Theories of Crime - Week 2

Question 1

3 Innovative ideas

Answer 1

1) Rights
2) Reason - Humans rational beings that think of their options which are both negative and positive
- individuals will choose to engage in behaviours if will bring the best outcome
- individuals are responsible for their choices they make in the outcomes
3) Hedonism - pursuit of pleasure
- individuals are drawn to behaviour which bring some most pleasure
- example: A student watching Netflix or going out rather than doing school

Question 2

Social Contract

Answer 2

People living in social groups

Laws apply to all people even those with power and wealth

Question 3

Cesare Beccaria

Answer 3

Crimes and punishment
Crime like all human behaviour is a result of rational choice to maximize pleasure in minimize pain
Punishment is not about revenge but deterrence
Three things are necessary for punishments to deter individuals from crime
1)Swift
2)Certain
3)Proportional to crime

Question 4

Swift

Answer 4

Trial quick
Conviction immediately
Punishment right after
This creates association association between idea crime and punishment

Question 5

Certain

Answer 5

Individuals should know what punishment is and will be absolutely subject to it
Inescapable

Question 6

Proportional

Answer 6

Punishments are consistent
Fit the seriousness of the crime
Crime seriousness = amount of harm to society

Question 7

Three categories of crime in order of seriousness

Answer 7

1) crime against state and representatives
2) crimes that injure security and property
3) crime that disturb public peace

Question 8

General Deterrence

Answer 8

Deterred by seeing, hearing or learning about someone else’s punishment
We will be dissuaded from engaging in crime by hearing about consequences we will face

Question 9

Specific deterrence

Answer 9

Individuals will choose not to commit crime again if they've already been punished for it
Parents believe that this works
Three popular areas of deterrence is
1) drunk driving
2) drug dealing
3) Capital punishment

Question 10

Routine Activity Theory

Felson & Cohen

Answer 10

Amount of criminal offences that occur related to the nature of every day patterns of social interactions & human behaviour

Question 11

Cohen and Felson

Answer 11

State for any predatory criminal or victimizing event to occur three things must be necessary

Question 12

3 Things Necessary

Answer 12

1). Motivated offender
2). Suitable target
3). Absence of a capable Guardian
With these three they create the opportunity to commit crime