Recent Sociological Approaches to Crime Pt.2 Flashcards
Rational Choice Theory
Criminals are rational actors
In rational choice theory Human behaviour is
the result of conscious decision-making
“Expected utility” principle
Crime is calculated and deliberate
Crime is influenced by variations of (R.E.O.T)
-risk of detection
-environment
- opportunity
-target
Criticism of Rational Choice Theory
- Is everyone capable of making a rational decision?
- Better at explaining “instrumental” rather than “expressive” crimes
Routine Activity Theory
-Cohen and Felson (1979)
-Crime is likely to occur when:
* a motivated offender
* suitable victim
* in an environment that does not provide protection to the potential victim
General increase in youth crime is the result of
- changes in education, work, technology
- rise in the number of temptations
- decline in parental controls
criticism of Routine Activity Theory
- Opportunities to commit crime do not necessarily lead to crime even when controls are absent.
- What about crime displacement?
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design was first introduced by
Jeffery in 1971
“defensible space”
Four main ideas of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Natural surveillance
- Natural access control
- Territorial reinforcement
- Maintenance
Criticisms of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
- Other crime prevention strategies are overlooked
- “Good citizens” versus “bad offenders” stereotypes
- not based on an accurate risk assessment
- “Responsibilization” of clients to become willing participants
Risk and Actuarial Criminology
Focus on understanding emerging forms of social control.
- Power is now localized in a wide array of institutions each of which has specialized techniques for discipline.
-Corrections, risk, and actuarial analyses focus on risk management, recognizing the system is incapable of rehabilitating offenders
What approach is the above text talking about
Risk and Actuarial Criminology
Risk and Actuarial Criminology Criticism
Comprehension of the language used in this theory is problematic and is accessible to a relatively small group of experts in the area.
Instrumental crimes
Instrumental crimes involve some planning and weighing of risks and include offences such as breaking and entering, accounting fraud, and embezzlement.
Expressive crimes
Expressive crimes are often impulsive and emotional such that people who commit these acts are not likely to be concerned at the time of their commission with the future implications of these actions.
Using routine activity theory explain how females & males got into less trouble during the 19th century
During the nineteenth century in the United States, the average age of marriage for females was 16 or 17 and about 18 for males. Given the fact that children arrived shortly thereafter, these young adults had little time for getting involved in the types of activities that would lead to trouble.
Routine activity, rational choice, and environmental criminology (such as CPTED) are examples of approaches to crime that suggest the most effective way to..?
to deal with crime is to reduce the opportunities to commit crime.
What assumption do Routine activity, rational choice, and environmental criminology (such as CPTED) share?
they all share the assumption that problematic social environments help to produce social deviants.
Why are both A General Theory of Crime and general strain theory considered general theories of crime?
A General Theory of Crime and General Strain Theory are considered general theories of crime because they attempt to explain a wide range of criminal behaviors.
On what grounds is rational choice theory considered by some to be a general theory of crime?
Rational Choice Theory is considered a general theory of crime by some because it assumes that individuals make rational choices based on the potential costs and benefits of their actions. Hence supporting explanations for a wide range of crime
