The Conservative Theory Approach To The Criminal Justice System

Unlike previous theories, the conservative theory took a primitive approach to crime during the 1980s and 1990s. After the turn of the century, crime was associated and viewed through the lens of society. That lens shifted during the 1980s as crime was viewed as the responsibility of the individual and not through society. For example, the individualistic views the Classical School and Positivist School theorists had. Although Wilson and Herrnstein did not take the same approach as Beccaria, Bentham, or Lombroso each set out to once again, get tough on crime and bring ‘“punishment back into society’” (Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, 2015, p. 328). The two primary questions for conservative theory was asked by Wilson and Herrnstein in their book,

In addition, the new scope on combating crime also projected many policy implications as the conservative theory is applied to the criminal justice system today. Across the board, the conservative theory holds true to “get tough on crime” as it called to hire more law enforcement officers throughout the nation. Eventually this would lead the government and local law enforcement agencies to increase their force not only in personnel but also in equipment and other necessary items that are essential to each law enforcement officer. Simply put, it would cost the agencies more money due to the combating crime rates with more arrests. In addition, this would also lead to the increase and hiring of more judges/magistrates, prison guards, prisons, and essential staffing within the criminal justice system. According to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2015), “the financial burdens of prison during the fiscally tight times of the 1980s furnished ample motivation to search for alternative methods of social control. Still, in turning to community corrections, conservatives brought a distinctive look” (p. 345). Interesting enough, the rise of the criminal justice services throughout the nation continued to build, as agencies got tough on crime, however, the taxes and financial burdens are felt even two decades later. Overall the influence of getting tough on crime/ the conservative movement focused on the individual motives as the cause for crime. As the focus narrowed, the policies that were implemented created positive and negative impacts on society. If such polices continued to strive for more policing into the twenty-first century and continued to dawn the extreme “get tough on crime” lens then taxes and financial issues would grow out of control. To that end, the United States continues to feel the effect of the conservative movement in the 1980s