Criminology and its implications on Public | Assignments Criminology

Criminology and its implications on Public Policy

The role of criminologists in our society is to study data and form theories on how to deter crime,

based on they find in that data. They then advise criminal justice policy makers on how to

implement these theories into a public (social) policy. The concept of public policy is based on a

series of theories constituted by criminologists and sociologist, and put into practice by

lawmakers. Each theory in group is comprised of its own subset of theories. Choice theory, trait

theory, social structure theory, social process theory, and developmental theory all contributed to

the formation of social policy. Choice theory has four base theories, which have separate policy

implications: rational choice, general deterrence, specific deterrence, and incapacitation theories.

Trait theory is comprised of two major themes, with policy factors: primary prevention

programs, and secondary prevention programs. Social structure theory deals with concepts such

as conventional rewards and values of American society, and dealing with the stratification that

our capitalist society dictates. Social process theory, which is concerned with the way people

learn crime through each other, and argues that if criminal behavior is learned, then it can be

unlearned as well. Developmental theory policy involves multi-systemic treatments aimed at

children who are at risk for turning to criminality. It is through understanding each of these

theory groups and the subsets of theories that mold them that you will have an appreciation of

how social policy is formed, and begin to see amendments needed in these policies to make them

work efficiently.

Choice Theory

Choice theory has four policy based theories which are established on the “just desert” concept

that severe punishment deters crime. These theories are rational choice, general deterrence,

specific deterrence, and incapacitation theories. Rational choice theory states that crime is based

on a person weighing what they personally need or want against their own situation and whether

or not the risks are worth the benefits of committing the crime. General deterrence theory digs

deeper into the risks versus benefits of committing the crime. It also believes that if punishment

for a crime is severe, certain, and swift that most people would deem the risks far greater than the

benefits. Specific Deterrence focuses in on sever punishments to make sure the offender learns

their lesson and never commits the crime again. Incapacitation theory states that by keeping

criminals out of general population reduces the rates of crime. In essence, choice theory plays a

part in building social policy because it makes sure that society knows that crime is not

acceptable to the society that we currently live in.

Trait Theory

Trait theory is based on the premise that crime is committed because criminals have either

mental or physical defects. The theories are composed of: biological trait theory which supposes

that biochemical genetic, and neurophysiologic conditions cause crime, and psychological trait

theory which assumes that mental issues are the causation of crime Public policies developed

from these theories include primary prevention programs which focus on the treatment of

individual personal issues and defects before they display themselves through criminal activities,

and secondary prevention programs which focus on psychological therapy to prevent people

Partial preview of the text

Download Criminology and its implications on Public and more Assignments Criminology in PDF only on Docsity!

Criminology and its implications on Public Policy The role of criminologists in our society is to study data and form theories on how to deter crime, based on they find in that data. They then advise criminal justice policy makers on how to implement these theories into a public (social) policy. The concept of public policy is based on a series of theories constituted by criminologists and sociologist, and put into practice by lawmakers. Each theory in group is comprised of its own subset of theories. Choice theory, trait theory, social structure theory, social process theory, and developmental theory all contributed to the formation of social policy. Choice theory has four base theories, which have separate policy implications: rational choice, general deterrence, specific deterrence, and incapacitation theories. Trait theory is comprised of two major themes, with policy factors: primary prevention programs, and secondary prevention programs. Social structure theory deals with concepts such as conventional rewards and values of American society, and dealing with the stratification that our capitalist society dictates. Social process theory, which is concerned with the way people learn crime through each other, and argues that if criminal behavior is learned, then it can be unlearned as well. Developmental theory policy involves multi-systemic treatments aimed at children who are at risk for turning to criminality. It is through understanding each of these theory groups and the subsets of theories that mold them that you will have an appreciation of how social policy is formed, and begin to see amendments needed in these policies to make them work efficiently. Choice Theory Choice theory has four policy based theories which are established on the “just desert” concept that severe punishment deters crime. These theories are rational choice, general deterrence, specific deterrence, and incapacitation theories. Rational choice theory states that crime is based on a person weighing what they personally need or want against their own situation and whether or not the risks are worth the benefits of committing the crime. General deterrence theory digs deeper into the risks versus benefits of committing the crime. It also believes that if punishment for a crime is severe, certain, and swift that most people would deem the risks far greater than the benefits. Specific Deterrence focuses in on sever punishments to make sure the offender learns their lesson and never commits the crime again. Incapacitation theory states that by keeping criminals out of general population reduces the rates of crime. In essence, choice theory plays a part in building social policy because it makes sure that society knows that crime is not acceptable to the society that we currently live in. Trait Theory Trait theory is based on the premise that crime is committed because criminals have either mental or physical defects. The theories are composed of: biological trait theory which supposes that biochemical genetic, and neurophysiologic conditions cause crime, and psychological trait theory which assumes that mental issues are the causation of crime Public policies developed from these theories include primary prevention programs which focus on the treatment of individual personal issues and defects before they display themselves through criminal activities, and secondary prevention programs which focus on psychological therapy to prevent people

from violating laws, and tertiary programs which focus on helping criminals make their way back to operating under normal social rules and conventions. It is through these policies that programs such as mental health associations, family therapy groups, and substance abuse clinics have been opened. It is also through these polices, that rehabilitation programs such as halfway houses, anger management classes, other programs have been implemented throughout our criminal justice system spanning the entire course of criminal development from preventing children from turning to crime in the first place, to rehabilitation of criminals already incarcerated in our prisons and jails. Social Structure Theory Social structure theorists believe that it is the socioeconomic structure of our society, which causes crime. These theories focus on the social and economic structures of our society working together to cause lower class people to turn to crime to achieve goals and success because they do not have conventional means to do so. These theories fall into three categories: social disorganization, which deals with the actual stratification of our society, strain theory that discusses the difference in classes, and the means they have to achieve success. There is also cultural deviance, which argues that people who turn to criminality do so for relief of the strain caused by not having the means to attain conventional success. This causes them to form their own subcultures, which accept and even condone criminal behavior. Policy implementations on social structure theory have been important to the lower class society, with programs such as welfare, Aid to Dependent Children, food stamps, Head Start programs, neighborhood self help legal services, extra help with education, and job opportunities, and recreational programs to children who would not have access to these without federal help. Social Process Theory These theories are based on the principle to people having adverse relationships with family, peers, and institutions they are around on a normal basis cause crime. Family relationships play a large part in deciding criminality. If the relationships are positive then anyone can succeed within the normal boundaries of law. It is when these relationships are negative that the criminality is formed. Since they cannot realistically expect to succeed in the acceptable ways of society, committing crimes may be their only practical way to achieve success sought after by most members of American society. This subgroup of theories includes, social learning which denotes that criminals learn criminal behavior from other criminals. Differential association theory proposes that people learn to commit crime through antisocial definitions. Neutralization theory, where criminals drift between conventional acceptable behaviors and criminal behavior learning to rationalize crime and their behavior, by neutralizing moral restraints with ideas such as the victim had it coming to them. Social reaction theory (Labeling Theory) states that people enter into criminality when labeled negatively for behavior committed or social groups one may belong in. It goes on to assume that once labeled, always labeled, therefore people organize their personalities around the label. Social control theorists follow the logic that we are all born potential criminals, and that it is our ties to conventional society, that keep most everyone from committing crime. These ties are formed through family, peers, mentors, and institutions, and when these social bonds do not exist, it is easier for people to commit crime. Implications of policy effects more young people than already hardened criminals, because after the age of

Social Learning Principles in Prevention and Treatment Programs Social learning theory proposes that criminal and delinquent behavior is acquired and sustained through association, reinforcement, definitions, imitation, and other learning processes. The application of social learning theory is found in programs designed, directly or indirectly, to affect associations, reinforcement, definitions and attitudes, modeling and imitation, discriminative stimuli, and other learning and variables by which behavior is acquired and changed. The general prediction is that the greater the degree to which an intervention project is designed or otherwise reflects these social learning principles, the greater the effectiveness of the program in preventing, controlling, or countering delinquent or criminal behavior.

Criminology and its implications on Public, Assignments of Criminology

Related documents

Partial preview of the text

Download Criminology and its implications on Public and more Assignments Criminology in PDF only on Docsity!