4.1- assess the use of theories in informing policies Flashcards
Biological theories believe-
what has this theory led to-
criminality is caused by physical abnormalities.
These theories have led to – crime control and punishment policies that aim to change the workings of a criminal’s brain or body. To cure the condition that causes criminality.
examples
drug treatments
diet
surgery
crowd control
eugenics
Heroin addiction=
(use of drugs)
Methadone-
used to treat addicts as a long-term alternative to heroine or to prevent withdrawal symptoms. This drug helps to control crime.
Alcohol abuse=
(use of drugs)
Antabuse-
used to treat alcoholism, stopping the body from breaking down alcohol (getting rid of it) and causing unpleasant hangover symptoms. If the hangover symptoms are made worse people will drink less.
sex offenders
(use of drugs)
Stilbestrol-
form of chemical castration, used to treat male sex offenders. Is a female hormone that suppresses testosterone reducing the male sex drive. Has side effects such as psychiatric disorders and breast development.
managing prisoners
(use of drugs)
sedatives and tranquillisers (such as Valium)-
used to keep troublesome or violent prisoners’ calm.
DIET
How can diet be used to help criminality ?
An individual’s diet can be modified to try and change anti-social behaviour
examples=
Gesch et al- ensuring prisoners are given vitamins, mineral and fatty acids cause a reduction in antisocial behaviour. (up to 37% decrease in the case of violent behaviour)
. Vitamin B3 has been used to treat some forms of schizophrenia- a disorder sometimes associated with violent behaviour.
. Dietary changes have been used to control “hyperactivity”- for example removing foods containing artificial colouring (tartrazine).
Surgery
How can surgery be used to help criminality ?
Surgery has been used to alter offenders’ brains or bodies with the aim of preventing them from offending-
examples=
Surgical castration-
sex offenders have undergone this in attempt to change offending behaviour in Denmark and USA. Results have been mixed.
Lobotomy-
major procedure that involves cutting the connection between the frontal lobes of the brain and the thalamus. Has been used to treat schizophrenia and sexually motivated/violent crimes.
How do authorities monitor crowd control ?
why is it used ?
what does this substance cause?
Tear gas
used to control crowds or disperse rioters
uncomfortable or distressing sensations cause short term biological changes to the body- including vomiting, disorientation and breathing difficulties. Long term effects include lung cancer and death.
eugenics
explain who they are and what they believe ?
Eugenicists believed humans was degenerating- due to people passing on inferior genes.
. Eugenicists argued that the “genetically unfit” should be prevented from breeding.
what did this result in ?
This led them to favouring policies such as sterilisation of “defectives” such as criminals (as they though it was hereditary) and those with mental/physical disabilities.
. they would set up groups to campaign for these policies.
1927 the US supreme court ruled that it was legal to compulsorily sterilise the “unfit” to protect the state.
other eugenic policies include ?
forced abortion and restrictions to marry.
individualistic theories effect on policy
how did Freud impact treatment of criminality ?
Based on Freud’s theory, suggesting a “weak super ego” causes criminality- as the individual lacks morality.
They developed psychoanalysis
Psychonalysis =
how does it work=
It is a form of therapy used to treat criminality.
Using hypnosis and word association to bring unconscious conflict and repressed emotions into the conscious mind to be resolved.
supporting research =
Achorn Applied psychoanalytic ideas to policies to treating young offenders in an institution.
.He found that because the children had uncaring absent parents they had developed “weak” and “deviant” superegos.
. Normal socialisation had not taken place (loving relationships had not been formed)
. He rejected the harsh environment of the institution in the 1920s and instead treated children in a different, happy and pleasant environment- making them development of the superego possible.
whats another example of how indiviudalistic theories impact treatment of criminality ?
Aversion therapy
Link to theory -
Uses ideas from Eysenck personality theory
. Eysenck stated that criminals tend to be strongly extrovert and neurotic (making them harder to condition).
. Conditions need to be stronger to change the sex offenders behaviour as follows.
How aversion therapy works-
offenders are asked to think about unacceptable sexual fantasy until they are aroused
.A strongly “aversive stimulus” (the opposite of what is arousing) is then administered (such as an electric shock)
. Procedure is repeated until the offender associates the arousal and the stimulus
whats another example of how indiviudalistic theories impact treatment of criminality ?
Cognitive behavioural therapy
what is the Think First programme ?
Addresses thinking and behaviour associated with offending
Through a sequenced series of structured exercises designed to teach problem solving skills
which are then applied to aspects of offences and situations in which they occur.
how does CBT work ?
they aim to build cognitive skills and restructure bias or distorted thinking. THis may include anger management, cognitivr skills training,morla development and relapse prevention.
how does this relate to criminality=
by assuming that this criminal thinking is a cognitive deficit that has been learnt. We can teach offenders to understand the thinking process and choices that lead to criminal behaviour.
what is a type of CBT commenly used on offenders
Aggression replacement training (ART)
helps unlearn aggression
what 3 elements does it include ?
skill streaming
anger control training
moral reasoning training
skill streaming=
behavioural component- teaches offenders how they should behave
does this through………
. modelling- how you should behave in certain situations
. role playing- role playing positive behaviour in certain situations
. feed-back
. transfer of training
anger control training=
emotional component- teaches offenders how they shouldn’t behave
moral reasoning training=
values component= teaches offenders why they should use the skills learned and skills streaming in anger control
what theroy does the moral reasoning training in ART fit with
Kohlbergs Moral development
. kohlberg believed that criminals are developmentally immature. Don’t progress past the pre-conventional stage of morality. (based on reward and punishment)
ART- beleoves that morality partially needs to be taught
Sociological theories- application to policy
Merton’s strain theory =
working class are blocked by poverty/poor education ext. They turn to illegitimate means (crime) to achieve societal goals of wealth.
How does policy prevent this from occurring ?
Policies to tackle poverty- availability of welfare benefits, legal living wages and ensuring job security
Equal opportunities in school- treating working class pupils equally, reducing failure rates and easing status frustration.
Education in prison- half of UK prisoners have a reading age of 11and numeracy level of 9. Skills could lead to job opportunities after prison.
Label theory =
By Labelling an individual as a criminal we risk them living up to their label. Labelling policies prevent people getting the criminal label in the first place
How does policy prevent this from occurring?
Decriminalisation- make minor offences such as cannabis possession decriminalised so fewer young people would get the “criminal” label. This can prevent them getting a job and might lead to secondary deviance (further offending)
Diversion policies- these aim to keep the offender out of the criminal justice system, so they do not get the “criminal labelled”. For example, police might choose not to charge someone, or offenders may get anger management course or drug rehabilitation instead of prosecution
Surveillance theory =
Foucault- self-surveillance. Control is invisible. inside the mind (forcing authority psychologically)
Mathisen’s- people exercise self-discipline due to everybody watching each other.
How does policy apply these ideas?
CCTV- modern form of panopticon. Prison guards can watch prisoners without them knowing leading to self-surveillance and regulation
Profiling- the use of data to suggest a likely offender. Airport security checks are based on these risk factors. Anyone deemed high risk is more likely to be stopped and searched, irrespective of whether they have demonstrated any criminal behaviour.
Left and right realism
different political parties have different ideologies surrounding criminality and punishment- this leads to different enforcement and strategies
examples-Right realists- blame the offender, not putting policies in place. Defend the police system (crime isn’t increasing but crime reporting had improved). Labour is too soft on crime.
Left realist- Believe there are institutional issues in the police (racism/bias). Rape and sexual abuse aren’t being convicted in the UK. Burglary cases are being Under-convicted (not getting to court). Believe prison is not the answer
left realism policies-
Policies to reduce inequality-
Democratic policing
Multi agency approach-
Policies to reduce inequality-
call for major structural changes to tackle discrimination, inequality of opportunity and to provide good jobs and housing for all. This reduces relative deprivation- the main cause of crime
right realism policies-
Situational crime prevention
Environmental crime prevention-
zero tolerance
Democratic policing-
The police have lost support, especially in poorer area. This means their flow of information had died up. This means they must rely on military policing. However, this just creates further loss of cooperation. To win back support the police must involve the local community when deciding their priorities and they must focus on crimes that effect the disadvantaged. For example, DV and hate crimes are now of higher priority than soft drug use.
Multi agency approach-
crime control must involve multiple agencies apart from the police such as schools, youth services, housing departments, social services and the NHS. One example of a multi-agency is “No knives better lives” that aims to reduce knife crime. It involves a wide range of agencies including schools and the local councils.
Situational crime prevention-
increased risk or difficulty of committing crime. Based on Rational choice theory. Idea that criminals rationally (weighing up the risks and benefits). Include “target hardening” (locking cars, employing security guards).
One problem is if an offender finds a criminal act “to hard” due to strategies put in place they will go for a softer one.
Environmental crime prevention & zero tolerance -
tackle signs of disorder must be tackled (graffiti removed ext.) because deprived areas attract crime.
Also taking a “zero tolerance” stance towards all crime. Even the most trivial such as begging and vandalism.
Although crime fell after ZTP was introduced it can lead to targeting of ethnic minorities due to police racism
