Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Crime and Delinquency Chapter 10 Crime and Delinquency This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease or lending of the program.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Myth or Fact? Many crimes are committed by people who are otherwise considered quite respectable by themselves and others. Many crimes are committed by people who are otherwise considered quite respectable by themselves and others. Crimes are committed by the less educated people of society. FactMyth

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Explanations of Crime Biological explanations view crime as arising from people’s physical constitution or genetic makeup. Psychological explanations view crime as being linked to personality disorders or maladjustments, often developing during childhood.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Functionalist Perspective Crime arises in part from the weakened bonds to family, church, and community. Crime arises in part from the weakened bonds to family, church, and community. Anomie theory views crime as a consequence of the inconsistency or confusion between the goals people are taught to strive for and the culturally approved means they have available to achieve these goals. Anomie theory views crime as a consequence of the inconsistency or confusion between the goals people are taught to strive for and the culturally approved means they have available to achieve these goals.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists argue that it is powerful groups in society that decide which crimes will be considered serious problems and who will be arrested and sent to jail for committing crimes. Conflict theorists argue that it is powerful groups in society that decide which crimes will be considered serious problems and who will be arrested and sent to jail for committing crimes. Contradictions in capitalism are also a source of crime. Contradictions in capitalism are also a source of crime.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Interactionist Perspective Cultural transmission theories posit that crimes are learned and culturally transmitted through socialization. Cultural transmission theories posit that crimes are learned and culturally transmitted through socialization. Differential association theory sees crime as learned through interaction with other people Differential association theory sees crime as learned through interaction with other people Labeling theory suggests that whether other people define or label a person as deviant is a critical determinant in the development of a pattern of deviant behavior. Labeling theory suggests that whether other people define or label a person as deviant is a critical determinant in the development of a pattern of deviant behavior.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Crime and Crime Data Crime Crime an act that violates a criminal code enacted by an officially constituted political authority. an act that violates a criminal code enacted by an officially constituted political authority. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publishes an annual document called the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), which summarizes the crime statistics collected by law enforcement agencies each month publishes an annual document called the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), which summarizes the crime statistics collected by law enforcement agencies each month

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Types of Crime Juvenile Delinquency Victimless Crime White-Collar Crime Organized and Globalized Crime Cybercrime Property Crime Violent Crime

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Crime Rate in the U.S. According to the FBI, According to the FBI, the crime and delinquency rates in the U.S. have been rising for a number of decades the crime and delinquency rates in the U.S. have been rising for a number of decades the rise appears to have leveled off in the 1980s and declined somewhat since the early 1990s. the rise appears to have leveled off in the 1980s and declined somewhat since the early 1990s. Some crime increases may reflect a likelihood to report crime rather than a increase in the incidence of crime. Some crime increases may reflect a likelihood to report crime rather than a increase in the incidence of crime.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Who are the Criminals? Gender Gender Males have higher rates of involvement in practically all forms of criminality. Males have higher rates of involvement in practically all forms of criminality. Age Age Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement. Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement. Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic Status The relationship between socioeconomic status and crime is probably more complicated and may be weak. The relationship between socioeconomic status and crime is probably more complicated and may be weak. Race Race Differences in arrest rates between racial groups exist; however, they may merely reflect biases of the criminal justice system, such as the likelihood of arrest. Differences in arrest rates between racial groups exist; however, they may merely reflect biases of the criminal justice system, such as the likelihood of arrest.

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Who are the Victims? Twenty-three out of every one thousand Americans are crime victims each year. Twenty-three out of every one thousand Americans are crime victims each year. Race and sex affect rates of victimization with males and blacks considerably more likely to be victims. Race and sex affect rates of victimization with males and blacks considerably more likely to be victims. Offenders are often the victims of other criminals. Offenders are often the victims of other criminals.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Criminal Justice System The Police The Police The police have much discretion and sometimes do not receive the support of the public or the court. The police have much discretion and sometimes do not receive the support of the public or the court. The courts The courts There is substantial case attrition following arrest. There is substantial case attrition following arrest. Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of all convictions for criminal offenses. Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of all convictions for criminal offenses.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Criminal Justice System Sentencing and Punishment Sentencing and Punishment The criminal justice system has become more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” legislation and “blended sentencing.” The criminal justice system has become more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” legislation and “blended sentencing.” The Prisons The Prisons The rate of incarceration has quadrupled since The rate of incarceration has quadrupled since Prison overcrowding makes it harder to achieve the goal of rehabilitation. Prison overcrowding makes it harder to achieve the goal of rehabilitation.

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Future Prospects To control crime, social reforms that have an impact on the social conditions that cause crime are needed. To control crime, social reforms that have an impact on the social conditions that cause crime are needed. The legalization of some crimes would free police to deal with the more serious crimes. The legalization of some crimes would free police to deal with the more serious crimes. The police could institute new law enforcement procedures that would allow them to capture the most serious offenders. The police could institute new law enforcement procedures that would allow them to capture the most serious offenders. The courts could be made more effective through judicial reform. The courts could be made more effective through judicial reform.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Future Prospects Alternatives to prison and prison reform could be enacted to improve the effectiveness of social control mechanisms. Alternatives to prison and prison reform could be enacted to improve the effectiveness of social control mechanisms. There could also be a reduction in the environmental opportunities to commit crimes. There could also be a reduction in the environmental opportunities to commit crimes. More opportunities for victim restitution could be established through programs and policies. More opportunities for victim restitution could be established through programs and policies.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance There is a strong cultural emphasis on success goals in America. There is a strong cultural emphasis on success goals in America. Everyone is socialized to aspire toward high achievement and success. Everyone is socialized to aspire toward high achievement and success. Competitiveness and success are glorified by public authorities, taught in schools, and glamorized in the media Competitiveness and success are glorified by public authorities, taught in schools, and glamorized in the media Worth is judged by material and monetary success. Worth is judged by material and monetary success.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance There is a discrepancy between means and goals for obtaining success There is a discrepancy between means and goals for obtaining success Disadvantaged groups do not have equal access to such legitimate opportunities. Disadvantaged groups do not have equal access to such legitimate opportunities. This anomic condition produces strain or pressure on these groups to take advantage of whatever effective means to success they can find. This anomic condition produces strain or pressure on these groups to take advantage of whatever effective means to success they can find.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance Merton proposed five ways of responding to (or adapting to) goals verse the means. Merton proposed five ways of responding to (or adapting to) goals verse the means. Conformity: Most common response Conformity: Most common response Innovation: Typical criminal response Innovation: Typical criminal response Ritualism: Habitual response Ritualism: Habitual response Retreatism: Typical of drug use or “hobos” Retreatism: Typical of drug use or “hobos” Rebellion: Seeking radical change Rebellion: Seeking radical change

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance AdaptationsGoalsMeans ConformityAccept InnovationAcceptReject RitualismRejectAccept RetreatismReject RebellionReplace

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Opportunity Theory Sociologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1960) suggested that for deviance to occur, people must have access illegitimate opportunity structures: Sociologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1960) suggested that for deviance to occur, people must have access illegitimate opportunity structures: Circumstances that provide an opportunity for people to acquire through illegitimate activities what they cannot achieve through legitimate channels. Circumstances that provide an opportunity for people to acquire through illegitimate activities what they cannot achieve through legitimate channels.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Differential Association Theory Perspectives States that people have a greater tendency to deviate from societal norms when they frequently associate with individuals who are more favorable toward deviance than conformity. States that people have a greater tendency to deviate from societal norms when they frequently associate with individuals who are more favorable toward deviance than conformity. From this approach, criminal behavior is learned within intimate personal groups such as one’s family and peer groups From this approach, criminal behavior is learned within intimate personal groups such as one’s family and peer groups

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Differential Reinforcement Theory Criminologist Ronald Akers (1998) combined differential association theory with elements of psychological learning theory to create differential reinforcement theory. Criminologist Ronald Akers (1998) combined differential association theory with elements of psychological learning theory to create differential reinforcement theory. If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “right,” they is more likely to engage in deviant behavior. If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “right,” they is more likely to engage in deviant behavior. If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “wrong,” the person is less likely to engage in that behavior. If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “wrong,” the person is less likely to engage in that behavior.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Bond Theory The probability of deviant behavior increases when a person’s ties to society are weakened or broken. The probability of deviant behavior increases when a person’s ties to society are weakened or broken. According to Travis Hirschi, social bonding consists of According to Travis Hirschi, social bonding consists of attachment to other people attachment to other people commitment to conformity commitment to conformity involvement in conventional activities involvement in conventional activities belief in the legitimacy of conventional norms. belief in the legitimacy of conventional norms.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Labeling Theory Attempts to explain why some people are viewed as deviants while others are not; also known as societal-reaction approach. Attempts to explain why some people are viewed as deviants while others are not; also known as societal-reaction approach. The act of fixing a person with a negative identity (label), such as “criminal” is directly related to the power of those who do the labeling and those being labeled. The act of fixing a person with a negative identity (label), such as “criminal” is directly related to the power of those who do the labeling and those being labeled.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Stages in the Labeling Process Primary deviance is believed to be unorganized, inconsistent, and infrequent. Without social reaction, the deviance would most likely remain sporadic and unorganized. Primary deviance is believed to be unorganized, inconsistent, and infrequent. Without social reaction, the deviance would most likely remain sporadic and unorganized. Secondary deviance occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant accepts the identity and continues the deviant behavior. Secondary deviance occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant accepts the identity and continues the deviant behavior. Tertiary deviance occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant seeks to normalize the behavior by relabeling it as non-deviant. Tertiary deviance occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant seeks to normalize the behavior by relabeling it as non-deviant.