Definitions
People learn how to interact with crime based on the way the people around them do.
What is Social Learning Theory?
Marx (laid the groundwork, discussed class systems), and Engels (applied Marx’s theories to law) etc.
What is Conflict Theory?
KC man Chris Harris bought land and turned it into a clean park for the community, which brought down crime rates and increased neighborhood safety because of this theory.
What is Social Disorganization Theory?
Hot-spot policing and focus deterrence
What is Rational Choice Theory?
This theory does not explain crimes of passion or impulse, does not account for social, economic, or cultural causes of crime.
What is Rational Choice Theory?
Crime persists because of the presence of a motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of a capable guardian.
What is Routine Activities Theory?
Theory developed by Sutherland (differential association) and Akers (the theory as we know it)
What is Social Learning Theory?
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina led to spikes in crimes such as theft in the affected areas.
What is Strain theory?
Mentoring programs like big brother big sister that influence the way children look at crime.
What is Social Learning Theory?
Doesn’t explain crime itself very well, too cynical of a view of law, paints the world very black and white as people with power and people without. Does not account for intersections of those groups.
What is Conflict Theory?
The idea that there should be more focus on how a person is treated in the criminal justice system as opposed to just focusing on the resolution.
What is Procedural Justice?
Lombroso (people are born delinquent, the father of criminology)
What is the Biological Theory of crime?
A woman named Kenya Bussey called the police repeatedly about her abusive ex-boyfriend, they never did anything, she lost faith in the police‘s ability to help her, her ex-boyfriend ended up killing her new boyfriend. Application of this could have stopped this from happening.
What is Procedural Justice?
Neighborhood watch programs, community centers, etc.
What is Social Disorganization Theory?
Neglects free will and morals, highly stereotypical, leaves out social factors of crimes, ignores the influence of nurture.
What are Biological Theories of Crime?
Crime rates vary by neighborhood structure, not individuals.
What is Social Disorganization Theory?
Herschi (the four bonds), Reckless (containment theory), etc.
What is Control Theory?
The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynzki, committed his crimes because of extreme social isolation.
What is Control Theory?
Affordable housing, affordable education, anti-bullying campaigns.
What is Strain Theory?
Limited attention to structural inequality/motivation, explains petty and violent crime but not white-collar crime.
What is Routine Activities Theory?
People do not commit crimes if they believe that the cost/likelihood of being caught and punished is too high.
What is Deterrence Theory?
Lemert (primary deviance vs secondary deviance), Tenenbaum (development of criminal identity), etc.
What is Labeling Theory?
Albert Bandura conducted an experiment exposing children to adults being violent towards a clown doll, then left the children alone in a room with the same clown doll and watched if the child also acted violently towards it.
What is Social Learning Theory?
Bias reduction in the Justice System, reforms on mandatory minimums.
What is Procedural Justice?
Punishment targets the criminal, not the crime, power moves from a spectacle to surveillance.
What is Procedural Justice?