G. Nettler's "Explaining Crime"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains Nettler's analysis of crime and the response of society to crime, beginning with definitions of crime and continuing through an analysis of different types of crime leading to a consideration of socio-psychological explanations for crime. The author states that morals change over time, so the precise definitions, even of generally accepted crimes like theft and murder, will vary at different times, as reflected in the criminal code of a society. The paper points out that Nettler addresses the question of crime statistics, both how crimes are counted and reported and how society reacts to a rise and fall in numbers.

From the Paper:

"The concept of rational crime is interesting as defined by Nettler--rational crime includes the wrongs we do one another in order to get what we want. Crime is thus defined as rational because it has a purpose, even though that purpose may be immoral. A rational act is something done consciously, and crime is something done from volition and so consciously. Rational crime can also be seen to have some reason for existence, and Nettler states that an "immediate implication of the conception of some crime as rational is a challenge to the popular psychiatric assumption . . . that crime is a 'symptom' of social and personal sickness". This is thus a counter to the medical image of crime and instead sees crime as a rational choice, a balancing of possible punishment against potential gain. Certain kinds of crime more readily fit into this view than others. Organized crime as it is usually envisioned would be a rational choice balancing these competing interests, while a crime of passion would not fit into this mold. A medical symptom would not explain high crime in poverty areas, but a sociological view of a symptom as a social lack that crime seems to fulfill would."

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