Choice Theory, Criminal Justice

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Criminal Justice Essay: Choice Theory I think that everything has balance. That there are multiple ways to look at things. There are two sides to every story. I think that this applies in many ways to the different types of choice theories. Rational choice theory says that criminals are rational people. They make calculated choices about whom they are going to target, how they are going to commit the act. Sometimes they even weigh the consequences for doing so. I think that this is a very valid theory. If you look at serial killers who go on for decades without being caught, they have to have some sort of intelligence to pull that off. I wouldn’t doubt that they are very intelligent people. Just because they chose to do awful things doesn’t mean that they are dumb, or even uneducated. On the other hand, do I think that this theory applies to every criminal act committed? No. I think that some people commit crimes out of rage, fear, thrill, all kinds of reasons. And, they do so without a moments notice. I also think that you can find people who commit crimes with all different levels of rational. For example, if you are going to rob a federal bank, and you plan for months and months to pull it off, than I would say that you have rationalized the crime extensively. If you look at someone who knew they were going to rob a convenient store, so they obtained a gun, but they don’t know when they are going commit the robbery, or exactly what store they are going to rob. Then yes they have rationalized and planned but nowhere near the amount that the bank robber did. The bank robber knows at precisely what moment they need to enter that bank, how long they have to get the job done, what happens if they get caught. They convenient store robber, is going to rob the bank and as far as he has thought the plan through is, “I need a gun.” However to me, the amount of thought,
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