Criminology theories and their applications

Criminology

M8D1: Assessing criminological theories

According to Bernard (2010), individual differences between people are a factor that can explain why some people commit crime while other does not. Individual difference between people leads to some people to be aggressive and engage in rule-breaking behaviors in society. These unruly behaviors according to may be as a result of genetic factors that are different in all people. There is a strong connection between genetics and the likelihood of a person to commit crime. Individual genetics from settings of ecological behavior and the macro level context of a community and the social systems may describe why some people commit crime (Bernard 2010). Some of the factors to consider in individual difference are willful antisocial proclivities, feeblemindedness, emotional instability, physical disability mental disability and antisocial personalities. These factors describe why some individuals commit crime while others refrain from doing so.

The second theory according to explains that structural processes of the community are the main leading causes of crime in the community. Structural processes of the community also have a role to play in explaining why people commit crime. The society may be structured in a way whereby people do not have access to means of achieving societal goals (Bernard 2010). Some people in the community do not have gainful employment which serves as a means of getting monetary benefits, these people will therefore engage in crime as a way to achieve societal goals.

Between these two theories (individual difference and structural process) the most convincing theory would be that social and structural processes of the community play a bigger role in explaining causation of crime than individual difference. Individual difference a reason to commit crime is not all satisfying because it does not give valuable evidence as to the link between genetic factors and causation of crime. Structural processes, however, give a valuable reason by stating that circumstances and situations will have a direct effect as to why people will commit crime. People will resort to crime when they are faced with a situation where they do not have sources of employment that will enable them to earn money.

M8D2: The impact of mass incarceration in the U.S.

The United States of America has the highest incarceration rate in the world. The country has the highest number of crime offenders serving in the prison systems in the world. The Bureau of Justice Statistics gives an estimate of a total of 730 inmates from a total of 100000 people in the United States. This shows that a more than two million people serve as prisoners from the total population of 310 million citizens. According to Clear (2012), this increasing trend increased number of criminals in the prison system is problematic because of a number of factors. One of these factors is that it decreases the number of people who are productive to the economy. A decrease in the number of able people who take part in the economy may have adverse effects on the economy. The increase in number of prisons makes the government spend more on prisoners hence increasing the costs that the government has to incur. The government uses a total amount of 24000 dollars per year for every prisoner.

According to Clear (2012), there are three main effects that may arise from an increased rate of incarceration. The first main problem is that replacement of co-offenders accounts for the failure of prison systems to reduce crime this is because replacement brings a sustained recruitment process of young people to criminal behaviors. The second effect is that as many people serve I correctional facilities, the power of fear of prison life diminishes hence decreasing the effectiveness of prison systems. People no longer fear prisons and this makes them continue to commit criminal acts. The third effect according to Clear (2012), is that there are certain social factors that occur when people get locked up in prison systems. These include broken families, increase in social disorder and inequality (Clear 2012). These factors lead to the increase of crime in the neighborhoods. This shows that increased rate of incarceration has a direct link in the increase of crime related activities in the United States.

The first theory that can explain the arguments is the social learning theory. As people enter into prison systems, there is an increase in interaction between the criminals. Some people get locked up in prisons because of committing minor crimes while others for committing major crimes such as murder. As these criminals interact, those that committed minor crimes learn of how to commit major crimes. This does not help in rehabilitating the prisoner because once he is out of prison, he commit major crimes.

Another theory is the strain theory, which states that people will commit crime if there is a discrepancy between societal goals and the means of achieving these goals (Cernkovich 2000). Many of the people who serve time in correctional facilities are adults who are bread winners their family. When they get locked up, it leads to a situation where the family cannot sustain themselves. This leads to the members of the family engaging in crime to satisfy their needs. I do agree with the policy recommendations because they form a basis in which crime levels will decrease in the community while at the same time decongesting the number of inmates in prisons. People who commit different levels of crime should serve in different levels of prisons. Those that commit minor crimes should not be put together with those that commit hardcore crimes.

If property criminals were put in a different status from personal criminals would the overall incarceration rate change or would a change in the length of stays affect the overall incarceration rate? If you have a habitual property offender that continually has to be processed through the judicial system aren't you causing the same issue of instability within the household no matter what level of incarceration is called upon? I think the revolving door could cause more issues than it would solve. Having someone come in and out of your life is no way to live.

If the American Judicial System were to put property criminals in a different state from personal criminals, the overall effect on the rate of incarceration would be that it would decrease. Putting property criminals in a different status means that property criminals would not transfer their criminal skills to other criminals of another level. This would decrease the likelihood that personal criminals would not practice any form of property crime after they are released from prison. A change in the length of stay of criminals has a direct effect in determining the rate of incarceration. A short stay in the prison system would not be effective in rehabilitating criminals. A habitual property offender is likely to practice property crime after release. A lengthy stay behind bars is effective because it increases the time required for the criminal to rehabilitate. When people stay long periods behind bars, it directly influences their decision to commit crime after they are released. A person may feel that practicing crime after release from prison would not be right since he knows that he will serve a long time in prison.