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Crime and Criminal Justice social problems are some of the most complex problems we have in American society. The four different perspective all have their own vastly different theory of how they view crime. I think the most interesting perspectives are the functionalist perspective and the symbolic interactionist perspective. A common functionalist perspective is one by Émile Durkheim, one of the first sociologists. Durkheim’s theory is that deviance can be functional because it affirms moral boundaries, promotes social unity, and social change. Robert K Merton applies Durkheim’s theory to “develop the strain theory of criminal behavior” (358, Leon-Guerrero). The Strain Theory states that criminal behavior occurs when there is conflict
Throughout the history of law enforcement within the United States, theories has been explored and implemented as polices in addressing deviant behaviors produced by humans. Models such as Crime Control through the Conflict perceptive suggest the human nature is persuaded by social opportunities and considered a fundamental aspect of social life (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 347). However, social disorders must be addressed in a cordial and civil procedural fairness; thus, individual rights guaranteed by policies such as Due Process ensure that individuals under allegations are treated equally and just. Although crime and deviant behaviors exist within our communities, policies are intended to reduce such disorders by following cohesive criminal justice frameworks with the intentions of protecting individuals accused of crimes. Crime Contro...
The Symbolic Interaction Theory is a theory that can best explain why crime occurs. When someone deviates from the path society had intrically paved, they are caste outside the majority and thus, given the label of criminal. It is through this push outside the group that a person is subjected to either accepting their label as a criminal or must fight their way back into the group through the means of policy implications like rehabilitation programs. Sadly, if the person does not successfully complete treatment, they will remain outside the group and will be forced to abide by their label as a criminal. This theory sums up the way society itself creates criminals therefore making it one of the most significant theories to explain crime in America.
The purpose of the proposed study is to apply one of the many theories learned over the semester and apply it to a movie character to explain their criminality. In order to understand criminality we first must understand the definition of crime. “Crime is human conduct that violates the criminal laws of state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make and enforce the laws” (Schmalleger 2). In the American crime drama film directed by Taylor Hackford Blood In Blood Out Bound by Honor follows the lives of three Hispanic relatives. They start out as members of a street gang called the Vatos Locos in East Los Angeles. After dramatic incidents occur in the young men lives honor and family ties are forever changed. In this study, the main focus point is going to be on one of the relatives Miklo “Milkweed” Velka who throughout his life was looking for acceptance from family and friends.
A highly debated topic concerns whether criminals commit crimes because of a social pressure or an individual urge. The strain theory supports crime as a social pressure because, as Frank Schmalleger suggests in Criminology Today 222, crime is an adaptive behavior that coincides with problems caused by frustration or unpleasant social surroundings. Also, culture conflict theory states the cause of delinquent behavior is because different social classes conflicting morals of what is appropriate or proper behavior, (Schmalleger 228). Other people believe blaming crime on the economy or where they grew up is making an excuse for criminals instead of making them take responsibility for their actions, as stated by CQ writer Peter Katel. These different views started with statistics taken on crime in the early 1800s. Andre Michel Guerry of France was one of the first examiners of “the moral health of nations” in the early 19th century, (Schmalleger 35). Another early crime statistician was Adolphe Quetelet of Belgium . Quetelet evaluated the crime rates between weather, sex, and age. His findings that climate contributes to high or low crime rate is a main factor in today’s fight against crime. It is doubtful this issue will ever be settled since there are too many pros and cons to each side. However, while specialists’ dispute this, crime is not stopping. There needs to be a way, or possibly several ways, to reduce criminal activity. It is doubtful criminal activity will ever be put to an end. The same is to be said about why people commit crime, but knowing if it is done socially or individually can help with the fight against it. In the end, individuals should take responsibility for their actions, but...
1. A In chapter 7 this chapter mostly talked about the different theories society has created through social routines. These theories were created to control and describe why criminals commit crimes through their community and social values. This chapter focused more on the variables and factors of why they commit crime rather than stating they commit the crime because of their deemed deviant. In fact, chapter 7 is mainly on the view part of recognizing why certain people replicate crime differently causing the criminal behavior to happen. One thing I liked about this chapter is how Gabriel Trade who coined the idea of crime is a learned process. Was able to look back on past theorist and interpret his ideas towards their research. He created
For my own experience in understanding crime, when I was a kid I use to help out at the Boys and Girls Club in Boston; I also recently just volunteered my time at the Flagstaff Boys and Girls Club. To tie this into crime in a society I looked at the surrounding environment. In Boston I noticed a complete contrast with the environment compared to the Boys and Girls Club in Flagstaff. For the kids in Boston, in the inner city these kids had more family complications, some had no parents, mot were troubled youth. The surrounding settings where these kids lived was crowded by run down buildings; not a child-friendly environment. To look at the functionalist theoretical perspective we can look at broken windows theory and Life Course Theory.
The classical theory of crime says that "humans have free will and are responsible for their own actions" (Hess, 2013 p.66). The formal study of criminology began in Europe in late 1700’s as theories on crime and punishment started to materialize. Italian attorney Cesare Beccaria is recognized as a founding father of the Classical School, which is based on that most human behavior results from free will and rational force. The positivist view holds that humans are shaped by their society and are the products of environmental and cultural influences.
Winslow, R. W., & Zhang, S. (2008). Contemporary Theories of Crime. Criminology: a global perspective (). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
There are numerous theories in place to help understand, and study the criminal mind. Social structure theory looks at the environment as a whole. Where social processing looks at the procedure
The two theoretical approaches I have chosen to compare to the study of crime are Functionalism and Marxism. I have done so, as I believe both theories are important/ significant to the study of crime and differentiate from each other. I will do this by writing a critique the advantages and disadvantages of both of the theories and thus, resulting in my own personal opinion in the conclusion.
Criminologists have long tried to fight crime and they have developed many theories along the way as tools to help them understand criminals. In the process of doing so, criminologist have realized that in order to really understand why criminals are criminals, they had to first understand the interrelationship between the law and society. A clear and thorough understanding of how they relatively connect with criminal behavior is necessary. Therefore, they then created three analytical perspectives which would help them tie the dots between social order and law, the consensus, the pluralist and the conflict perspectives. Each provides a significantly different view of society as relative to the law. However, while they all aim to the same exact purpose which is to help us understand crimes from a social viewpoint, the consensus perspective is more effective as it presents a more radical and logical view of how society interacts with the law. For instance, the consensus view focuses more on norms, unification, and equality. At the same time, it questions individuals ‘self-control as causes of crime.
Crime as Functional, Inevitable and Normal Crime can be functional in bringing about social change - when social norms are unsuited with the conditions of life. A high crime rate is an indication of a social system that has failed to adapt to change. Deviance, acts as a warning device, indicating that an aspect of society is malfunctioning. Deviance may also act as a safety valve - a relatively harmless expression of discontent.
There are many different aspects of criminal justice policy. One in particular is the different theories of crime and how they affect the criminal justice system. The Classical School of criminology is a theory about evolving from a capital punishment type of view to more humane ways of punishing people. Positivist criminology is maintaining the control of human behavior and criminal behavior. They did this through three different categories of Biological studies, which are five methodologies of crime that were mainly focused on biological theories, Psychological theories, which contains four separate theories, and the Sociological theories, which also includes four different methods of explaining why crime exists. The last theory is about Critical criminology. Their goal was to transform society in a way that would liberate and empower subordinate groups of individuals.
I think that utilitarianism theory makes the most sense to me over the other crime theories. The utilitarianism theory is based on that crime is rational and the punishment should fit the crime and is what the American jurisprudence system is based on. In a free society I feel that crime is a choice individuals make and not the result of biological for social circumstances. When I evaluated biological theory, it sounds like the general consensus is that an individual is born a criminal or a hereditary trait, but there is little evidence to support that all criminals are effected biologically. As for sociological theory in some places in the world, I can see this approach being effective. However, in the United States, we are a free country
In every century, there have been different levels tolerance for crime. History has made an example of how crime destroys and benefit societies. Humans are not born with to act a certain way. Once a bady reach adolescence, this stage would cause some of the problems because of their development. Deviant behaviors can put into perspective the amount of morality and values people have. Crime is defined as an unlawful action. But, it can be seen as balance in society. Those who need to learn whats right the hard way can proceed a criminal path. Crime is beneficial to society because of social changes, prevents further disobedience, and set boundries.