Unit 4 Dr. Marie Mele

Topics to Discuss Ability of people to make rational choices How people weigh the risks and rewards of engaging in crime How the criminal justice system should respond to criminal behavior

Theory An abstract statement that explains why certain things do (or do not) happen A logical explanation for patterns of regularity in social behavior Possesses the ability to: predict future occurrences or observations of some phenomenon (i.e. criminal victimization) be validated or tested through empirical observation

Classical School People choose to engage in behavior that brings them an increase in pleasure and a reduction of pain People could be deterred from engaging in crime if the costs (pain) outweighed the benefits (pleasure) Criminal punishment can be justified only if it prevents greater harm than it creates

Crime Control Policy 1970s renewed interest in classical school of thought Perceived inability of professionals to rehabilitate offenders; increase in crime rate; public demand for harsher punishment Contemporary version of classical theory viewed human behavior as both willful and determined

Rational Choice Offenders decide to break the law after considering personal factors (the need for money) and situational factors (how well a target is protected) Decision to commit crime results from risk evaluation What’s the chance of getting caught? How difficult will it be to commit the crime? Is the profit worth the effort?

Offense and Offender Specific Offense-specific: offenders react selectively to the characteristics of a criminal act (residential burglar considers entry points into residence, presence of police or occupants, availability of escape route, etc.) Offender-specific: offender must decide whether he has what it takes to commit the act successfully (necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to commit the crime, awareness of alternatives to the crime)

Crime vs. Criminality Crime is an event; criminality is a personal trait Criminality is often a pre-requisite to crime (but not always) For crime to occur, there must be an opportunity that enhances one’s criminality

Structuring Crime Choosing the Type of Crime May be dictated by conditions of illegal market or situational factors Choosing the Place of Crime Traveling on foot or using public transportation Densely populated areas familiar to offender Choosing the Target  Vulnerable targets are poorly guarded and cannot defend themselves

Is crime rational? Property crimes (theft, burglary) Drug crimes (using, selling) Violent crimes (assault, homicide, sexual violence)

How to prevent crime? Crime can be prevented by convincing potential offenders of two things: Crime will not bring them pleasure, and instead will lead to hardship and deprivation Crime is not worth the effort. It is easier to work at a legitimate job than to manage the risks associated with criminal behavior

Situational Crime Prevention Crime can be prevented by reducing the opportunities people have to commit crime Increase the effort needed to commit crime Increase the risks of committing crime Reduce the rewards for committing crime Reduce provocation/induce guilt or shame for committing crime Reduce excuses for committing crime

Seminar Question Given the fact that most criminal behavior is committed willingly and rationally, how should the criminal justice system respond to such behavior? If offenders do weigh the risks of crime with the potential benefits, what are the most effective means of deterring them?