intro lecture

Question 1

what is criminology and why is it important?

Answer 1

• the scientific study of nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior
• why certain people follow rules but others don’t

Question 2

why does criminology focus on juveniles?

Answer 2

• age is considered one of the “facts” of crime
• juveniles make up 7% of pop. but 15% of all arrests and 25% of serious violence
  -crime disproportionately committed by juveniles

Question 3

age crime curve

Answer 3

• shows a trend wherein criminal offenses peak sharply around age 12-13 and then declines sharply around age 22-23

Question 4

increase in offending entering adolescence

Answer 4

• attachment to family decreases and attachment to peers increases
• time spent with family decreases and time spent with friends increases
• begin to associate with individuals who are more crime prone
• biological desire to be an adult and do adult things

Question 5

decline in offending in young adulthood

Answer 5

• begin to enter pro-social relationships that are compromised by arrest (marriage, employment)
• realization that delinquency is not rewarded
• become “socially” an adult
• become better decision makers