Chapter 4: Choice Theory Flashcards
What is Rational Choice Theory
Rational Choice- crime is result of decison making process where costs and benefits of crime are weighed
Rational Choice Theory - people choose to engage in delinquent and criminal behaviour of weighing cons and benefits of actions
Concept of Ration Choice
- Criminality is product of careful thought and planning
- Offender chooses to engage in criminal behaviour
Decision based on:
- personal needs
- situational factors
- risk of apprehension
- seriousness of punishment
- value of criminal enterprise
- immediate need for criminal gain
Rational Choice Theory- structuring criminality
Desist from crime:
- future criminal earnings too low
- attractive and legal opportunities to earn income are available
Motivated towards crime:
-know others who have been successful criminals
RCT: Structuring Criminality- choices and is it rational
Choose the place and targets
Street crimes- while unplanned may also include careful risk assessment
Drug use - use is controlled by rational decision making
Why do people commit Crime
more attractive alternative to legal behaviour
Edgework- excitement of completeing illegal activity in dangerous situation
Seductions of Crime
Situational Crime Prevention
proactive approached is to reduce opportunities for for crime by increasing risks and decreasing rewards
Crime can occur when three components converge right place right time
- motivated potential offender
- suitable target
- lack of capable guardianship
Strategies:
- increase effort required
- increase risks of committing
- reduce rewards
- reduce provocations
- remove excuses of engaging in crime
Consequences and Advantages of Situational crime prevention
Consequences of situation crime prevention
- displacement - shifts illegal activities elsewhere
- Extinction - impact of crime prevention method disappears as criminals adjust to new conditions
Advantages:
- discouragement - limiting access to one target reduces other types of crime
- diffusion of benefits - efforts to prevent one kind of crime prevents another
General Deterrence
Crime control policy that depends on fear of criminal penalties
Certainty of Punishment: Deterrence Theory
If certainty of arrest, conviction and sanctioning increase, crime rates should decline
Why do they persist?
- small change of getting arrested for particular crime
- police reluctant to make arrests even if aware of crime
- lenient punishments
Level of Police Activity: Deterrence theory
Increasing # of police should decrease crime rate
research shows not the case
more police isn’t enough- effect policing could reduce crime
Severity of Punishment: General Deterrence
stricter punishments may not reduce criminal activities
Swiftness of Punishment: Deterrence theory
people believe they will be punished quickly, will not commit crime
mixed evidence
needs to be combined with harsh punishments
Informal Sanctions: General Deterrence
Disapproval, stigma or anger towards offender or those close to them
may be more effective than formal ones
anti crime campaigns play on fear of shame
Critique of General Deterrence
assumes rational offenders
legal system limits certainty, speed, and swiftness of consequences
threats of sanctions irrelevant to risk risk offenders because they have little to lose and crime necessity for survival
Specific Deterrence Theory
Advances that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that offenders never repeat criminal acts
Does it work:
Chronic offenders- little effect since 2/3 of offenders are re-arrested
