crim exam 1 Flashcards
social learning theory
Human beings are a blank slate with no predetermined human nature in regards to criminal activity or norms violation. Individuals will commit crime if positive definitions of crime outweigh the negative definitions of crime.
incapacitation
The custodial control of convicted offenders so that they cannot commit crimes that affect the general public. Assumes 3 things; that some offenders are repeat offenders, offenders who are taken off the street are not immediately replaced by other offenders, and prison does not increase crime by changing inmates in ways that offset the reduction of crime from incapacitation. We are reducing theoretical future crime.
strain vs subcultural theory
Strain theory believes that human beings are by nature benevolent and not inclined toward criminal activity and norm violation. Crime is a result of a disparity between the ideals of society and opportunity that is available. Subcultural is the same as strain and attempts to explain why violent behavior and certain other types of crime are disproportionately represented in certain neighborhoods. New value systems arise in communities that are in direct conflict with the dominant value structure. Crime is the result of one group abiding by a value system that is not condoned by larger societies.
rational choice theory
Rational choice argues that humans are rational actors. Crime must be the result of the rational calculation of humans. it argued that much of criminal activity has to do with the net payoff of crime relative to law abiding activity. This includes personal pleasure, survival, and money/objects. punishments and consequences require severity, certainty, and celerity.
control theory
Control theory assumes that people naturally would commit crimes if left to their own devices. This theory is interested in why people do not commit crime. Control theorists believe that there are social restraints on each person and crime occurs when restraining forces are weakened. Restraints would be attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
labeling theory
Human nature is indeterminable. Why people commit crime is less important than how people respond to that crime. people that are labeled criminal often have opportunities taken away and start to live up to the label which results in more crime. There is no point to searching for the innate or social causes of primary deviation; a behavior that violates a social norm but that does not affect an individuals psychological structure and performance of social rules.
UCR vs NCVS
The UCR is compiled by the FBI. It records all information that is recorded by police departments. Cannot track unreported crime and only records one crime per criminal event to avoid inflation of criminality.
NCVS records data from victims of crime, typically assault, burglary, larceny-theft, rape, and robbery. Conducted by telephone and reports more aggravated assault, robbery, and forcible rape than the UCR because of unreported crime.
conflict theory
Conflict theory does not assume anything about human nature because human nature is determined by conflict. Society is generally run by conflict. Social life is shaped by groups and people who struggle or compete with one another over resources and rewards, resulting in particular distributions of wealth, power, and prestige in societies and other systems. Interests ultimately determine values.
constructivist vs positivist perspectives
Constructivist is a broad perspective that attempts to explain the creation of deviant categories. positivist is a broad perspective that attempts to explain why people do what they do. the creation of crime vs why is happens.
theory vs argument
theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
argument is a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong.
You can have an argument for or against a theory
due process vs crime control models
for due process freedom is so important that every effort must be made to ensure the decisions are fair and reliable, based on law and formal proceedings. It’s the protection of individual rights. For crime control model every effort must be made to reduce crime. the emphasis is on catching, convicting, and disposing of a high proportion of offenders. CCM is characterized by efficiency, speed, uniformity, informality, and finality.
deterrence vs retribution
deterrence emphasizes the use of punishment in the prevention of crime. Can be specific or general. Retribution does not care about deterring other criminals, instead focuses on the best form of punishment. The morally best form is something that is tantamount to the act committed by the offender.
