to do wrong. That being said there is still legislation in dealing with youth crime that is punishing and effective (Stevenson, 2014). This paper will analyze a court case decision made under the Youth Criminal Justice Act which involves a young offender who was convicted of a gang-related murder and breached Conditional Supervision Order (R. v. S.(M.), 2014). This court case will be analyzed using relevant research on youth gangs using concept of theories that apply to our young offender. In conclusion, this paper will discuss limitations of laws and possible alternatives that dealt with the young offender. A summary of R. v. S.(M.), the court based...
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