4.1 - Criminological Theories In Policy Development Flashcards
What was the movement of eugenics describing?
The belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human race.
What did eugenicists fear?
They feared that the human race was in danger of degenerating due to the poor breeding at a faster rate.
They believe the poor passed on inferior genes - low intelligence, insanity, poverty, and criminality.
What did eugenicists believe about criminality?
That it could be possible to breed out criminal behaviour.
This would be done through sterilisation.
How many people were sterilised in the North Carolina programme?
76,000 people
What were the characteristics of those deemed “unfit to breed”?
Mentally unfit mostly
What theory does eugenics link to?
Twin and adoption studies
The idea that criminality is genetic, and can be breeded out.
What percentage of biological siblings raised in different environments both had a chance of committing a crime?
30%
What percentage of adoptive siblings raised in the same environment had a chance of committing a crime?
8%
What are informal policy meetings ?
Community meetings to set out how to control crime, establishment or neighborhood groups
What is formal policy meeting?
Include society using state crime control policies to reduce or prevent crime or punishment policies to punish offenders agreed upon by institutions such as prisons and/or government.
What is the death penalty?
(Capital punishment)
When a government/state executes someone, typically due to them committing a serious crime
Describe one method of the death penalty.
The lethal injection
Most injections are composed of midazolam (to sedate), vecuronium bromide (to paralyse muscles), potassium chloride (to stop heart).
Limitation -> controversy as it may not make you as unconscious as it is believed to.
