Examining Social Structure Theory: Tent City, Arizona

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Examining Theory Paper A social learning theory says that all behavior is learned in much the same way and that such learning includes the acquisition of norms, values, and patterns of behaviors conducive to crime, meaning that crime is also learned and that people learn to commit crime from others (Schmalleger, F., 2012). One would think about this theory when he/she thinks about the crimes that a person would commit to get caught and sent to Tent City, Arizona. Social Structure Theory Seigel (2000), “Social structure theories suggest people's places in the socioeconomic structure influence their chances of becoming a criminal”. According to this theory if a person is poor he/she may commit crimes because they feel that there is no…show more content…
Some of these criminals are in trouble with crime because of their social standings in their communities. “Social structure theory has three schools of thought--social disorganization, strain, and cultural deviance theories” (Seigel, 2000). The social disorganization theory states that a person resorts to crime because of the location and economic standing that the person is in. If a person is poor it is thought of that the person will more likely commit a crime. The social strain theory states that the person commits the crime because they are angry because they are not able to succeed economically as he/she would like to. The cultural deviance theory states that a person does not feel that he/she will every succeed economically and will fight or do whatever he/she has to so that he/she can get what they want in life. The social learning theory states that a person learns a crime from others. Each of these theories is reasons that a person may commit a crime. In Tent City felons are divided into different racial groups. These felons stick to their own racial group for safety and security. A program that could be put into effect is one that would allow the prisoners to get an education. If they get an education while in prison it would make it easier to them to get a better job when he/she is released, and possibly breaking the vicious cycle. Rehabilitation programs are programs that help the felons while they are prison. There are different types of rehabilitation programs for different types of problems. Whether the person has a drug problem or other problems there is programs that are in place to take care of each individual situation. The felon that gets the help while in prison does not always continue on the right path after his/her release from prison, but any help given could change a person’s
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