Criminal Acts and Choice Theory Plays and

Criminal Acts and Choice Choice theory plays and important aspect when accessing reasons contributing to criminal activities. The importance of the theory assist in coming up with strategies for reducing criminal activities. The importance of an understanding to the theory comes out from the contribution that the theory stands to give. It is vital to learn how the theory bears upon the chance that someone will take up or even attempt to control a criminal activity and endeavor to curb crime from taking place.

Primary choice theory will help to discourage criminal activities. The core ideas held in choice theory according to Siegel (2006) are: people are free to choose with the motive of their ideas being driven by greed, vanity, jealousy, revenge, lust, need, anger and vanity all these are but expressions of choice that comes out of once free will; these choice control is possible by fear of punishment; swift and server punishment will bear greater impact in controlling criminal behaviors.

The fundament constructs of the otherwise called classical theory (Choice theory) is that people calculate the relative cost and benefits attached to intended action and with the calculation decide on the action that would maximize their expected utility. This rational choices made in this circumstance are a process according to the choice theory of information of the act intended and the consequences if one was to be caught. The most prime objective of the choice theory is to assist in curbing criminal activities.

Then the theory when it fails to prevent criminal activities it ought to sway offence to a lesser criminal act. Thirdly it checks that the offender uses the least force possible and finally it cheaply it tries to disallow crime. Similar to the classical theory of choice is one put across by Cornish and Clarke (1987) "reasoning criminal." The theory argues that there ought to be three situational constituents for a criminal activity to prevail.

They are: 1) wiling offenders, 2) target that are suitable and indisposed, missing and incompetent guardiansCornish & Clarke, 1987() The choice theory's popularity came about through a political process which was the effort to reign in security for the masses. The argument was to reduce criminal acts and the actors by swift incarceration of known criminals and consequently deterring would be offenders. This revived the classical theory and a political shift towards conservatism in the public policy with the election of Ronal Reagan.

The intelligent thought process and decision making by criminals is what is nowadays called the rational choice theory or even the new choice theory Frank, 1990() 1990). Rational choice stands out as a decisiveness to undertake an activity criminal/illegal by accessing the information available and determining that best cause of action. It's a matter of rationalizing the decision weighing the pro and cons associated.

The available information include the jail time one stand to face when caught, the resource available to undertake the act, the location and time for the act, and also the other times the act has been undertaken and what proportion of success was realized. What the choice theories tries to emphasize is the fact that criminal acts are not random antisocial demeanors.

Rather, they are well thought actions planned and the intended perpetrators go through the needs, access their skill control their fear and gang up in courage to commit crime Glasser, 1998() Proponents of the choice theory believe that crime is a processed event and criminals' behavior is a trait of their personality. The offenders comprehend lack of constraints and excessive freedom. Criminals have self-control and are unaffected by social fear of social controls when compared to other people.

The choice of the risky acts come out because they are facing individual problems or stressed Frank, 1990() In studying the decision to commit criminal activities, proponents of choice theory study agree disregarding substance crime is a planned action of location undertaken by choice. The decision made is dependent upon the aim and the available means to undertake it Young, 1997. Criminal will choose low income household for violent crimes and high income homesteads for belongings theft. This depicts the choosing of the location and the chance of being caught.

It has also been observed that criminal acquire the techniques of crime to avoid detection and thus maximizing their utility. How Society Determines Which Acts Are Considered To Be Criminal and How It Impacted By Choice Theories of Crime Choice theory can be used to explain how society determines criminal activities and which of these activities are routine or graduating to criminal offences.

Models in the society to determine acts that are criminal include "consensus model" and "conflict model." They are basically guided by the norms of the society Siegel, 2006() The consensus model involves member of a society cohesively through their value and ways of life (beliefs) choosing those acts they consider destructive to society. Laws are passed considering the norms and values plus those unaccepted degenerate behaviors thus setting the limits of behavior accepted within a society/group Siegel, 2006.

The model depicts that through cohesive action, citizens will concur on the acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Forthwith, the unacceptable behaviors are outlawed, marked and a suitable punishment published. Key to this model is the assumption that moral consensus from a diverse population is attainable. It is assumed that when in a group a diverse group of person has shared values and norm which they will enforce for ease of cohabiting. The people, whose actions will be observed as deviating.