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Criminal Acts and Choices

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Criminal Acts and Choices
D Brat
CJA/204
January 18, 2012
University of Phoenix

Criminal Acts and Choices
This paper will identify and describe choice theories and how they relate to crime, and will list and describe the common models in how society determines which acts are considered to be criminal and how it impacted by choice theories of crime.
It is easy to understand why the entertainment industry and the media are targeted as the cause of criminal violence, many other explanations for crime are also viable, like genetic abnormalities or psychological differences in individuals. Various patterns of early socialization may cause a person to commit a crime (Schmalleger, 2009).
Some types of criminology theories are classical and neoclassical, include the Free will theory, rational choice theory and routine activities theory. Crime is caused by exercise of free will. Prevention is possible with punishment that offsets any gains to be had through criminal behavior. The choice theory was developed in the 18th century by an Italian philosopher and politician. His theory explains the offender’s motivation to commit a crime is purposeful, with the intent of some sort of ego boosts or personal gain. The rational cause theory is when the offender makes the choice to commit the crime upon examining the consequences or benefits. The offender would then plan the crime and the location and the target of the crime. The offender would then execute the crime knowing that it is wrong but still chooses to commit it.
The sociological theory is a study of social structures within the offender’s environment such as family education level and subculture that leads to the criminal activity. The theory is on how the offender conforms to his or her surroundings. This means that criminality is inevitable due to the economy and some sort of strain or breakdown in moral values

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