Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Crime and Delinquency Chapter 10...

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 10

Crime and Crime and DelinquencyDelinquency

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Myth or Fact?Myth or Fact?

Many crimes are Many crimes are committed by people who committed by people who are otherwise considered are otherwise considered quite respectable by quite respectable by themselves and othersthemselves and others..

Crimes are Crimes are committed by the committed by the less educated less educated people of society.people of society.

Fact Myth


Explanations of CrimeExplanations of Crime

Biological explanations view crime as arising from

people’s physical

constitution or genetic makeup.

Psychological explanations view crime as being linked to

personality disorders or

maladjustments, often developing

during childhood.


The Functionalist PerspectiveThe Functionalist Perspective

Crime arises in part from the Crime arises in part from the weakened bonds to family, church, weakened bonds to family, church, and community. and community. Anomie theory views crime as a Anomie theory views crime as a

consequence of the inconsistency or consequence of the inconsistency or confusion between the goals people are confusion between the goals people are taught to strive for and the culturally taught to strive for and the culturally approved means they have available to approved means they have available to achieve these goals. achieve these goals.


The Conflict PerspectiveThe Conflict Perspective

Conflict theorists argue that it is Conflict theorists argue that it is powerful groups in society that powerful groups in society that decide which crimes will be decide which crimes will be considered serious problems and considered serious problems and who will be arrested and sent to jail who will be arrested and sent to jail for committing crimes.for committing crimes.

Contradictions in capitalism are also Contradictions in capitalism are also a source of crime. a source of crime.


The Interactionist PerspectiveThe Interactionist Perspective

Cultural transmission theories posit Cultural transmission theories posit that crimes are learned and culturally that crimes are learned and culturally transmitted through socialization. transmitted through socialization. Differential association theory sees crime Differential association theory sees crime

as learned through interaction with other as learned through interaction with other peoplepeople

Labeling theory suggests that whether Labeling theory suggests that whether other people define or label a person as other people define or label a person as deviant is a critical determinant in the deviant is a critical determinant in the development of a pattern of deviant development of a pattern of deviant behavior.behavior.


Crime and Crime DataCrime and Crime Data

Crime Crime an act that violates a criminal code an act that violates a criminal code

enacted by an officially constituted enacted by an officially constituted political authority. political authority.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)(FBI) publishes an annual document called the publishes an annual document called the

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), which Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), which summarizes the crime statistics collected summarizes the crime statistics collected by law enforcement agencies each monthby law enforcement agencies each month


Types of CrimeTypes of Crime

Juvenile Delinquency

Victimless Crime

White-Collar Crime

Organized and Globalized CrimeCybercrime

Property Crime

Violent Crime


Crime Rate in the U.S.Crime Rate in the U.S.

According to the FBI,According to the FBI, the crime and delinquency rates in the the crime and delinquency rates in the

U.S. have been rising for a number of U.S. have been rising for a number of decades decades

the rise appears to have leveled off in the the rise appears to have leveled off in the 1980s and declined somewhat since the 1980s and declined somewhat since the early 1990s.early 1990s.

Some crime increases may reflect a Some crime increases may reflect a likelihood to report crime rather than a likelihood to report crime rather than a increase in the incidence of crime. increase in the incidence of crime.


Who are the Criminals?Who are the Criminals? GenderGender

Males have higher rates of involvement in practically all Males have higher rates of involvement in practically all forms of criminality. forms of criminality.

AgeAge Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement. Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement.

Socioeconomic StatusSocioeconomic Status The relationship between socioeconomic status and The relationship between socioeconomic status and

crime is probably more complicated and may be weak.crime is probably more complicated and may be weak. RaceRace

Differences in arrest rates between racial groups exist; Differences in arrest rates between racial groups exist; however, they may merely reflect biases of the criminal however, they may merely reflect biases of the criminal justice system, such as the likelihood of arrest. justice system, such as the likelihood of arrest.


Who are the Victims?Who are the Victims?

Twenty-three out of every one Twenty-three out of every one thousand Americans are crime victims thousand Americans are crime victims each year.each year.

Race and sex affect rates of Race and sex affect rates of victimization with males and blacks victimization with males and blacks considerably more likely to be victims.considerably more likely to be victims.

Offenders are often the victims of Offenders are often the victims of other criminals. other criminals.


The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

The PoliceThe Police The police have much discretion and The police have much discretion and

sometimes do not receive the support of sometimes do not receive the support of the public or the court.the public or the court.

The courts The courts There is substantial case attrition following There is substantial case attrition following

arrest.arrest. Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of

all convictions for criminal offenses.all convictions for criminal offenses.


The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

Sentencing and PunishmentSentencing and Punishment The criminal justice system has become The criminal justice system has become

more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” legislation and “blended sentencing.”legislation and “blended sentencing.”

The Prisons The Prisons The rate of incarceration has quadrupled The rate of incarceration has quadrupled

since 1975.since 1975. Prison overcrowding makes it harder to Prison overcrowding makes it harder to

achieve the goal of rehabilitation. achieve the goal of rehabilitation.


Future ProspectsFuture Prospects To control crime, social reforms that have To control crime, social reforms that have

an impact on the social conditions that an impact on the social conditions that cause crime are needed.cause crime are needed.

The legalization of some crimes would free The legalization of some crimes would free police to deal with the more serious crimes.police to deal with the more serious crimes.

The police could institute new law The police could institute new law enforcement procedures that would allow enforcement procedures that would allow them to capture the most serious them to capture the most serious offenders. offenders.

The courts could be made more effective The courts could be made more effective through judicial reform.through judicial reform.


Future Prospects Future Prospects Alternatives to prison and prison reform Alternatives to prison and prison reform

could be enacted to improve the could be enacted to improve the effectiveness of social control mechanisms. effectiveness of social control mechanisms.

There could also be a reduction in the There could also be a reduction in the environmental opportunities to commit environmental opportunities to commit crimes. crimes.

More opportunities for victim restitution More opportunities for victim restitution could be established through programs and could be established through programs and policies.policies.


Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of Robert Merton’s Strain Theory of DevianceDeviance

There is a There is a strong cultural emphasis on strong cultural emphasis on successsuccess goals in America. goals in America.

Everyone is socialized to aspire toward Everyone is socialized to aspire toward high achievement and success.high achievement and success.

Competitiveness and success are Competitiveness and success are glorified by public authorities, taught in glorified by public authorities, taught in schools, and glamorized in the mediaschools, and glamorized in the media

Worth is judged by material and Worth is judged by material and monetary success. monetary success.



There is a discrepancy between means There is a discrepancy between means and goals for obtaining successand goals for obtaining success

Disadvantaged groups do not have Disadvantaged groups do not have equal access to such legitimate equal access to such legitimate opportunities.opportunities.

This anomic condition produces strain This anomic condition produces strain or pressure on these groups to take or pressure on these groups to take advantage of whatever effective means advantage of whatever effective means to success they can find.to success they can find.



Merton proposed five ways of Merton proposed five ways of responding to (or adapting to) goals responding to (or adapting to) goals verse the means.verse the means.

ConformityConformity: Most common response: Most common response

IInnovationnnovation: Typical criminal response: Typical criminal response

RitualismRitualism: Habitual response: Habitual response

RetreatismRetreatism: Typical of drug use or “hobos”: Typical of drug use or “hobos”

RebellionRebellion: Seeking radical change: Seeking radical change



Adaptations Goals Means

Conformity Accept Accept

Innovation Accept Reject

Ritualism Reject Accept

Retreatism Reject Reject

Rebellion Replace Replace


Opportunity TheoryOpportunity Theory

Sociologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Sociologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1960) suggested that for deviance Ohlin (1960) suggested that for deviance to occur, people must have access to occur, people must have access illegitimate opportunity structures:illegitimate opportunity structures:

Circumstances that provide an opportunity Circumstances that provide an opportunity for people to acquire through illegitimate for people to acquire through illegitimate activities what they cannot achieve activities what they cannot achieve through legitimate channels.through legitimate channels.


Differential Association Theory Differential Association Theory PerspectivesPerspectives

States that people have a greater States that people have a greater tendency to deviate from societal norms tendency to deviate from societal norms when they frequently associate with when they frequently associate with individuals who are more favorable toward individuals who are more favorable toward deviance than conformity. deviance than conformity.

From this approach, criminal behavior is From this approach, criminal behavior is learned within intimate personal groups learned within intimate personal groups such as one’s family and peer groupssuch as one’s family and peer groups


Differential ReinforcementDifferential ReinforcementTheoryTheory

Criminologist Ronald Akers (1998) combined Criminologist Ronald Akers (1998) combined differential association theory with elements differential association theory with elements of psychological learning theory to create of psychological learning theory to create differential reinforcement theory. differential reinforcement theory.

If a person’s friends and groups define If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “right,” they is more deviant behavior as “right,” they is more likely to engage in deviant behavior.likely to engage in deviant behavior.

If a person’s friends and groups define If a person’s friends and groups define deviant behavior as “wrong,” the person is deviant behavior as “wrong,” the person is less likely to engage in that behavior. less likely to engage in that behavior.


Social Bond TheorySocial Bond Theory The probability of deviant behavior increases The probability of deviant behavior increases

when a person’s ties to society are weakened or when a person’s ties to society are weakened or broken. broken.

According to Travis Hirschi, social bonding According to Travis Hirschi, social bonding consists of consists of

attachment to other peopleattachment to other people

commitment to conformitycommitment to conformity

involvement in conventional activitiesinvolvement in conventional activities

belief in the legitimacy of conventional norms.belief in the legitimacy of conventional norms.


Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory Attempts to explain why some people are Attempts to explain why some people are

viewed as deviants while others are not; viewed as deviants while others are not; also known as societal-reaction approach.also known as societal-reaction approach.

The act of fixing a person with a negative The act of fixing a person with a negative identity (label), such as “criminal” is identity (label), such as “criminal” is directly related to the power of those who directly related to the power of those who do the labeling and those being labeled. do the labeling and those being labeled.


Stages in the Labeling ProcessStages in the Labeling Process Primary deviancePrimary deviance is believed to be unorganized, is believed to be unorganized,

inconsistent, and infrequent. Without social inconsistent, and infrequent. Without social reaction, the deviance would most likely remain reaction, the deviance would most likely remain sporadic and unorganized.sporadic and unorganized.

Secondary deviance Secondary deviance occurs when a person who occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant accepts the identity has been labeled a deviant accepts the identity and continues the deviant behavior.and continues the deviant behavior.

Tertiary deviance Tertiary deviance occurs when a person who occurs when a person who has been labeled a deviant seeks to normalize the has been labeled a deviant seeks to normalize the behavior by relabeling it as non-deviant.behavior by relabeling it as non-deviant.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Crime and Delinquency Chapter 10...

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