All these determinates are examples of how social and economic factors influence the general crime rates. Once a person weighs the benefits and the possible consequences of a potential criminal act, they are capable to make their choice. Deterrence is what helps make the consequences outweigh the benefits of a probable crime. General deterrence offers swift and certainty of punishment, specific deterrence makes sure that criminals that are punished severely enough they do not repeat. These two deterrence methods offer somewhat of a solution to the negative approach of the choice theory; if the individual is able to be deterred they will be able to make a more rational
The criminal justice policy process reflects what is best for society as a whole and not what is best for individuals. In the American way, the political system uses a democracy to voice concerns, goals, or objectives, especially with crime in order to persuade people and gain votes. Politics and criminal justice policy face public opinion and community influences all the time. Criminal justice policy focuses on issues that affect everyone. Once crime or a criminal problem is significant to be an issue, then action to alleviate the issue becomes important (Marion & Oliver, 2012).
Outline and evaluate functionalist explanations of crime and deviance Crime and deviance can be defined as behaviour which breaks the law or goes against society's norms and values. Downes and Rock defined deviance as behavior which may be considered as banned or controlled behavior which is likely to attract disapproval or punishment. Crime is harder to define, however Pease (2002) defined crime and deviance as an action that is deemed so disturbing by citizens or disruptive to society that state intervention is justified. The macro perspective of Functionalism sees society working like the human body, this is described through the organic analogy. The agents of socialization work together to form equilibrium within society.
Hence, when we study crime, it is vital to keep in mind that there are differing viewpoints within the field of criminology as to the fundamental nature of the subject matter itself. 2. How can theories help us to understand criminal behavior or to design strategies intended to control such behavior? Theory helps us to understand the world because it provides us with a fundamental pattern, which explains a variety of
Most, if not all, acts of crime are categorized as deviant behaviour, for example, murder. Deviance is behaviour which drifts away from society’s established norms and values, but is not necessarily perceived as crime, such as queue jumping (Haralambos and Holborn 2009). The functionalist approach to crime and deviance is one of value consensus. They emphasise social stability and collective public values, a ‘collective conscience’. Functionalist define crime and deviance as functional and necessary to society as a whole, with just the right amount of crime to avoid anomie; normlessness.
The state never the less has a role to play in upholding the core values & morals of a society. A Liberal approach to the criminal justice system argues that the state is not neutral, but reflects the diverse & competing interests that are evident within the community. The state & it’s institutions will respond to the pressure generated by different groups. The role of the state is to deal with the social problems as they arise, & to ensure the regulation of social competition & conflict.There is a developmental role for the state in providing for the basic welfare & educational opportunities of it’s
Sharing with you today I hope gives you a better understanding of a court and its purpose, the dual court system, the role that early legal codes, the common law, and precedent played in the development of courts, and the role of courts in the criminal justice system today. Court and the Purpose A court is a function in the judicial system that is in place in case someone is accused of some wrongdoing to another person or something they have done illegally. It is in place to protect and interpret the laws of American society by keeping the peace. The American courts, individuals within the society, and a judge will be ones that make a decision as to whether someone has committed a crime or any other wrongdoing. They then will decide on what the punishment of an individual is, yet also as to how severe the punishment will be for the crime they have done.
This is referred to as “social control” and its intent is to force those living in the communities to act in a way that is in line with the social norms and in accordance to society rules. “Of those various ways that societies and their members try to control behavior, criminal punishment is the most formal, for crime is perhaps the most serious type of behavior over which a society must gain control” (Clear, Cole, Reisig, and Petrosion, 2012, p. 8). This implies that corrections assist our society in determining those behaviors that are considered acceptable. However, as Emil Durkheim suggest, “crime is normal and that punishment performs the important function of spotlighting societal rules and values” (Clear, Cole, Reisig, and Petrosion, 2012, p. 8). I am in agreement of this, because it is obvious that crime will continue to happen, and as a society we must find productive ways of address the issues and dealing with those individuals in violation of established
First I would like to start by giving a brief definition of what or better said – how, criminology differs from victimology. Criminology is more concerned with the origin of crime along the extent and nature of crime. Criminology places an emphasis on studying the offender, the crimes, and the motives behind the crime. It is also the study of how the public and criminal justice system responds to the offender. Victimology plays a very important role in criminology and is used to determine what the victim’s behavior has to do with their risk of being victimized.
Theory and method should be means to an end, and having criminal knowledge is the end. Quantitative research is concerned with measuring social or criminal justice reality. Quantitative approach favors studying “phenomena that can be measured, observed, objectified and examined empirically” (Worrall, 2000, p.359). Qualitative research has concepts that are viewed as sensitizing ideas that may enhance a persons’ understanding. Qualitative researchers will try to develop empathetic understanding about a subject matter.