Criminological Theory: What Explains Crime?

3 levels of theorizing

Macro, Meso, Micro

Macro

Community or place (does poverty explain why crime is higher/lower in a place)

What is the earliest explanation for crime?

Demonology and Moral failing

Demonology and moral failing is

arbitrary in application

what undermines the contract?

arbitrary punishment that doesn't reinforce the rules

who thought crime was exercise of free will and choice

beccaria

classical school consisted of who

beccaria and bentham

severe...enough

clearly varied by offense, not overly harsh (no torture, and in most cases no death) -reduce escalation and offending -promote specific and general deterrence

what is the KEY of the concentric zone model of crime

crime stays (relatively) the same in each zone over time, even as people within them change

lambroso (late 19th century)

criminals are "atavisms" or throwbacks to earlier evolutionary periods (biological differences and bad science)

Micro

individual (does high testosterone lead to violence)

times started to change in the early 20th century because of

industrialization, immigration and migration, and urbanization

sure

not arbitrary with exception, or varied by social class

How does a criminological theory evolve?

one story, different chapters (critiques, edits, ad ons, new ideas) and some theories wax and wane over time

bounded rationality

people make decisions based upon the information they have on hand, even if imperfect

neo classical theory

rational choice, indirect experiences, punishment avoidance

what was the primary concern of the classical school in the 18th century

reform the way we do punishment

In the very early days, punishment was

religiously informed (an eye for an eye, extreme actions like drawing, quartering or dismemberment)

during the 18th century, laws were a

social contract

chicago school of sociology

social ecology and inequality, mapping crime in the city

what is bounded rationality shaped by

social networks, community, learning, etc

to deter crime, punishment should be

swift, sure, and severe...enough

KEY to early biological to modern bisocial

work only in some social contexts or work through social factors

rationality to skulls

-critiques of classical school, solution was to focus on scientific method

Concentric zone model of crime

-shaw and mckay (1942) -crime is concentrated in "zone in transition" outside center of city (declines as you move outward into more residential neighborhoods)

Why does theory matter?

It guides research and with theory and research we get to policy.

Meso

family, school, or group (do delinquent peers affect a juvenile)

swift

follows crime quickly