Criminology CLN4U. What is “crime”? What is “criminology”? Criminology refers to the study of the nature, causes, and means of dealing with crime Criminology

CriminologyCriminology

CLN4UCLN4U

What is “crime”?What is “crime”?

What is “criminology”?What is “criminology”?

Criminology refers to the study of the Criminology refers to the study of the nature, causes, and means of dealing nature, causes, and means of dealing with crimewith crime

Classical CriminologyClassical Criminology

Classical theories on criminology Classical theories on criminology came out of the chaos of justice in came out of the chaos of justice in the 18th and early 19th centuriesthe 18th and early 19th centuries

Some key thinkers:Some key thinkers: Cesare BeccariaCesare Beccaria Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham

Cesare BeccariaCesare Beccaria

Famous for writing Famous for writing On Crimes and On Crimes and PunishmentPunishment Humans are driven by self-interest, but are Humans are driven by self-interest, but are

rational in their decisionsrational in their decisions Government should act on behalf of all citizensGovernment should act on behalf of all citizens Citizens are prepared to give up some Citizens are prepared to give up some

freedoms in exchange for protectionfreedoms in exchange for protection Existence of law should act as sufficient Existence of law should act as sufficient

deterrentdeterrent Punishment should be proportionately greater Punishment should be proportionately greater

than enjoyment received by disobeyingthan enjoyment received by disobeying

Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham

Based his view on theory of Based his view on theory of utilitarianismutilitarianism Law should ensure the greatest good for Law should ensure the greatest good for

the greatest number of peoplethe greatest number of people Social contract between government Social contract between government

and people, each with clear and people, each with clear responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Government to make clear what was illegal Government to make clear what was illegal and what punishment would ariseand what punishment would arise

Citizens to follow laws as createdCitizens to follow laws as created

Positivist CriminologyPositivist Criminology

Began in late 19th centuryBegan in late 19th century Focused on biological and Focused on biological and

psychological factors to explain psychological factors to explain criminal behaviourcriminal behaviour

Based on the idea that criminals are Based on the idea that criminals are born, not madeborn, not made nature trumps nurturenature trumps nurture

Generally discredited todayGenerally discredited today

Positivist CriminologyPositivist Criminology

Cesare LombrosoCesare Lombroso Studied cadavers of criminalsStudied cadavers of criminals Argued that criminals had distinct Argued that criminals had distinct

physical featuresphysical features XYY TheoryXYY Theory

Chromosomal abnormalities may Chromosomal abnormalities may explain criminal behaviourexplain criminal behaviour

Debunked when researchers proved Debunked when researchers proved idea incorrectidea incorrect

Sociological CriminologySociological Criminology

Crime cannot be properly understood Crime cannot be properly understood without examining the surrounding without examining the surrounding social, political and economic contextsocial, political and economic context

These theorists focus on external These theorists focus on external factors as an explanation for criminal factors as an explanation for criminal behaviourbehaviour the offender’s race, neighbourhood, social the offender’s race, neighbourhood, social

circle, income level, education level, job or circle, income level, education level, job or career, and type of childhood determine career, and type of childhood determine why a person became delinquentwhy a person became delinquent


Theory of AnomieTheory of Anomie Anonymity of large urban areas Anonymity of large urban areas

diminishes effect of traditional morals and diminishes effect of traditional morals and normsnorms

FunctionalityFunctionality Criminal behaviour has always existed, in Criminal behaviour has always existed, in

all communities, so it must serve a useful all communities, so it must serve a useful purposepurpose

Criminality is a sign of non-conformity, Criminality is a sign of non-conformity, and this can be beneficialand this can be beneficial


Ecological SchoolEcological School AKA the “Chicago school”AKA the “Chicago school” High rates of poverty and social High rates of poverty and social

disintegration are likely to lead to higher disintegration are likely to lead to higher crime ratescrime rates

Social Conflict Theories Social Conflict Theories Arose from ideas of Marx and EngelsArose from ideas of Marx and Engels Capitalism essentially encourages crimeCapitalism essentially encourages crime Justice system protects powerful elite, Justice system protects powerful elite,

decides actions of lower classes are decides actions of lower classes are criminalcriminal


Consensus TheoryConsensus Theory There is a universal definition of right There is a universal definition of right

and wrongand wrong Criminal laws prohibit what the majority Criminal laws prohibit what the majority

finds wrongfinds wrong

Case Study: The American Dream Case Study: The American Dream and Devianceand Deviance

Emile Durkheim (Emile Durkheim (The Division of The Division of Labor in SocietyLabor in Society, 1893), 1893)

Anomie isAnomie is a breakdown of social a breakdown of social norms and a condition where norms norms and a condition where norms no longer control the activities of no longer control the activities of members in societymembers in society


Robert Messner (Robert Messner (Social Structure and Social Structure and AnomieAnomie, 1938), 1938)

Argued that it was the rigid Argued that it was the rigid adherence to conventional American adherence to conventional American values that caused high rates of values that caused high rates of crime and deviancecrime and deviance

Believed that the American Believed that the American obsession with economic success obsession with economic success produced high levels of serious crimeproduced high levels of serious crime


All members of American society ascribe to the All members of American society ascribe to the “American dream” that if one were simply willing “American dream” that if one were simply willing to work hard enough, one would inevitably reap to work hard enough, one would inevitably reap the economic rewards of such laboursthe economic rewards of such labours

The problem is that despite the widespread belief The problem is that despite the widespread belief in the possibility of upward social mobility, the in the possibility of upward social mobility, the American social structure limits individuals’ American social structure limits individuals’ access to the goal of economic success through access to the goal of economic success through legitimate meanslegitimate means Ex: while the probability of attaining economic success Ex: while the probability of attaining economic success

would be enhanced by getting a college education, not would be enhanced by getting a college education, not all members of American society are able to do soall members of American society are able to do so


This disjunction between culturally ascribed This disjunction between culturally ascribed goals (i.e., economic success) and the goals (i.e., economic success) and the availability of legitimate means to attain availability of legitimate means to attain such goals (i.e., social structural limits) in such goals (i.e., social structural limits) in turn puts pressure on the cultural norms turn puts pressure on the cultural norms that guide what means should be used to that guide what means should be used to achieve the culturally prescribed goalachieve the culturally prescribed goal

The result, Merton states, is that “the sole The result, Merton states, is that “the sole significant question becomes: Which of the significant question becomes: Which of the available procedures is most efficient in available procedures is most efficient in netting the culturally approved value?”netting the culturally approved value?”


Key precepts of Social Conflict Key precepts of Social Conflict theory:theory: The capitalist system inherently fosters The capitalist system inherently fosters

deviance (emphasis on competition, deviance (emphasis on competition, persisting inequality, and economic persisting inequality, and economic prosperity as to priority)prosperity as to priority)

The justice system as a tool of The justice system as a tool of oppression (purpose is to maintain oppression (purpose is to maintain social stratification and serve the social stratification and serve the interests of those in power)interests of those in power)


Social conflict is defined by socially Social conflict is defined by socially unequal groups, such as the rich and unequal groups, such as the rich and the poor, competing for money and the poor, competing for money and material goodsmaterial goods The fundamental cause of crime is The fundamental cause of crime is

oppression, resulting from social and oppression, resulting from social and economic forces operating within economic forces operating within societysociety


How does anomie theory and social conflict How does anomie theory and social conflict theory explain the United States high rates theory explain the United States high rates of deviance?of deviance? Deviant behaviour in upper strata (Bernie Deviant behaviour in upper strata (Bernie

Madoff, Enron, etc.)Madoff, Enron, etc.) Deviant behaviour in lower strata (crime rates in Deviant behaviour in lower strata (crime rates in

the ghetto, glorification of criminal lifestyle in hip the ghetto, glorification of criminal lifestyle in hip hop)hop)

Is it paradoxical that the “land of Is it paradoxical that the “land of opportunity” has the highest rate of opportunity” has the highest rate of incarceration in the world?incarceration in the world? Americans represent about 5% percent of the Americans represent about 5% percent of the

world's population, but nearly 25% of the world’s world's population, but nearly 25% of the world’s prisonersprisoners


Read article “Read article “U.S. prison U.S. prison population dwarfs that of other population dwarfs that of other nations”nations”

Apply anomie and social conflict Apply anomie and social conflict theory to explain what the United theory to explain what the United States has the highest rate of States has the highest rate of incarceration in the worldincarceration in the world

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Criminology CLN4U. What is “crime”? What is “criminology”? Criminology refers to the study of the nature, causes, and means of dealing with crime Criminology