OBJECTIVES Individual and Group Projects – 6:30 Introduce several criminological theories –
6:45 BREAK – 8:00 Short videos – 8:15 Discussion – 8:45 Assignment – 9:30 PM
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT – DUE 11/23/15 Dispatches from Juvenile Hall Read entire book Randomly assigned 3 case studies on
11/09/15 5 – 7 pages; 12-point TNR; double-spaced Using theory, policy and practice Evaluate juveniles’ lives What may have lead to their involvement in
JJS? What could have helped them? Specifics
GROUP PROJECT – DUE 12/07/15 Book issues resolved? Everyone in group must read entire book Everyone must have active role Present to classmates
Summarize Juvenile Delinquency focus Criticisms Pose questions / discussion
Audio / visual aid (be creative) 20 minutes, plus discussion
THEORY RELATIONSHIPSLeftist RightistIndividual Views
Choice Theory Trait TheoriesCriminal atavism (old) Lombroso
Biosocial (new)Psychological
Psychodynamic theory Freud
Behavioral theory
Sociological Views
Cognitive theory
Social Process Theories
Social Structure Theories
Critical Theories
Social learning theory
Social control theory
General theory of self control G&H
Integrated ViewsLife course Theories
TrajectoryLatent trait/propensity
Labeling theory & Reintegrative shaming
Social disorganization
Anomie/strain
Critical feminism
Power-control
Liberal feminism
THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Classical Choice
Rational Routine Activities
Trait Biological Psychological
Individual Views
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Social Structure Social
disorganization Strain / anomie
Social Process Labeling Social Control Social Learning General Theory
Critical / Social Reaction Critical feminism Liberal feminism Power-control
Sociological Views
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Life-course Trajectory Latent trait
Integrated Views
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
INDIVIDUAL Choice
Rational Choice: individuals have free will and weight the consequences of their actions beforehand
Routine Activities: Crimes will occur if there is a motivated offender and a suitable target
Biological and Psychological Bio: the cause of crime can be found in child’s
physical or biological make-up Psych: cause can be found in child’s
psychological traits and characteristics Cog. Theory: delinquents analyze and perceive
information improperly
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
CLASSICALo If benefits outweigh the punishments, youths will
commit delinquent/criminal actso Proponents/theorists: Classical criminologists
Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham o Sub-theories/links: routine activities theoryo Solution: make punishment outweigh the crime; more
severity, faster and more consistent punishment response
o Critiques: classical criminologists did not promote severity of punishment; deterrence will not work if criminals are not rational, do not know punishments
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY Predatory crimes and some property crime
will occur if there is a motivated offender and a suitable target
Proponents/theorists: Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson
Solution: Guard targets, monitor offenders, increase the risks, reduce the rewards
Critiques: deterrence will not work if criminals are not rational (and children are likely less rational than adult criminals), do not know punishments, increasing shame can be counterproductive
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT (OLD SCHOOL) Origins of trait theory is Cesare Lombroso’s theory
of criminal atavism: criminals are evolutionary throwbacks
Poor methods, poor experimental design; no longer accepted but served as basis for contemporary trait theories
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT THEORIES (CONTEMPORARY) A combination of personal trait and
environmental influences produce individual behavior patterns
Biosocial: the cause of delinquency can be found in a child’s physical or biological makeup
Psychological: the cause can be found in the child’s psychological traits and characteristics
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL Biosocial influences:
Environmental contamination such as PCB or lead exposure Poor diet or over- or under-supply of certain chemicals, minerals Increased testosterone levels; alcohol, tobacco, drug exposure
in womb Genetic influences
Support: ~ 20% of offenders report a traumatic brain injury, suffer from antisocial traits throughout their lives
West & Farrington’s data: delinquent youths have criminal fathers MZ twins’ delinquency is much more closely associated than DZ
twins’; data from identical twins raised separately Solution: specialized attention, intervention (government
regulation, abortion, eugenics) Critique: Insensitive treatment by social control agents can cause
delinquency, some interventions unethicalShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT THEORIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
TRAIT THEORIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL Delinquent behaviors are symptomatic of psychological problems
Freud’s psychodynamic theory: if parents fail to help a child develop superego properly, the child’s id may become dominant and lead to antisocial behavior
Different types of psychosis have since been named bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and so forth
Support: Juvenile offenders have a disproportionate amount of mental health problems, personality disturbance 88% of male and 92% of female incarcerated youth had a
psychiatric disorder Those particularly linked to delinquent behavior:
oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), clinical depression, eating disorders
Solution: prevention, treatment, counseling Critique: Some other variable or factor can be causing delinquent
behavior, like failure in school, or abuse; circular reasoning
PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES: COGNITIVE THEORY
Delinquents perceive and analyze information improperly Support: Kohlberg’s studies find a majority of delinquents
have a lack of respect for the law and personalities marked by self-interest compared to non-delinquents
Non-delinquent youth exhibit higher stages of moral reasoning than delinquent youth
Nature theory: delinquents are mentally deficient (low IQ) Nurture theory: Low IQ is not hereditary but rather results
from an environment that encourages delinquent behavior Subsequent research has disputed any association between
intelligence and delinquency (Sutherland)
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL Social disorganization
Delinquency occurs in high-poverty, low public order areas because of no social control
Strain / Anomie Legitimate means of attending goals does not
exist Social learning
Delinquent behavior is learning from the interaction with others
Social Control Delinquency is inhibited by strong relationships
with conventional individual and groupsShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
BEHAVIORAL THEORY & SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Behavioral theory: People learn by observing how
others react to their behavior; behavior is reinforced by a positive reaction/event
Social learning theory: Learning and social experiences, within the context of norms and expectations, will determine behavior
Proponents/theorists: B.F. Skinner (behaviorist), Edwin Sutherland (sociologist), Donald Cressey (sociologist), Ronald L. Akers (sociologist)
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Delinquent behavior is learned in interaction with others
(differential association) Family members and peers greatly influence a person’s
development Support: Besides own prior deviant behavior, the best single
predictor of onset, continuance, desistance of crime/delinquency is association with conforming or law-violating peers (frequency, duration, closeness)
Solution: Peer counseling, gang interventions, family and school programs, drug prevention and education programs
Critique: Some ways that theorists define principles of reinforcement rely on circular reasoning; order of association and delinquency is problematic
SOCIAL CONTROL THEORIES Delinquency is inhibited by strong relationships with
conventional individuals and groups If children develop strong commitments to conformity, they
will be able to resist pressures to violate the law; if these bonds are broken, they will feel free to break the law because they are not worried about jeopardizing their relationships
Proponents: Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson Hirschi’s social bond theory is the basis for social control
theory, and general theory of self-control theory follows from social control theory (G &H)
Social bond theory: The four elements attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs make up a person’s bond to society; the weaker these bonds are, the more likely the person will violate the lawShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,
MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL CONTROL THEORIES: GENERAL THEORY OF SELF-CONTROL Individuals with low self-control will be much more
likely to engage in criminal acts The source of low self-control is ineffective or
incomplete socialization, especially ineffective child rearing
Support: Measures of self-control and attitudes consistent with low self-control correlate with delinquency/criminal behavior
Solution: Parenting skills training Critique: Many definitions of self-control are
circular; attitudinal measures get around this. Hirschi’s portrayal of delinquents as lone wolves seems to conflict with social learning theoriesShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,
MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL REACTION/LABELING THEORY Becoming stigmatized or labeled by agents of social control,
informal and formal, creates and sustains delinquency If a child is perceived as deviant, (s)he may be treated as a
delinquent (labeled/stigmatized/marginalized), increasing the likelihood that (s)he will seek out other stigmatized individuals or reject the rejectors, internalize the deviant label (self-label) and subsequently commit delinquency/crime
Proponents: Howard Becker Solution: Avoid stigmatization, use restorative justice
programs rather than traditional adjudication when appropriate
Critique: Does not explain the decision to begin delinquency, and data supporting life course theory contradict labeling theory (aging out of crime). Empirical studies finds weak relationships
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION Social disorganization theorists looked at area characteristics
rather than individuals’ characteristics and found that areas with low rates of delinquents had generally uniform, consistent, universal values and attitudes regarding law and social behavior and areas of low economic status were characterized by a wide range of norms
Delinquency rates were high in high-poverty, inner-city transitional neighborhoods—those that had changed from affluence to decay
These disorganized neighborhoods are incapable of social control
Later work finds collective efficacy, a sense of mutual trust and a willingness to intervene in the supervision of children and maintenance of public order, is the lynchpin
Proponents: Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay (from the University of Chicago), Robert Bursik, Robert Sampson
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION Support: Urban centers consistently have higher
rates of arrests, convictions, incarcerations, and other measures of crime and delinquency
Solution: Reduce income inequality, expand employment opportunities, crime prevention efforts for children in low-income neighborhoods
Critique: Some of the measures of social disorganization rely on circular logic or are not clearly defined; collective efficacy measures get around this problem. Also, only a minority of the population is involved in crime.
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Anomie, coined by Durkheim and extended by
Merton, is a state of normlessness in which the legitimate means of attaining the goals in a society are devalued and the goals (i.e. money) are revered above and beyond all
This anomic condition produces strain or pressure and youths may deal with this strain in different ways such as using deviant methods to achieve their goals or rejecting socially accepted goals and substituting deviant ones
Proponents: Robert Merton (classic strain theory), Robert Agnew (general strain theory)
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAINMerton argued there are five ways people adapt to strain:1. Conformity: conformity to cultural goals and institutionalized means
(most common)2. Innovation: assimilation of goals, not means3. Ritualism: abandonment or reduction of goals, assimilation of
means4. Retreatism: relinquishment of both goals and means (least
common)5. Rebellion: attempt to introduce new social structure
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Agnew argued that there are different types of strains and
some types are much more likely to cause delinquency/crime Major types of deviance-causing strains:
Failure to achieve goals Removal of positive/desired stimuli Confrontation with negative stimuli
Strains that are more likely to cause a criminal reaction: Strains that are seen as ‘high’ in magnitude Strains that are seen as unjust in nature Strains that are associated with low social control Strains that create some pressure or incentive for criminal
copingShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Support: Not much empirical work testing anomie
theory exists and, there is not much difference in the delinquency of youths who experience a large gap between their aspirations and youth who see a small gap
Solution: Basic social changes to redistribute opportunities, prevention and training programs in low-income communities; some versions of the theory suggest strengthening non-economic institutions
Critique: Difficult to assess, not much empirical evidence exists
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
GENDER THEORIES: LIBERAL FEMINISM Girls and women are less delinquent/criminal than
men because their social roles provide fewer opportunities to commit crime
As the roles of women become more similar to those of men, so will their crime patterns
Proponents/theorists: Freda Adler, Rita Simon Support: The types of crimes committed most and least
often by girls are nearly identical to those committed most and least often by boys; girls are joining gangs more than they used to
Solution: ? Critique: Neither the masculinity or the
opportunity hypotheses has received much empirical support
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
GENDER THEORIES: CRITICAL FEMINISM Gender inequality stems from the unequal power of men
and women and the exploitation of girls/women by men Delinquency begins with the onset of male supremacy and
women’s victimization and offending should decline as they are empowered socially, economically, and legally
Proponents: Meda Chesney-Lind, Jody Miller Support: Getting Played; girls who are victims of sexual
and other forms of abuse have higher rates of delinquency Solution: Reduce gender discrimination/gender pay gap,
reduce sex trafficking, prevention and treatment rather than punitive policies for girls, increase gender-based treatment in prisons
Critique: The economic marginalization hypothesis is not contradictory to masculinity or opportunity hypotheses
GENDER THEORIES: POWER-CONTROL THEORY Gender differences in delinquency are a function of
class difference that influence family life In egalitarian families and families with absent
fathers, daughters’ delinquency mirrors sons’ Proponents/theorists: John Hagan Support: It better explains the increase in female
delinquency than liberal or critical feminist theories Solution: Reduce gender discrimination/gender pay
gap, reduce sex trafficking Critique: Its class components are not supported in
some studies
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: LIFE COURSE THEORY
Delinquent behavior is a dynamic process, influenced by individual characteristics and social influences, and the factors that cause crime/delinquency can change drastically over a person’s life
Life events that enable people to desist are good/successful jobs and careers and a support spouse, particularly for men (the love of a child works for women); this is because these things increase their social capital, positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining
Proponents/theorists: John Laub and Robert Sampson (criminologists)
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: LATENT TRAIT/PROPENSITY VIEW People have traits that cause them to commit
crime/delinquency and these traits are either present at birth or established early in development, and they remain stable over time; some traits are defective intelligence, impulsivity, genetic abnormalities, improper physical-chemical functioning of the brain, and environmental influences on brain function (drugs, chemicals, injuries)
Changes in rates of crime commission have to do with changes in opportunity to do it, not propensity to commit crime
Proponents/theorists: James Q. Wilson, Richard HerrnsteinShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,
MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: ADOLESCENT-LIMITED AND LIFE COURSE PERSISTENT Most young offenders follow one of two paths:
adolescent-limited, those who get into minor scrapes with the law, and life-course persistent, who beginning offending early and continue offending in adulthood
Proponents/theorists: Terrie Moffitt (psychologist)
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES Solution: For Laub & Sampson, Moffitt—improve
parenting skills Oregon Social Learning Center Guiding Good Choices Multisystemic programs
Solution: For James Q. Wilson & Herrnstein—reduce opportunities a la deterrence and routine activities theory
Critique: The theories draw from a bunch of others and some question whether they constitute theories per se; does not explain why behavior stabilizes or changes in some cases
Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
THE WIRE AND CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY Differential Association Rational Choice Theory Strain Anomie
WHICH THEORY APPLIES? 15-year-old steals a candy bar from the
convenient store 12-year-old hits his mother with a curtain rod 13-year-old who repeatedly pulls the fire
alarm at here residential placement 17-year-old who punches out a fellow
detainee unconscious 16-year-old twin who sexually assaults his
12-year-old sister
FINAL NOTES Is there a universal theory of crime? Why is theory important? How does it affect me? I don’t want to be an academic, I want to be
a… Pigeon-holing