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
