...Personal Criminological Theory Review AJS/542 August 11, 2015 Introduction For many years, criminologist have studied criminal behavior and have developed theories that try to explain the causes for committing crimes. Our society is constantly changing where crime is becoming more recognized to the general public. This paper is a personal reflection of criminological theory. I will discuss my explanation of the occurrence of crime and why people commit crime, the different variables to consider, assumptions based on a theory and finally, what methodologies could be used to evaluate my theory. Explanation of Crime, Why People Commit Crime? While growing up in the city of Detroit, Michigan, I have witness more crime that I would ever care to see in a lifetime. This has also become my feelings for Baltimore, Maryland. I believe that the occurrence of crime is due to life choices of poverty and mental illness. This not only applies to the city of Detroit, but also many communities that have high crime rates. Baltimore is another city that has become torn over the fight between the police department and the struggling community. Crimes are committed by people who are in need of something. Some do it because they do not know any better, they have learned behaviors from their environments. While those who do not have education or jobs, the norm for these individuals is to take what they feel they are entitled to. On the other hand, some people may commit crimes because...
Words: 1080 - Pages: 5
...Personal Criminological Theory Meghan Killen AJS 542 14JAN13 University of Phoenix Personal Criminological Theory Criminology is the study of causes, nature, extend and control of criminal behavior in not only the individual but the society as well. It’s important that anyone working in the criminal justice system knows and understands the Criminology theories and the fact that they are important in understanding criminality. This holds all issues that are intertwined in law breaking, law making, and the reactions towards the process of breaking these laws. Criminology has also been defined as the process of studying the nature and extreme of the law breaking behaviors. Committing a crime requires a thought process, these criminals know what they are doing is wrong, yet they choose to ignore that fact. Criminals collect and organize information to come up with the crime, how it will be committed, and how they plan to not get caught. There are many factors that can lead people to committing crimes. If you look in the cities where gangs are in large numbers, there are some that must kill in order to be accepted into a gang. In this world, most times, it’s a kill or be killed situation. Other times there are people that just want the thrill of the crime such as stealing something. There are many different reasons for a person to commit a crime. Often, the person may feel that the crime itself is worth the punishment or the person thinks that they will outsmart the security...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
... 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 the reply from the environmental. With both of these theories and created four guidelines, it comes to learning that stated by Albert...
Words: 1325 - Pages: 6
...personal criminological theory review Janise harris ajs/542 instructor reyes january 19, 2015 personal criminological theory review Janise harris ajs/542 instructor reyes january 19, 2015 Personal Criminological Theory Review In criminology, analyzing why individuals perpetrate wrongdoing is imperative in the progressing level headed discussion of how crime should be taken care of and prevented. Numerous theories have developed throughout the years, and they keep on being investigated, individually and in combination, as criminologists look for the best solutions in eventually diminishing sorts and levels of crime. During the six weeks of this course we have examined several theories. Here is a review of some of the key theories: * Rational choice theory: Individuals act in their venture toward oneself and settle on choices to perpetrate wrongdoing in the wake of measuring the potential dangers against the rewards. * Social disorganization theory: An individual’s physical and social situations are basically in charge of the behavioral decisions that individual makes. * Strain theory: Many people have similar desires, yet they don’t all have the same opportunities or abilities. When individuals neglect to attain society’s desires through approved means, for example, hard work and delayed gratification, they may attempt to accomplish accomplishment through crime. * Social learning theory: Individuals create inspiration to commit crime and the abilities...
Words: 321 - Pages: 2
...Assignment 1: Crime Theories Professor George CIS 170 Information Technology in Criminology May 5, 2014 Control theory can be as major theories of crime developed by Hirschi, Reckless, Gottfredson, Hagan, etc. According to them, everyone desires to commit crimes. Instead of asking why people commit crimes, the well-known question they ask is ‘why people do not commit crimes?' There, the lack of control is the main reason of encouraging people to commit crimes. This can be done not only because of the lack of social bonds and laws, but also because of the lack of self-control. "Exposure to control also might differ by social location and the historical period, such as the changing level and control given to males and females." (Cullen and Agnew, 2002) Crime can be known, as an act done in violation of those duties, which are individual, owes to the community, and for the breach of which the law has provided with a punishment. Anyhow, though the criminal law of the country had not recognized some behaviors as crimes, some behaviors extremely harm the peaceful continuance of the society. Thus, "today, however, despite popular belief is to the contrary, the proportion of criminal law in regard to the totality of the legal system has shrunk dramatically." (Weeramantry, 2009) Because of that, Digital crime, which can be considered as such a crime was recognized and included as a separate crime. With the development of information and communication technology, in twenty first...
Words: 982 - Pages: 4
...Strain Theory In this article dated Monday, 23 April 2018 01:56 PM, three were charged with larceny at Liverpool PAC. Three people were accused and charged with theft of personal property or larceny in homes within Liverpool. Officers from Liverpool Police conducted investigations pertaining to stolen equipment from hire firms in Granville and Guildford and carried out the investigation on Saturday 21/4/2018 and Sunday 22/4/2018. The three suspects were aged 24, 37 and 41.They were refused bail to appear at Liverpool court on Monday 23 April 2018. As stated in strain theory, low social control is an aspect that relates to individual conditions that an individual has slight or completely no control over like employment prospects...
Words: 1561 - Pages: 7
...Violence in California is classified as a Misdemeanor crime if the victim has no visible injuries, and a felony if the victim does have visible injuries. Domestic Violence victims suffer significantly, but the people that suffer the most are children who witness or hear the incident. Children grow up thinking that it is fine to hit their spouse, yell, or scream obscenities to their spouse because they grew up watching their parents constantly fighting and yelling at each other. The topic of children exposure to Domestic Violence is definitely a personal crime. The reason why this video is a personal crime is because whether the husband or wife initiate the crime of Domestic Violence, it is always personal towards that person. Their is no property crime because they are not fighting over a belonging, or husband did not take anything away from the wife, the crime is just personal whether it is from dinner not served and ready, or simply unable to get along. Some of the causal factors that were addressed in the video of children exposure to Domestic Violence were minimal. The only causal factor that comes to mind is that of the female in Boston calling her boyfriend who she has a restraining order on to visit her. The reason why she called him was because she is under the influence of alcohol and is taking care of her son. Based off my work experience anytime their is alcohol, drugs, etc. involved in a domestic dispute...
Words: 769 - Pages: 4
...The Labeling Theory The Labeling Theory is a Criminological theory that states those who engage in criminal behavior are not necessarily criminal, or criminal minded. The theory is the view of deviance according to which being labeled as a deviant leads a person to engage in deviant behavior. In the 1960’s, Howard Becker, explained the labeling theory as behavior clashing with social norms. The labeling theory is a valid criminological theory and can indeed lead an individual to criminal activity, merely by labeling an individual as deviant or criminal. History The pioneer who many consider the grandfather of the labeling theory is Frank Tannenbaum. According to author William O’Grady, Tannenbaum was the first to come up with an idea known as tagging (2011). This idea stated additional involvement in delinquent behaviors was mostly due to a negative tag or label. He was convinced that a person was more likely to identify with the label placed on them if there was more attention placed on that specific label. Oftentimes the individual would adopt the initial tagging as part of their identity. In evaluating Tannenbaum’s writings, Walter Gove states, “The process of making the criminal is a process of tagging, defining, identifying, segregating… The person becomes the thing he is described as being; the way out is through a refusal to dramatize the evil. The less said about it the better” (1975). It is evident Tannenbaum believed that ending the labeling process would be...
Words: 1724 - Pages: 7
...present. Your tutor will provide oral feedback in the class. You need to make reasonable attempt at this assessment every week to pass the course. If you fail to do it your final mark will be withheld. 1. Essay Question: After more than a century of criminological theory, why does crime still exist? Illustrate your answer by drawing on at least two theories studied thus far in the semester and consider how they define crime and what policy ( rulem strategy, procedure) responses (replies) they advocate (support). What are the strengths and weaknesses of these theories and why related policy responses failed to rid society ( culture of crime? Use Australian or international examples to support your arguments. a. Thesis Statement: * Crime attributes an individual to a particularly undesirable group. It is based upon an event; some sort of wrong - doing or deviance from the norm which results in social, physical, mental, property or financial harm. * Theories come into play and provide a perspective and embody certain assumptions. * * There is no longer a singular definition of crime, there are multiple views and opinions yet non stand as a concrete definition. * Classical Theory * Positivism Of particular interest is the classical approach to crime and the idea of positivism nad individualist behaviour. b. tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. c. is...
Words: 1572 - Pages: 7
...disorder. In the ensuing trial the question will arise as to whether young Christopher acted on his own accord or was somehow influenced by an external force that he could not control. In this situation the defense attorneys of Christopher Pittman found themselves deep within the field of a scientific method more specifically referred to as a positivist form of criminological behavior. The challenge that the defense faced was the task of showing the jury that young Christopher had no control over his actions and was being “driven” by and outside force. Dr. Lanette Atkins testified as an expert in the field stating, “the boy’s actions could be attributed to an adverse reaction to the medication he was taking.” There have been many accounts of this drug being linked to hallucinations and even suicidal actions when administered to younger patients. It was the goal of Christopher Pittman’s defense attorneys to convince the court that the state of mind that their client was on at the time of the murder was not under his control. On the other hand you have the prosecution diligently attempting to disprove this theory. To convict this young man on the charge of murder the prosecution would have to show that the defendant showed a free will or rational choice in the committing of this heinous crime. The prosecutors’ goal would be to reveal that the...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...The Study of Crime By Juan Andres Alvarez Crime & Society Instructor: Sara Rogers September 19, 2011 The Study of Crime: Throughout recorded history there have been numerous theories that explain why criminal behavior exists. One of those theories is The Classical Theory of Criminology, it states that the combination of free will, hedonistic decision making and the failure of the social contact in producing criminal behavior. I tend to agree that it all come done to free-will and the desire to commit such acts. In order to comprehend the study of crime we must first learn to prevent crime. There are many crime prevention programs that have work others have not. Unlike these theories many of these programs have not yet been evaluated or hold enough creditable scientific evidence to draw positive conclusions. Enough evidence is available, however, to create provisional lists of what might work; what hasn’t, and what’s potential to work in the foreseeable future. In order to formulate a possible list of programs in our neighborhoods we must continue to study of crime and its many possibilities; and to purse and punish those criminals that break the law and bring them to justice. We as society should focus on not just what type of crimes are been committed or to what rate they are been committed but we should focus our attention on the aspect of crime that has not been studied before the learning to find peace amongst ourselves. Before we can learn to find...
Words: 2331 - Pages: 10
...Theories of the White Collar Offender Grantham University Richard Sayles White-Collar Crime 20 March 2012 White-Collar Crime The literature supports that many criminals go through a rational choice process when committing crime. Rational choice theories are among the fastest growing theories in social science today. Many sociologists and political scientists defend the claim that rational choice theory can provide the basis for a unified and comprehensive theory of social behavior. What distinguishes rational choice theory from other forms of theory is that it denies the existence of any kinds of action other than the purely rational and calculative. All social action can be seen as rationally motivated, as instrumental action, however much of it may appear to be irrational or non-rational. Rational Choice Theory, law-violating behavior should be viewed as an event that occurs when an offender decides to risk violating the law after considering his or her own personal situation need for money, personal values, learning experiences and situational factors how well a target is protected, how affluent the neighborhood is, how efficient the local police happen to be. Before choosing to commit a crime, the reasoning criminal evaluates the risk of apprehension, the seriousness of the expected punishment, the value of the criminal enterprise, and his or her immediate need for criminal gain. Crime...
Words: 486 - Pages: 2
...One of the main misunderstandings in environmental crime is the lack of consistency in the definition and classification of environmental crime. The primary problem is differing perspectives as to what constitutes as environmental crime, embedded in moral, philosophical and legalistic interpretations of harm and in what circumstances does this harm becomes a crime (White, 2008). Many criminologists have put forth perspectives which explain the reasons why individuals and corporations engage in activities that cause environmental harms. These perspectives can be linked to the original environmental or green criminology perspectives. Pollution and dumping has become an increasingly costly problem for the environment. As a results, there has been a rise in criminology literature that analyses environmental harms as crimes (Crofts, Morris, Wells & Powell, 2010). Pollution entail the emission, leakage or spillage of a prescribed substance into the air, water or soil (Brickenll, 2010). It was the first environmentally damaging practice to capture the attention of the public and also concern regulatory attention. Pollutants recognised include pesticides, chemicals and gases. Whilst some of these emissions are banned and illegal, some are permitted, but only within specified levels. Pollution is thus illegal when there is a release of a prohibited substance, the emission or leakage of substance in excess of an established limit, or expulsion into areas such as vast bodies of...
Words: 2414 - Pages: 10
...Behavior (BLG1231A) Instructor: Stephanie Myers September 3, 2012 The Hidden Criminal “I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree.” (Desiderius Erasmus) Determining mental disorders among the criminal population is difficult as well as tedious but it is important that they are continue to be researched to better understand the criminal mind and to distinguish those that are plagued by mental disorders from those that choose the life of crime. In this paper I want to address the way the criminal with mental disorders perceive situations compared with what we would consider a normal person and that of a person who commits a crime for personal reasons. The first thing that should be known is that a person with a mental disorder(s) can seem like a completely normal person. In several segments of Hidden in Plain Sight: Looking for Mental Illness we see that picking out a person with a mental disorder is almost as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack even when you know what you are looking for. This research was on a group of ten people that some experienced different disorders while there was nothing wrong with others. Gathering these people to live together for five days while three different Psychiatrists observing. Their goal was to pick out the ones with disorders from those who were considered normal. This proved a very difficult task as they all seemed normal, like...
Words: 2244 - Pages: 9
...Theories on Crime Comparison Frank Canini AJS/542 Criminological Theory Angela Dudley April 13, 2015 Many experts will argue that behavior and personality traits contribute to criminal behavior. Theories exist that provide sufficient evidence of these arguments, leading criminal justice professionals to seek alternative methods to preventing crime other than implementing harsh prison sentences. As we begin to understand the relationship between personality and criminal behavior, we begin developing rehabilitation programs intended to treat the underlying psychological issues that motivate people to commit certain crimes. By rehabilitating these individuals without incarceration, we can help keep prison populations down while benefitting society by allowing rehabilitated criminals to integrate back into their communities. Theories exist that can provide evidence linking behavioral traits to criminal behavior. Experts believe there biological, sociobiological, and psychological traits that contribute to the criminal behavior of an individual. Studies show that even all three traits combine to create a cocktail that leads to dishonest and unethical acts that can be defined as crime. As we examine these behavioral traits our focus will be on the psychological aspects of criminal behavior. Psychological behavior can be classified as conduct disorder that is usually identified in early childhood. These psychological disorders act as a precursor to possible criminal...
Words: 1239 - Pages: 5
