Abstract This paper presents an application of the criminological theories of Glueck, Shaw, Mckay, Cullen, and Marx to a real world criminological issue facing a police department. The paper concludes there are a variety of approaches to understanding the manifestations of crime.
From the Paper "This paper will attempt to solve a real-world problem facing a police department by analyzing it through the spectrum of some of the seminal minds in the field of criminology. The problem that will be analyzed is as ..."
Tags:criminology, cullen, glueck, shaw, mckay, marx, theory
Abstract This paper compares classical and neoclassical criminology theories and looks at their origins and how they developed. It looks at the current legal system in terms of where it fits into these theories, and shows how they are used in criminology today.
Abstract This paper examines the application of Marxism to the study of criminology as an academic discipline. The major points of this theoretical approach are discussed, as will some of the major reasons that Marxism fails to be widely applicable to the field unlike other theoretical approaches. According to this paper, despite Marxism's incredible appeal in other fields: labor studies, history, economics, sociology; incorporating criminology seems to be elusive for Marxists even to this day.
From the Paper "A large number of criminology theories have developed over the years to account for people who willfully engage in criminal activity, despite the risks and despite the overall harm to the larger social fabric. Some of these theories have been psychological, citing behavioral patterns. Others are sociological and attempt to qualify crime as a function of disparities within society. Some theories even argue a biological perspective, that some of us are merely hardwired to commit crimes. It's, apparently, in our genes. One particular theory that has been less successful in criminology is Marxism. "
Abstract The paper examines individual and sociological positivism in terms of its nature and claims. The paper claims that it is evident that the most relevant positivist theories, such as Lombroso's and Eysenck's, are fundamentally incompatible with the theories of non-positivists such as Becker. The paper explains that positivism adds to our understanding of what causes crime, but it ignores or overlooks a number of important criminal justice issues such as effective deterrence. The paper discusses how this reveals the limitations of positivism as a means of explaining criminal behavior and formulating effective resolutions to crime in human society. The paper brings positivist criminology theorists who contend that criminal justices systems should be administered in order to rehabilitate criminals so that they will be law abiding citizens when they return to society.
Abstract The paper explains that criminology is the study of criminal behavior through a scientific means to seek a method for best diverting the mass society from committing criminal acts. The paper looks at various views of criminology, including those of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, Cesare Lombroso's notion of determinism, the Chicago School's view, the routine activities theory, the social disorganization theory and finally, Durkheim's ideas. The paper suggests that today, criminology should turn its focus toward the minority poor communities in seeking the root cause of the sentencing disparity prevalent in minority areas.
Outline:
Introduction
Classical Criminology Determinism
The Chicago School's View of Criminology Routine Activities Theory
Social Disorganization Theory
Durkheim's Anomie
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The beginnings of criminology in the United States began with the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution and is a theory relating to criminal behavior of individuals. The theoretical framework of criminology within this view is one that is straightforward and simple and states that the individual, upon having been informed of a specific penalty for the commission of a crime will inherently weigh the options. Measurement of the options is based upon the potential present and future pleasure weighed against the potential present and future pain for having committed the crime, been caught and punished. There have been various theories posited to attempt to pin down precisely the precise theoretical framework that identifies the method to fulfill the 'aim' of criminology, which is to 'speak truth to power'."
Abstract This paper reviews, in chronological order, four significant criminological theories - early biological theory as championed by Cesare Lombroso, ecological theory as made popular by the Chicago School, Merton's Economic Strain theory, and feminist criminological theory emphasizing a "gendered" approach to understanding crime - and illustrates how each succeeding theory was either indebted to the one before it or produced in response to the one which came before. Every bit as meaningfully, the paper takes a closer look at the social or intellectual trends/fashions which made it possible for new, divergent theories to achieve prominence even when pre-existing theories seemed unshakable in their primacy. Ultimately, the paper concludes that the field of criminology is fertile, evolutionary and ceaselessly dynamic.
Outline:
Abstract
Criminological Theories: The Emergence and Evolution of Four Theoretical Explanations for Crime
From the Paper "Quite simply, whatever its shortcomings, early biological theory was a welcome respite from doctrinaire "free will" explanations of crime which had largely dominated the intellectual landscape up until the last quarter of the nineteenth century. In light of this fact, his work should be understood and appreciated within its historical context and not judged wholly by the criminological standards of today."
"Although his contribution to criminology was most welcome, it was not long before a number of academics began to call his findings into question. The most famous of all these dissenters was not an individual, per se, but a school. Specifically, criminologists in the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago became the chief advocates of a new criminological theory known as ecological crime theory ..."
Abstract This paper examines how the backdrop for the creation of the classical school of criminology was the movement in Europe traditionally referred to as the Enlightenment. It looks at how, generally, the Italian thinker, Cesare Beccaria, is credited with the creation of classical criminology and how, in creating his ideas, he did not so much generate original concepts as link together and systematize the ideas that were already circulating in the Enlightenment into a cohesive theory of criminology. It also shows how his influences were thinkers such as Locke, Bacon, Rousseau, and Diderot. It looks at how several different schools based on classicism have developed, including the classicist and positivist schools of thought.
From the Paper "Several different schools based on classicism have developed, including classicism, which reconsiders the limitations of an agent's free will in cases such as self-defense or mistaken identity; largely it was an attempt to find a compromise of sorts between the classical and positivist perspective. Similarly, the Rational Choice perspective focuses on the decisions made by the criminal in an attempt to understand the "goal" of any crime. Routine Activities Theory focuses on a situational analysis of crimes, considering when and where crimes most typically occur and how we can use those facts to prevent them. All of these schools are primarily informed by the classical beliefs that crimes are committed for rational reasons related to hedonistic principles."
Abstract The paper discusses how the contribution of a positivist methodology to criminology cannot be underestimated and how the very name criminology did not become common until the 1890's and the rise of positivism. It looks at how the work of Cesare Lombroso established a new method of conducting criminal inquiry even though the work of Guerry and Quetelet on French crime statistics and social data had already introduced a positivistic approach into the study of crime especially with regard to the social links with criminal behaviour. It also explores how the work of the Italian School of Criminology (scula positiva) with people like Enrico Ferri used the methodology that Cesare Lombroso introduced but applied them to different areas of inquiry. It shows how this multi-factor scientific approach allowed the science of crime to develop and become an internationally recognised academic field and encouraged people all over the world to try and search for causal links between crime and various factors like poverty and education levels.
From the Paper "The work of Lombroso was new and radical but what is more important to the development of positivism and its subsequent influence on modern criminology were the methods that he employed in his study. The scientific methods he used revolutionised the study of crime, his new model of approach sought to identify, categorise and measure differences between criminals. Lombroso published his findings in 1876 in L?Umo Delinquente (The Delinquent Mind) and his work and methods gave rise to a new international movement. The Italian School of Criminology (scula positiva) emerged and took the methodology of Lombroso and expanded upon them. The work of people such as Enrico Ferri according to David Garland, ?showed a considerable diversity and eclecticism.? The "French School" focused mainly upon the sociological and environmental determinants of crime and the "German School" included the study criminalistics and the development of new forensic techniques."
Abstract This paper discusses two of the most prominent schools of criminology: classical thinking and the positivist perspective. The paper compares the different precepts upon which each school of thought operates and analyzes each of the theories and their key assumptions. The paper then discusses their attribution of causal factors and each of their approaches to addressing crime.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Classical Criminology Positivist Criminology Conclusion
From the Paper "The school of classical criminology differs significantly from the thinking demonstrated under the positivist approach to crime. Classical criminology has its origins in the concepts of free will, individual decision-making and the benefits of society to the individual. The school addresses the problem of crime using punishment and deterrent actions. On the other hand, positivism rejects the concept of the individual and free will and instead embraces the idea of enduring evolutionary traits that define a basic criminal personality, and which can be assessed using scientific methods. The two perspectives, though very different (and even contradictory) in nature, both provide the basis for a cohesive overall approach to addressing the problem of crime as a wide variety of approaches are incorporated."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in the field of criminology, various theories have been advanced to explain why people commit crimes. The writer notes that more manageable and more conventional is the listing of theories provided by Victor Jupp, which posits four theories: biological, social bonding, social structure and psychological bonding. Jupp points out that these four theories reflect the learning of different intellectual disciplines and come to widely different opinions about the individual criminal, but are all directed to the common question - why do people commit crimes? The writer concludes that while each of these theories offers some insight, there is a frustrating difficultly in criminology. The writer maintains that although criminology may be able to explain why certain people have committed certain crimes, it is frustratingly less effective at discerning how one might commit crimes and how to prevent them.
From the Paper "The biological theory and the social bonding theory both assume that the individual develops into a criminal because of inborn factors. Lombroso and his followers contend that the stigmata mark the atavistic criminal, and these cannot be changed. Eysenck and company contend that, certainly in the adult, the personality is largely unchangeable, and in the case of the criminal, the psychoticisms cannot be removed. By contrast, social structure theories contend that the individual is more of a blank slate, shaped by his surroundings, so that if these surroundings can be manipulated, criminality will not develop."
Abstract This paper discusses the criminology theories of Jeremy Bentham. It begins by providing a biographical background of Bentham and explains how his love for law and criminology pushed him to develop new theories. It discusses why these theories were controversial at the time and looks at some critiques of the theories.
From the Paper "Bentham's contribution to the classical theory came in the form of an idea he advanced called utilitarianism (Siegel, 2000). The theory of utilitarianism is based around the idea that lawmaking should be done with the goal of providing the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (Siegel, 2000). Bentham believed that empirical calculations could be derived to judge what laws would provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. As for the criminal application of this theory, he believed that individuals weigh the probabilities of present and future pleasures against those of present and future pain. This balancing of outcomes served as the deciding factor of whether or not an individual would commit an illegal act. Accordingly, Bentham believed that if the proposed pain was in excess of the pleasure derived from the crime, then no crime would result. This is utilitarianism in its simplest sense. In order to understand in a deeper sense (one that explains contexts, applications, and criticisms) one has to look deeper into Bentham's ideas on legal duties, obligations, and powers, and how these contributed to utilitarianism, and finally, how utilitarianism contributed to the classical theory as we understand it today."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that terrorism is a methodology that belongs to military science in a collection of techniques, but terrorism is included under the category of criminology in library cataloguing systems. The writer notes that terrorism can be well understood through the approaches of criminology, however, conflict theory seems best equipped to explain terrorist organizations and acts, depending upon circumstances, for reasons that are explained in the paper's later sections. The writer concludes that like well planned crimes, incidents of terrorism often do work, as a set of considerations to be kept in mind before denouncing crime or terrorism, or acts of terrorism as mere random crimes which they are not.
Outline:
Introduction
Classical Theory and Terrorism
The Consensus School and Terrorism
Conflict Theory and Terrorism
Conflict Theory, Sri Lanka and Tamil Terrorism
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper " If one traces the rise of modernity from the Industrial Revolution, capitalist development and the ideas of the Enlightenment, one appreciates classical models of criminology to assert that deviance was a natural result. Since human beings are rational creatures, they should have and will demand rights and freedoms, eventually. The deviant person asserts his or her rational self-interest due to a particular form of 'free thought' and agency that we discuss as deviant and thus, criminal, because it departs from a society's legal framework and moral standards. This classical approach has replaced earlier ideas of the criminal as a person acting under supernatural influence, as in medieval ideas of the criminal as a person possessed by the devil. Instead, crime came to be seen as a rationally calculated action with the result that reducing crime meant deterrence, in approaches based on how the deviant could be dissuaded from committing a crime, its penalty helping a criminal to see that a planned crime was not rational or appealing because of its risks. Further thought moved from a concept of the punishment fitting the crime, proportional to the harm done to society, or a specific victim."
Abstract The paper relates that although the theory of deviance helps to shed light on some of the reasons people engage in criminal actions, the theory is a social construct and is thus inherently flawed. The paper maintains, that this theory should, therefore, occupy only a minor role in the field of criminology. The paper also asserts that this theory only be employed as a means of interpretation of the criminal mind when there is no possibility that the root cause of deviance may lie within the society and not the individual.
Outline:
Introduction
Strengths
Weaknesses
Deviance and Criminology
From the Paper "The theory of deviance is not organic. Broadly defined, deviance is behavior that violates the norms of a particular society. Thus, the theory is a creation of society, and a social construct that labels persons within a society as outcasts because they tend to display certain behaviors that society deems reprehensible. Deviance, then, is best understood as an artificial creation, which fits neatly into the realms of academic disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, psychology and social psychology to explain the unexpected actions of individuals. Most of all, the theory helps us to understand the most reprehensible among us: the criminal. "
Abstract This paper explains that the classical school of criminology contends that criminal justice systems must be established to enable humans to make rational choices, which result in their choosing non-criminal actions, thus making the law a deterrent through a system of punishments and rewards. Next, by examining various amendments, the paper points out the ways that the U.S.Constitution, especially the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, embodies this principal. In addition, the author relates that, using the classical school of criminology, the Constitution sets up a courts system as a just system of punishment.
From the Paper "Similarly, the thirteenth amendment is known as the amendment that abolished slavery, but another important connotation is contained within the wording of the amendment--that slavery, or rather "involuntary servitude" is allowable if a person has "been duly convicted" of a crime. While this is the amendment that allows prison work camps and work programs, as well as the requirement that criminals participate in the maintaining of their prisons, it serves a much larger purpose, mainly expressing that a right contained in the constitution may be taken away if citizens do not behave lawfully."
Tags: self-interest, human rights, courts system, amendments incentives
Abstract This paper explains that the classical and positivist schools of criminological theory are significantly different in how they attempt to determine the cause of crime. The classical school focuses on the rational thought and free-will of an individual, whereas, the positivist school focuses upon biological factors. The paper suggests that research by biological theorists is drawing more attention to the possibility of underlying biological factors as an explanation for crime, which overshadows the rationale of the classical school that all crime is the result of free-will.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Classical School of Criminological Theory
Deterrence
Development of Positivist School
Positivist School and Biological Theories
Rehabilitation
Juveniles and Mental Health Illnesses
Theory Differences
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Positivist School or Biological theories believe that deterrence by way of punishment is ineffective. The reasons cited is due to the very nature of the school's theory of that individuals who commit crime have an impaired ability against impulsivity as an example. Therefore, it is proposed that individuals be sent for rehabilitation rather than sentenced to prison. It is believed that these individuals can not receive such treatment in a correctional facility and thus upon released offenders that are left untreated, they will continue to offend."
Tags: biological, free-willed choice, bad laws, hormones juveniles
