Chapter Analisys of the Book on Criminological Theory Paper Example

Part I: Chapter Summary

Chapter 13 of this book provides definitions of the different rational theories including deterrence and cognitive theory. Moreover, it highlights various factors that lead to shifts toward the adoptions of conservative policies in an attempt to control runaway crime during the 70s and 80s. Additionally, scholars decry the lack of detailed theoretical investigations within the field of criminology, though several theorists presented their findings during this period that relate the intellectual heritage of the origins of these theories. A lack of criminological theories that account for the general rotational thinking results in a theoretical detour back to the theories of 200 years before. However, the chapter highlights the role played by individuals will in the commission of delinquent acts based on subjective judgments regarding the existence of opportunities and benefits that drive an offender to commit a crime.

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Part II: Answers to Chapter Questions

Critical Thinking Questions

According to theories discussed in this chapter, what can people do to prevent being victimized? Do we seem to blame victims who do not seem to do enough to avoid exposure to crime?

Various options are available that people can utilize in protecting themselves against cvivt8imization. To begin with, people can push for stricter penal sentences against offenders. For instance, governments resort to punitive measures that mete out harsher penalties against offenders as a form of deterrence against crimes. Second, incorporating the victim's opinions of when deciding on the severity and degree of punishments accorded to criminals. Third, governments can reintroduce social welfare and rehabilitation programs focused on fixing socioeconomic discrepancies that impel people to commit certain types of offenses. Four, by integrating criminology theories in understanding the relationship between offenders and victims. Finally, increasing understanding of how crime occurs and the underlying factors to limit the likelihood of becoming victimized.

Sometimes we tend to blame the victims of crimes for not doing enough to protect themselves against victimization. For example, the nature of an individuals lifestyle may place then in high-risk situations that expose them to crime. For example, people who have a higher "social role and structural potion" often do not expose themselves to "routine behaviors" that expose them to "victimization probabilities" (William & McShane, 2018). On the contrary, some individuals construct and follow social identities and roles that predispose themselves to social roles that lead them the potential to engage "in activities in time and space with greater risk levels" (William & McShane, 2018). For these groups whenever they are victimized, society tends to blame their lifestyle rather than the actual perpetrator.

Certain people and places appear to be more likely to experience crime according to rational theories; can you think of some examples of this?

According to rational theories the following places have the highest likelihood of crime occurring:

• Location where drugs dealers operate
• Shopping centers
• Nightclubs, bars, and other recreational places
• Neighborhoods that have fewer guardians or security officers
• Crime ridden hotspots within cities

After reading the theories in this chapter, does it appear that offenders use rationality, particularly a cost-benefit type of analysis before they commit crimes? What examples in the news support or conflict with this idea?

Yes, most offenders depend on a rational analysis of the costs and benefits of the offense to commit. Although some offenders may not necessarily perform in this analysis, some cases reflect the use of rationality by the offender. According to the rational choice theory, money is the primary motivation for a majority of burglary incidences. However, two factors determine the propensity of a perpetrator to commit an offense the involvement decision and event decisions. As indicated by these theories, law-abusing conduct ought to be seen as an occasion that happens when a wrongdoer chooses to risk disregarding the law in after his or her circumstances (requirement for money, moral attributes, life encounters) and situational factors (how well an objective is secured, how prosperous the area is, the effect of law enforcement agencies). Before carrying out wrongdoing, the rational criminal assesses the danger of the offenses, the degree, and severity of punishment, the benefit of the criminal event, and the potential gain from the offense.

Some examples in the local news that support this conclusion are the Bank of America robbery in Orion Township on March 21, 2019, in which an undetermined amount of money was lost (Coble, 2019). On March 13, 2019, another bank robbery occurred in Scottsdale, Arizona of a Wells Fargo bank branch (Detroit Free Press Staff, 2019).

Practice Essay Questions

Explain how crime theorists would describe a high-risk lifestyle.

Lifestyle crime theories hold that wrongdoing is a formative procedure guided by a continuous association between three factors (motivating force, opportunity, and decision). Amid each stage of the criminal way of life, motivating force, opportunity, and decision taken on various qualities and implications. Existential fear acts as the motivating factor for an individual to participate in the crime. Once started, the impetus for pursuing a criminal way of life becomes so enticing that the offender cannot conceive of life devoid of the benefits that crime confers. Soon as individual begins to maintain a semblance of a normal life, his motivation for engaging in crime transforms to that of foreign change to the status quo built upon the proceeds of crime.

What is meant by "soft" free will and how is this related to crime?

In theoretical criminology soft free will refers to the ability of individuals to decide about when to commit crimes. Besides that, soft free will is an assumption that an individual chooses to engage in crime willfully knowing that they are transgressing against the social order (William & McShane, 2018).

Describe the types of data that would be collected by routine activities theorists.

Routine activities theorists collect data related to general patterns of social activities during studies - these data includes spatial and temporal data regarding leisure activities, family, and working patterns. A key concept during the data collection exercises is that the structure of data impacts on the sorts of circumstances that alter the social balance in a community resulting in the occurrence of criminal offenses. Another key concept that this that reveals is that individuals react to stimulus from their external environment which determines the manner, frequency, and intensity of offenses.

Discuss the three elements of an offense according to Cohen and Felson.

Cohen and Felson's Routine Activities theory contends that a relationship exists between the nature of criminal offenses and the routine of everyday social life. Essentially, the theory claims that social demographics predict an offender's likelihood to commit an offense. For example, unmarried youth who spend time out at night have a higher likelihood of participating in high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, as they frequent high-risk locations and situations. According to this theory, they postulate three elements that determine how "predatory criminal events or... victimization" occurs (William & McShane, 2018). The first element refers to an offender's motivation which propels them to criminality. In the second element, Cohen and Felson discuss the role played by the allure of a "suitable target," which compels people to engage in criminal activities. Finally, the third element that predicates the occurrence of offenses asserts that the absence of guardians capable of hiring the commission of offense explains why crime levels rise over time (William & McShane, 2018).

Besides that, Cohen and Felson focused on the role that social disorganization plays in creating opportunities for criminal behavior. Subsequently, the combination and presence of these three elements create favorable conditions necessary for an offense to occur. Thus, the routine activities theory helps explain why crime occurs in a specific location. For example, placing one in risky situations (drug abuse, being out at night, gang affiliation, associating with delinquents, and dating) increases the possibility of experiencing violence against the self. Additionally, these situations increase an individual's exposure, and proximity to violence increases the likelihood of one becoming a victim or perpetrator of an offense. In investigating the role of social changes, Cohen and Felson provide logical connections of the impact of more significant changes in societies that provide suitable grounds for offensive actions. Although motivated offenders are few, the interrelationship of the last two elements ensures that offenses increase over time.

References

Coble, D. (2019, March 13). Scottsdale police seek bank robbery suspect. Retrieved from https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale-breaking/2019/03/13/scottsdale-police-seek-wells-fargo-bank-robbery-suspect/3157446002/

Detroit Free Press Staff. (2019, March 22). Suspect sought in string of Detroit area bank robberies. Retrieved from https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/03/22/bank-robbery-orion-shelby-chesterfield-township/3246540002/

William III, F.P. & McShane, M. D. (2018). Criminological theory. New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education.