Choice Theory Chapter 4 SOC 112 Rational Choice

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Choice Theory Chapter 4 SOC 112

Choice Theory Chapter 4 SOC 112

Rational Choice 1. Crime: decision to violate law - greed / revenge / anger

Rational Choice 1. Crime: decision to violate law - greed / revenge / anger / lust / jealousy / etc. 2. Development - rooted in Classical School - Cesare Beccaria (late 1700 s) - fair / certain punishment - crime / punishment: proportional - marginal deterrence 3. Classical Theory

Choice, cont. - criminals choose - pleasure / pain principle a. Jeremy Bentham (early

Choice, cont. - criminals choose - pleasure / pain principle a. Jeremy Bentham (early 1800 s) - popularized - Utilitarianism b. Punishment - harmful / existence justified c. Four objectives:

Choice, cont. i. Prevent all criminal offenses ii. Not prevent / convince criminal offenders

Choice, cont. i. Prevent all criminal offenses ii. Not prevent / convince criminal offenders to commit lesser iii. Ensure criminal uses no more force than is necessary iv. Prevent crime as cheaply as possible d. Classical approach declined 4. Positivistic view - gains mainstream acceptance

Choice, cont. 5. Choice Theory emerges a. Public fear – mid 1970 s -

Choice, cont. 5. Choice Theory emerges a. Public fear – mid 1970 s - rehabilitation failed - crime increase - prison violence - media depictions b. Rational criminals – late 1970 s - planning / fear punishment / - deserve to be penalized

Choice, cont. c. Impact: crime control - tougher laws - mandatory sentencing - increase

Choice, cont. c. Impact: crime control - tougher laws - mandatory sentencing - increase prison population 6. Concepts - factors considered: personal / situational a. Offense-specific crime: - react selectively - characteristics

Concepts, cont. b. Offender-specific: - not automatons - random acts c. Crime versus criminality

Concepts, cont. b. Offender-specific: - not automatons - random acts c. Crime versus criminality - crime: an event - criminality: personal trait l Structuring criminality - personal factors condition people

Concepts, cont. a. Economic opportunity b. Learning / experience c. Knowledge of techniques 8.

Concepts, cont. a. Economic opportunity b. Learning / experience c. Knowledge of techniques 8. Structuring crime - rationally choose - where / when a. Choosing the crime (specialists)

Concepts, cont. b. Time and place (select) c. Target (vulnerability) 9. Is crime rational?

Concepts, cont. b. Time and place (select) c. Target (vulnerability) 9. Is crime rational? - rational / objective thought a. Theft - unplanned: involve risk assessment - boosters? - avoiding detection

Is Crime Rational? - permeable neighborhood? b. Drug use - decision making - like

Is Crime Rational? - permeable neighborhood? b. Drug use - decision making - like a business c. Violence - vulnerable victims - careful planning - avoid detection - reinforcing

Rational, cont. 10. Eliminating crime a. Situational crime prevention (1) Targets guarded (2) Defensible

Rational, cont. 10. Eliminating crime a. Situational crime prevention (1) Targets guarded (2) Defensible space (3) Specific crimes (4) Increase efforts - reduce opportunities

Rational, cont. (5) Reduce rewards - value of crime (6) Increase risk - crime

Rational, cont. (5) Reduce rewards - value of crime (6) Increase risk - crime is risky (7) Increase guilt - embarrass offender (8) Costs / benefits

Rational, cont. (a) Diffusion - prevent one / prevent another (b) Discouragement - target

Rational, cont. (a) Diffusion - prevent one / prevent another (b) Discouragement - target area / surrounding area (c) Displacement - effort in one / send to another (d) Extinction - short term

General Deterrence 1. Threat of punishment - influences / controls - people’s fear a.

General Deterrence 1. Threat of punishment - influences / controls - people’s fear a. Certainty of punishment - “tipping point” - crime persists b. Crime continues - small chance of arrest - reluctance to make arrest

Deterrence, cont. - lenient punishment c. Increase police activity - possible - crackdowns -

Deterrence, cont. - lenient punishment c. Increase police activity - possible - crackdowns - problem solving / community improvement d. Severity of punishment - certain crimes - not all criminal activity

Deterrence, cont. e. Capital punishment - might actually increase - states: no difference -

Deterrence, cont. e. Capital punishment - might actually increase - states: no difference - increase executions = reduce murder rate f. Informal sanctions - greater deterrent impact - disapproval / stigma / anger / indignation g. Shame / humiliation - powerful deterrent

Deterrence, cont. - public humiliation - effect varies h. General deterrence rationality - need

Deterrence, cont. - public humiliation - effect varies h. General deterrence rationality - need - greed - severity / speed 2. Specific deterrence (special / particular) - powerful sanctions / never repeat - deter crime?

Deterrence, cont. (1) Majority not deterred (2) Defiance / not deterrence j. Incapacitation -

Deterrence, cont. (1) Majority not deterred (2) Defiance / not deterrence j. Incapacitation - reduce crime - other factors (1) Teenage population (2) Mandatory sentencing (3) Economic health (4) Gun laws

Deterrence, cont. (5) Drug epidemic (6) Aggressive policing - logic behind: (1) Little evidence

Deterrence, cont. (5) Drug epidemic (6) Aggressive policing - logic behind: (1) Little evidence (2) Experienced inmates (3) Teens / young adults (4) Past crime age (5) Expensive (6) Accelerate upon release

Deterrence, cont. k. Selective incapacitation - chronic career criminal - “Three strikes” (1) Age

Deterrence, cont. k. Selective incapacitation - chronic career criminal - “Three strikes” (1) Age out soon (2) Severe sentences (3) Increased costs