SELF-TEST  Why do people commit crime? Brainstorm reasons for criminal behavior based on these three catagories: Social Social Economic Economic Biological Biological

Nature vs. Nurture debate Well you look like a duck, quack like a duck but….Who brought you up?

What do people become criminals? NATURE vs. NURTURE  NATURE: Criminals are born, not made Biological Theories – Genetic or Physiological make-up leads to criminal behavior. Biological Theories – Genetic or Physiological make-up leads to criminal behavior. Personality Theories – certain types inclined to crime Personality Theories – certain types inclined to crime  NURTURE: Social Learning – learned criminal ways: Cultural Transmission Theory

NATURE THEORIES About what makes someone a Criminal

Old School nature theories about criminals:  Cesare Lombroso (1876) criminals are a separate species.  Theory: shape of the head and face determined the "born criminal".

CRIMINAL HEADS ACCORDING TO LOMBROSO

CRIMINAL BODY TYPE???

ACTUAL CRIMINALS SMALLISH HEADS?

 Another Old School NATURE Theory:  William Sheldon Body types determined criminality. 1. Endomorphic (fat ) sociable and relaxed. 2. Ectomorphic (thin) are introverted and restrained. LEAST LIKELY TO BE CRIMINALS 3. Mesomorphic = CRIMINAL (muscular and aggressive). IDENTIFY SOME FLAWS IN THIS THEORY?

Neurophysiological causes  PET (brain) scans done on impulsive killers showed: Damage in the pre-frontal cortex, which controls impulsive behavior. Charles Whitman sniper NATURE: MODERN THEORIES

Neurochemical The brain’s chemistry can be influenced by diet, food additives, or pollution. The brain’s chemistry can be influenced by diet, food additives, or pollution. The TWINKIE DEFENSE: A psychiatrist claimed that a poor diet could intensify mood swings as part of “diminished mental capacity”.

Neurochemical  STEROIDS? Can the abuse of steroids, which increase testosterone levels, can cause people to become extremely violent? ("roid rage").  NO direct link between steroids and violence has not been made. ch?v=hN7rf4Mm1QA ch?v=hN7rf4Mm1QA

Twin studies: Genetic influence on crime  IDENTICAL TWINS (same genes and gender) that have been separated at birth and brought up separately have been studied  The degree of similarity between two twins is known as the concordance rate.  This rate was compared with FRATERNAL twins who are brought up separately  Concordance rate for IDENTICAL twins: 55%  FRATERNAL twins: 17%

Psychopaths and Sociopaths   SIMILARITIES: Both are dangerous, impulsive, and criminally minded Both have definable mental disorders   PRIMARY DIFFERENCE: Generally Speaking PSYCHOPATHS ARE BORN (NATURE) SOCIOPATHS ARE MADE (NURTURE)

 Sociopaths (NURTURE): Are capable of EMPATHY and can form meaningful personal relationships Are capable of EMPATHY and can form meaningful personal relationships Common sociological factors such as Common sociological factors such as Abused as children,Abused as children, running with the wrong crowd,running with the wrong crowd, PovertyPoverty Parents are criminals / neglectfulParents are criminals / neglectful  Personal Characteristics: Easy to spot: socially inadequate, agitated, don’t fit in, spontaneous ill-thought-out crimes Easy to spot: socially inadequate, agitated, don’t fit in, spontaneous ill-thought-out crimes

  Psychopaths (NATURE) Psychopaths show some of these characteristics: More organized in crimesMore organized in crimes Less easily recognized – appear “normal”Less easily recognized – appear “normal” Cunning / ability to deceive / manipulativeCunning / ability to deceive / manipulative Superficially charmingSuperficially charming Lack of EMPATHYLack of EMPATHY Lack of REMORSE / SHAMELack of REMORSE / SHAME Takes pleasure in the suffering of others (including family)Takes pleasure in the suffering of others (including family) Flat affect (do not display emotion / fake emotion)Flat affect (do not display emotion / fake emotion) Extreme NarcissismExtreme Narcissism

Mental Disorders related to Psychopathy (and to a lesser degree SOCIOPATHS)  1. CONDUCT DISORDER (diagnosed before age 15)  Criteria: lack of adherence to social norms (bullies, threatens, fights). lack of adherence to social norms (bullies, threatens, fights). Physically cruel to others Physically cruel to others Animal Cruelty Animal Cruelty Has forced someone into sexual activity Has forced someone into sexual activity Setting fires to cause harm and damage Setting fires to cause harm and damage Lies, cheats, steals Lies, cheats, steals

2. ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER Diagnosed over age18; frequent diagnosis of serial killers, rapists, thrill killers CRITERIA : Violates norms (repeatedly arrested) Lies, deceives for profit or pleasure Impulsivity Irritability and aggressiveness Reckless disregard for safety of self or others Irresponsibility (work, repayment of debts) lack of remorse, indifferent to the suffering of others

Self-Test   What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?   What diagnosis must have been made to be labeled Antisocial Personality Disorder?   What is the difference between a ORGANIZED and DISORGANIZED serial killer?

Serial Killers  Murder three or more victims, but each is killed on separate occasions usually select their victims usually select their victims cooling off periods between murders cooling off periods between murders plan their crimes carefully plan their crimes carefully

Serial Killers  Most serial killers will fall into a pattern: modus operandi (method), location, victim type, motive, etc.  The patterns of activities often allow police to apprehend the killer.  Serial killers are often described as ‘normal’, ‘very chatty’ and ‘a good neighbor’.

Serial Killers Typical serial Killers are:  Predominantly male  White  Within their twenties or thirties  Middle class  Kill within their ethnic group

Types of serial killers (patterns) Organized  Characteristics: Socially competent (may lead a “normal” life) Socially competent (may lead a “normal” life) Intelligent Intelligent Planner Planner Generally targets strangers Generally targets strangers Uses restraints Uses restraints Has sex with their victims Has sex with their victims Follows their crimes in the media Follows their crimes in the media Returns to scene Returns to scene  Very difficult to catch

Types of serial killers (patterns) Disorganized  Characteristics: Socially immature Socially immature May know victims May know victims Kills spontaneously Kills spontaneously Often sexually inhibited Often sexually inhibited Harsh childhood discipline. Harsh childhood discipline. Lives alone Lives alone Sloppy crime scene / evidence present Sloppy crime scene / evidence present Shows little interest in the media Shows little interest in the media  Easier to catch than the organized killer

Women who commit Crime Men commit about 80% of all Crime / 93% of all murders Men commit about 80% of all Crime / 93% of all murders Why do women commit so few murders? Why do women commit so few murders? Theory: Women’s orbital frontal region of the brain larger in women = more ability to control aggression. Theory: Women’s orbital frontal region of the brain larger in women = more ability to control aggression.

Women serial killers: RARE Psychopathy: “Anti-Social Personality Disorder” RARE IN WOMEN  1. “Angel of Mercy / Death” Nurses or health care workers who kill their patients  2. Mothers: Münchausen syndrome by proxy Deliberately cause injury or illness to another person (most often his or her child / 90% WOMEN), to gain attention or some other benefit.  3. BLACK WIDOWS: Husband murders; favorite method: Poisoning

Freud

Freud’s Theory about criminals Children need to progress from the pleasure principal (id dominated = need instant gratification) to the reality principle (where the ego is dominant). Children need to progress from the pleasure principal (id dominated = need instant gratification) to the reality principle (where the ego is dominant). Criminals are children who do not make this transition. Freud: child needs a stable home environment in order to make the transition. Criminals are children who do not make this transition. Freud: child needs a stable home environment in order to make the transition. Research has supported the fact that most criminals come from unstable homes. Research has supported the fact that most criminals come from unstable homes.

Child abuse and Crime  Dietz and Warren (1995) found that 76% of the 41 serial rapists that they interviewed were abused when young.  However only about 10% of abused children go on to commit crimes.

Juvenile “Delinquency”  Many Juvenile offenders are diagnosed with CONDUCT DISORDER  Causes of juvenile delinquency: Poor parenting / upbringing Poor parenting / upbringing Psychological disorders Psychological disorders Low intelligence Low intelligence  Every state makes their own rules with regard to who is a juvenile

Juvenile Courts  Juvenile courts are less formal than adult courts  Early “JD’s” were sent to “REFORM SCHOOL” a type of prison school for troubled kids  Their goal was to REHABILITATE not PUNISH  Goal of Juvenile Justice Diversion: Avoid formal entry into the system by intervening before adjudication Diversion: Avoid formal entry into the system by intervening before adjudication CounselingCounseling Parental ReleaseParental Release

In Re Gault 1967  15 year old boy (Gault) is arrested for making lewd phone calls  He is held by the police, questioned, and sentenced with no trial or input from his parents  Supreme Court decides that Juveniles should be afforded the same rights as adults Right to counsel Right to counsel Right to confront your accusers Right to confront your accusers Right to remain Silent Right to remain Silent

Roper v. Simmons   2005 US Supreme Court rules that defendants under the age of 18 cannot be executed   Violates the CRUEL AND UNUSUAL punishment prohibition of the 8 th Amendment.

New Jersey  In NJ Juveniles are most likely to commit Robbery  Juveniles accounted for 59% of Arson arrests  Our Agency: NJ Juvenile Justice Commission The Commission emphasizes accountability and offers programming that afford young people the opportunity to become independent, productive and law abiding citizens. The Commission emphasizes accountability and offers programming that afford young people the opportunity to become independent, productive and law abiding citizens.

Bringing down organized Crime R.I.C.O

R.I.C.O  Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act  1970: RICO created to break up “organized crime” THE MAFIA  MAFIA bosses did not ever directly commit crime. HOW DO YOU PROSECUTE THEM?  Charge them under RICO  Today RICO is used to prosecute any group that act illegally.