Neoclassical School of criminology – Flashcards
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neoclassical is nearly identical to classical school except:
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Aggravating and mitigating circumstances are considered when determining punishment.
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The downfall of classical school: Loss of Dominance in 19th C.
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Crime rates remained high Emergence of biological sciences challenged rational offender idea. However, most Criminal justices of western world are based on classical school ideas.
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Deterrence Theory
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Motivation to commit crime can be reduced through punishment
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Assumptions of Deterrence
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Humans have free will Guided by Reason Rational decisions made based on costs/benefits analysis
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Deterrence Doctrine
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Swift Certain Severe
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General Deterrence
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Punishment inhibits the criminal offending of the general public Sanctioned offenders serve as models
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Specific Deterrence
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Punishment inhibits the future criminal offending of sanctioned offenders
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Deterrence research: Aggregate
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Group level data from UCR
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Deterrence research: Cross-Sectional
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Gathers data at one point in time
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Deterrence research: Longitudinal
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Gathers data more than once
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Deterrence research: Scenario or vignette
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Scenes or issues
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Rational Choice Theory
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Draws heavily on classical school and economic theories.
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Cornish & Clark (1986)
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Extends deterrence *Benefits *Includes extralegal factors (parents, schools, peers)
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Expected utility Principle
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People make rational decisions when they expect the choice to maximize profit and minimize costs.
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Crime will occur if...
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Gains from Crime > Formal sanctions + Informal sanctions + Moral Regrets
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Assumptions of Rational choice: 1. When calculating the expected utility of behavior, offenders contemplate 3 of the following:
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1. Probability of punishment 2. Anticipated rewards 3. Anticipated penalties
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Assumptions of Rational choice: 2. Each crime requires own set of skills and has own set of risks:
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1. Separate models for each criminal events. 2. Crime specific approach
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What is Assumptions of Rational choice #3?:
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3. Separate decision-making models are needed for each stage of the criminal career
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Rational choice Theory: Modest support (Decision to commit crime greatly influenced by):
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Informal factors (friends, school, parents) Expected benefits of crime
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Rational choice: Formal sanctions (other variables are more effective on behavior than formal sanctions):
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Do Not influence decision to commit. Do influence type of crimes chosen.
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Rational Choice Criticism:
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Ignores bounded rationality Assumes foul information Says there are no spontaneous acts
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Routine Activities Theory
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Developed by cohen & Felson (1979) Extends and expands deterrence Explains victimization
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3 Elements of Routine Activities Theory:
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1. lack of Capable Guardian 2. Motivated offenders 3. Suitable Guardian
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Routine Activities Theory
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Predicted relationships generally supported particularly good at explaining property crimes Individual and community characteristics predict victimization
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Routine Activities Theory: Criticisms
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Feminists (Ignore the fact that women are victimized in their own homes) Does not explain offending only victimization
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Theoretical Roots: Lifestyle Theory *Hindelang et all (1978)
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Certain lifestyle patterns increased the likelihood of contact with a motivated offender
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Theoretical Roots: Principle of Homo-gamy *Hindelang et all (1978)
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people are more likely to be victimized the more they associate with members of group most likely to offend.
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Theoretical Roots: Groups of risks of victimization *Hindelang et all (1978)
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1. Male 2. Minority 3. single 4. Young 5. Poor
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Attempts to reduce crime
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1. Increase police presence *kansas city preventive patrol *Police crackdowns 2. Capital punishment 3. Tougher sentensing *3 strikes laws. *Mandatory sentences.
