1. Causes of Crime

2. What is Criminology? Criminology Criminologists
The scientific study of crime and the causes of criminal behavior.
Criminologists
A specialist in the field of crime and the causes of criminal behavior.

3. Moral Dilemma 2
Find your new seat.

4. What determines if a drug is illegal?
Mala in se: crimes that inherently wrong.
Murder, Rape, Theft
Mala prohibita: acts that legislation determines are illegal, but that may not be necessarily wrong in and of themselves.
Often public order crimes/victimless crimes

5. CONSENSUS MODEL
Based on what the majority views to be acceptable behavior in a society.
Based on norms and values.
Assumes that a diverse group of people can have similar values.
In this model Laws change as ideas about “right” and “wrong” change.

6. CONFLICT MODEL
Recognizes that disagreements on norms exist between people and come in conflict.
The most politically powerful segments of society based on class, income, age, and race have the most influence on criminal laws and impose their values on the rest of the community.
Laws reflect the values of groups holding power at a given time.

7. What is a crime?

8. What is a Crime?
An punishable action that violates criminal law as determined by the majority or a powerful minority.

9. What are the risk factors of criminal behavior?

10. Criminologists attempt to discover
Correlations – relationships between variables in which they vary together. What factors are related to crime?
Causation – a relationship where one variable causes a change in another. What factors cause crime?

11. Choice Theory
Criminals weigh the benefits of their actions against the expected costs of being caught.
When the benefit is greater than the costs the criminal will make a rational CHOICE to commit an act.
Can anyone think of examples of this being the case?

12. Positivism
Argues that criminal behavior is the result of biological, psychological, and social factors.
These external forces help predict crime.
Criminals should be punished, but treated to lesson the impact of these factors.

13. Biological Factors
Twin Studies: Comparing the criminal activity of identical twins to fraternal twins.
Data does support rates of criminality among identical twins raised in different environments that is closer to that of their biological parents.

14. Biological Factors
Hormones: testosterone has been associated with traits of aggression. Violent criminals have higher testosterone levels.
Can also be seen in females: postpartum psychosis.

15. Biological Factors Brain factors: Neurotransmitters Mirror Neurons
Low Serotonin
High Norepinephrine
Mirror Neurons
Damage/Underdevelopment of Frontal Lobe
Cysts/Lesions/Tumors
Low Blood Sugar
Neurotoxins

16. Psychological Cognitive Psychoanalytical Behavioral
The way they see the world.
Psychoanalytical
Past experiences that unconsciously impact current behavior stemming from childhood.
Behavioral
Rewards and punishments of the environment shape current behavior

17. Psychodynamic Theory
Repression, Childhood Relationships, Trauma, the Unconscious.

18. Social Factors
Social Disorganization Theory: deviant behavior is more likely in communities where institutions like the family, school, church, or criminal justice system fail to exert control.
Single parent homes.

19. Social Factors
Strain Theory: Crime is the result of frustration caused by individuals not being able to reach their personal goals through legitimate socially acceptable means.
Drug dealing, Pedophiles, Bank Robbers, Rapists

20. Cultural Deviance Theory
Marginalized groups may feel that the social norms and society in general does not share its values or look out for their well being, so the values of dominant culture are rejected.

21. Social Process Theory
The Power of Situations and the interaction of individuals with their environment is a key contributor to crime.
We are all capable of crime.

22. Learning Theory
Argues that delinquents are taught both the practical and emotional skills needed to participate in illegal activity.
Observational learning: Bandura: Aggression can be modeled and repeated.

23. Crime Theories Practice

24. Drug Use and Crime
Drug Abuse- use that is physically or psychologically harmful.
7-20% of users become abusers.
More than 2/3 of inmates are dependent or abuse drugs.
More than 1/3 were actually under the influence at the time of arrest.

25. Drug Use and Crime
Psychopharmacological model: the criminal acts are the direct result of the drugs.
Economically impulsive model: the criminal acts are the result of attempts to purchase drugs.
Systemic Model: crime is a byproduct of the unregulated and relationship of the drug-using community.

26. How should we treat drug crimes?
Medical Model: addicts are not criminals, but mentally or physically ill and forced into crime to feed a habit.
Criminal Model: drug addicts/abusers are a danger to society and should be punished the same way non drug users would be for committing crime.

27. Drugs and Crime About 20 million Americans use illicit drugs
About 200 million Americans use licit drugs.
Illicit: drugs whose sale/consumption have been made illegal.
Licit: socially acceptable drugs

28. SPICE and K2

29. Bath Salts & Flakka

30. Grab a laptop
Assignment Directions.

31. Crime Rates
What type of factors do you think correlate with high crime rates?

34. Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
Developed in 1930.
Produced by the FBI
Organizes “offenses known by police”
Relies on voluntary participation of local state and federal law enforcement agencies.

35. Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
Based on 3 measurements
The numbers of persons arrested
The number of crimes reported by victims, witnesses, or the police.
The number of officers and support law enforcement specialists.
Presented as a rate per 100,000 people
As a percentage change from previous year
As a total number of crimes

36. Is there a difference between the crime rate and crime in America?

37. PART I OFFENSES Murder Forcible Rape Robbery
Nonnegligent manslaughter
Mansluaghter b6y negligence
Forcible Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault- attempt to cause serious harm- usually involving a weapon.
Burglary (Breaking and Entering)
Larceny (theft)
Motor Vehicle Theft
Arson (Fire Setting)

38. PART II OFFENSES 5X Curfew & Loitering Disorderly Conduct DWI
Drug Abuse Violations
Drunkenness
Embezzlement
Forgery
Fraud
Gambling
Liquor Law Violations
Offense against Family and Children
Simple assaults
Prostitution
Runaways -18
Sex Offenses
Stolen Property
Vagrancy
Vandalism
Weapons

39. Federalism
A form of government in which there is a division of powers between a central government and smaller regional governments
In the United States this is the Federal government and State and Local governments
Law Enforcement- Local, State, and Federal

40. What is the most dangerous state in the country?

41. The Wedding Cake Model
Explains how different cases receive different treatment in the criminal justice system
Cases at the top receive the most attention, cases at the bottom are disposed of quickly and mostly ignored.

42. Celebrity cases that attract the most attention and publicity.
“High Profile “, committed by people with criminal records, where victims were harmed, and a weapon was used.
Ordinary felonies, less violent crimes, Usually first time offenders
Misdemeanors and petty offenses

43. Dark Figure of Crime
A term used to describe the actual amount of crime that takes place

44. Arthur Shawcross
Discuss how the following theories would explain Arthur's behavior:
Choice Theory
Positivism
Psychoanalytic Theory
Strain Theory
Learning Theory

45. Why use Choice Theory? Classical Criminology uses Choice Theory
Offenders make the choice to commit crime.
Offenders weigh the expected costs of offending against the expected benefits of offending.
Swift and certain punishment is the most powerful deterrent to criminal offending.

46. Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham’s Theory of Utilitarianism states that punishment should have 4 goals:
To prevent all crime.
When it cannot prevent crime, to assure that a criminal will commit a lesser crime to avoid harsher punishment.
To give the offender the incentive not to harm others in the pursuit of crime.
To prevent crime at the least possible cost to society.

47. Positivism vs. Classical Criminology

48. Positivism Positivism
Criminal behavior is determined by biological, psychological, and social forces beyond the control of the individual.
Cesare Lombroso is the “Father of Criminology.”
Rehabilitation and treatment are the only deterrent to criminal offending.

49. Classical Criminology
Modern Choice Theory
James Q. Wilson’s rational choice theory.
Jack Katz’s seduction of crime theory.
Choice Theory and Public Policy
The best deterrent to crime is severe punishment.

50. Trait Theories Trait Theories
Suggest there are biological and psychological causes of crime.
Biology is the scientific study of living organisms.
Psychology is the study of the mind.

51. Trait Theories Biological influences on crime include the study of
Genetics and crime.
Hormones and aggression.
The brain and crime.
The impact of chemical imbalances on behavior.
Psychological influences on crime include the study of
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory as it relates to crime.
Social psychology and “evil” behavior.

52. Trait Theory within Society
Trait Theory and Public Policy
Antisocial behavior should be identified and treated before it manifests itself into criminal behavior.

53. Theories of Social Structure to Explain Crime

54. Sociological Theories
Social disorganization theory
Strain theory
Cultural deviance theory
Social Structure Theory and Public Policy
Changing neighborhoods conditions can prevent crime.

56. Learning Objective 5
Learning Objective 5: List and briefly explain the three branches of social process theory.

57. Social Process Theories
Learning Theory
Control Theory
Labeling Theory
Social Process Theory and Public Policy
Crime prevention focuses on juvenile offenders and steering them away from offending and the system.

58. Social Conflict Theories
Marxism versus Capitalism
The Social Reality of Crime
Issues of Race and Gender
Social Conflict Theory and Public Policy
Given its radical nature, this theory has a limited impact on public policy.

61. Course Criminology Life Course Theories Self-Control Theory
Continuity Theory of Crime
Life-Course Persisters
Adolescent-Limited

62. Offenders and Victims Victimology The Risks of Victimization
Routine Activity Theory
Suitable Target
Motivated Offender
Absence of a Guardian
Repeat Victimization
The Victim-Offender Connection

64. Learning Objective 8
Learning Objective 8: Contrast the medical model of addiction with the criminal model of addiction.

65. Medical Addiction vs. Criminal Addiction
The Criminology of Drug Use:
Social Disorganization Theory
Subculture Theory
Drugs and the “Learning Process”
Learn the techniques of drug use
Learn to perceive the pleasurable effects of drug use
Learn to enjoy the social experience of drug use

66. Addiction Drug Addiction and Dependency Drug Use versus Drug Abuse
Addiction Basics
The role of dopamine in the brain
Nerve endings called receptors
Physical dependence and withdrawal

67. Addiction Models of Explanation Models of Addiction
The Psychopharmacological Model
The Economically Impulsive Model
The Systemic Model
Models of Addiction
The Medical Model of Addiction
The Chemical Model of Addiction

68. ABC Video: Gang Prevention

69. Chronic Offender Wolfgang’s Chronic Offender
A small group of offenders, 6%, are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime.
Habitual offenders laws provide harsher sentences for repeat offenders.