1 / 10

Theories of Crime: Exploring Classical and Sociological Perspectives

This course introduces students to the theories of crime, examining classical theories such as Cesare Beccaria's and Jeremy Bentham's perspectives on punishment, as well as sociological theories like the Chicago School's social disorganization theory and differential association theory. The course also explores critical sociological theories, including conflict theory and feminist perspectives on crime and justice. A comprehensive understanding of these theories will be used to analyze the social context in which crime exists.

margieadams
Download Presentation

Theories of Crime: Exploring Classical and Sociological Perspectives

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Department of Criminal Justice California State University - Bakersfield CRJU 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice Dr. Abu-Lughod, Reem Ali Theories of Crime

  2. Intro: • Demonology • Supernatural forces • Religion and the role of Church • Trial by ordeal; guilt or innocence. Today’s perception of GOD, e.g. Andrea Yates Classical School of Criminology • Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham • Free will • Severity of punishment • The “cause” of crime

  3. Cesare Beccaria • On Crimes and Punishment (1738-1794) • His 9 Principles • Today: right to confront accusers, speedy trials, presumption of innocence, right not to testify against oneself Bentham • “utilitarianism” theory • Views on pain and pleasure • 4 factors to be considered: duration, intensity, certainty/uncertainty, propinquity or remoteness

  4. Today’s shift to focus on policies ands social circumstances • The transition to the Positivist School of Criminology • Going beyond free will SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME • The environment? The Chicago School • Shaw and McKay • Social disorganization • Curran and Renzetti: not necessarily ethnic ort racial minorities , but deteriorated neighborhoods, economically disadvantaged, weak social norms

  5. Differential Association Theory • Edwin Sutherland (1883-1950) • Association with others, but how does it take place? Differential Association and Behaviorism • Aker borrowed from Sutherland and incorporated behavior • Operant conditioning • Positive/negative reinforcement • Modeling others

  6. Strain Theory Robert Merton Influenced by Emile Durkheim Anomie and normlessness Merton (unequal access to attain goals in society). SO WHAT? 5 modes of adaptation

  7. Neutralization Theory • Justification of behavior • Sykes and Matza’s 5 techniques (denial) Critical Sociological Theories of Crime • Addressing different issues of crime • Critical Theory: social justice as a legitimate end • Distribution of power in society • How power reflect the role of the CJ system • “conflict” or “radical”

  8. Marxism • Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Social Theorist: communism reflection • Marx’s critique of capitalism and its impact on social justice • Argued (after studying capitalism system in Europe) that owners of means of production paid workers poorly and used government to pass laws that prevented reform • One with econ power controlled system • Institutions (churches, schools, etc…) under control of owner class • “false consciousness”

  9. Solution in response to “false consciousness” • Social class and power in society; corporate versus street crimes GENDER AND JUSTICE • Male versus female subjects • Feminist movements in 1960s • FEMINISM/FEMINIST views Curran & Renzetti identify 3 ways crime can be perceived from feminist views: 1. LIBERAL FEMINISM and criminology • 2 issues: 1) power for accomplishment versus gender 2) behavioral approaches among men and women • The opportunity for women to commit crime 2. RADICAL FEMINIST crim • Sexism in a patriarchal society • Rape, pornography • Are we addressing their concerns?

  10. 3. SOCIALIST FEM crim • Social class and gender as a disadvantaged status • Social control as a reason for deviance and violence • What if race becomes a factor? • Feminist perspective as a social movement 4. CRITICAL RACE T • Overrepresentation of people of color in CJS • “ we are as nation of laws and not of men” • Legitimizing white supremacy and oppression of the weaker class INTEGRATED T • Bridging together different T and disciplines • Possible research designs • Social context within which crime exists

More Related