Criminal Behavior Essays Examples

Criminal Behavior

Criminal Behavior

Approaches to Understand Criminal Behavior

Psychological Approaches

Sociological Approaches

Biological Approaches

Psychosurgery

Chemical Methods of Control

Imagine yourself having a walk in the premises of your house and a stone come flying through the boundary wall and hits you. As a layman, one might face difficulty in defining this incident. It can be termed as an assault, an act of violence or a criminal offence. This is a layman's term to define this act but in reality it has a way deeper meaning. Before going in the details of criminal behavior, few points must be pondered like why individuals offend, who are the ones who offend and who are the probable victims. Relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system is of great significance in developing an understanding about reasons that could lead to violence which is the consequence of criminal behavior. Many other facts are of importance while investigating the issue like police investigation, incorrect confessions, professional witnesses, jury behavior and treatment of difficult offenders. Considering the above mentioned scenario where a stone hits a person, before labeling it as a crime, examine and investigate the details about the rock flying. This is not the question that…… [Read More]

Criminal Behavior Prevailing Psychological Theories

Sociological theories of criminal behavior do not discount individual-level learning but focus more on the surrounding culture and environment. To explain criminal behavior, sociologists usually center on conflict theories, strain theories, labeling theories, and social control theories. Conflict theories have their roots in Marxist philosophy. They reveal how class conflict can create impetus for deviance and also lead to general anomie. Strain theory similarly suggests that criminal behavior can result from a gap between socially sanctioned goals and an individual's ability to achieve those goals in normative ways. These theories generally explain the greater prevalence of crime among socially disadvantaged groups. Social disorganization theory also takes into account the tendency for criminal behavior to arise in communities that lack structure and cohesion due to anomie. Social control theorists postulate that an individual's acceptance of and commitment to prevailing social institutions will diminish criminal behavior; the desire to conform overrides any desire to deviate. Finally, labeling theories show how individuals react to the "criminal" or "deviant" label, living up to the image others have of them as criminals.

Any effective prison rehabilitation program must value all psychological and sociological theories. An ideal program would be rooted in social strain and conflict…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Behaviour Chapter I Introduction

" These authors purport that although mood and behaviour may constitute a vital part in disorderly outcomes of drinking scenarios, other social factors can equally contribute influences. These factors, according to these authors, can be categorized by the following factors:

the attitude and motivations that young binge drinkers bring to drinking, the social and peer group norms under which they operate, and features relating to the drinking environment.

Reasonable Investigations

In the journal article, Misinformation, Misrepresentation, and Misuse of Human Behavioral Genetics Research, Kaplan (2006) notes: "Researchers interested in understanding either the causes of variation in human behaviors or how human behaviors develop are at a disadvantage compared to researchers interested in answering similar questions associated with nonhuman organisms."

Reasons include:

Ethical restrictions on human experimentation make a number of experiments, standard in other model organisms, impossible to perform on humans.

Human development constitutes a slower process than that of traditional model organisms, such as nematode worms, fruit-flies, mice, etc., utilized in behavior studies.

As Caitlin Jones examines the different functions that genetics and the environment play in the criminal behavior of individuals, he notes that research states: "it is more often an interaction between genes and the environment that…… [Read More]

Resources:

Criminal Behavior Has Been Practiced

On the other hand, his wife said that they dated for about nine months and then were engaged for about a year before they got married. There was some discrepancy in the Personal and Progress notes of Mr. W pertaining to the involvement of Mr. W in women during his time in high school, however, which does not have much role to play in this case. Mr. W claimed that the reason why he and his wife got divorced was because she was a very dominating woman and she had all the control in their relationship. He also said that she would spend luxuriously and would pressurize him to make more money. Later, he also made a claim that he thinks that he was under a lot of pressure to make a lot of money and that is one of the reasons why he had to indulge in criminal activities. On the other hand, his ex-wife said that she did spend with a free hand but it was only because he said that he was earning more than 200,000 dollars every month. Moreover, she went on to say that if he had told her that he was not earning as…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Criminal Behavior Theories Theory of

Leaders in society understand the need to resist putting unfair labels on people; this has been a positive trend over the recent past.

Feminist Theory: Feminist theories suggest, "…criminal justice decisions reflect male dominance and functioning to support patriarchy"; in short, the system is bias against women (Akers, 1999). This has changed society because women's liberation, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, have made it illegal to discriminate based on race, gender, religious affiliation or age.

Biosocial Theories: The risk entailed in criminal behavior is caused by a combination of environmental and biological dynamics (Vito, et al., 2006). Another aspect of this approach to criminology is to believe that personality traits, which are the result of biological forces inside the individual, can cause crime. Society puts criminals in prisons, but sociologists and psychologists strive to understand how biological and environmental factors factor in when people commit crimes. The change is a dramatic one from the days when lawbreakers were simply punished and/or removed from society through isolation. Individuals have a better chance for rehabilitation when professionals work with them one-on-one.

Life-Course Theories: this approach to criminality views lawbreaking as a "dynamic process" that is influenced by a myriad of…… [Read More]

Sources:

Criminal Behavior I Believe That

Likewise, full-body tattoos are considered deviant behavior and people who are completely tattooed are ostracized from some elements of society, but that behavior has never been considered illegal. In contrast, most people do not consider jaywalking or speeding to be extremely deviant behavior. On the contrary, most people have probably engaged in these criminal behaviors and may even be habitual offenders, but one would be unlikely to label them as criminals.

Therefore, it becomes clear that deciding what constitutes a crime is about more than deviance; it also requires the consideration of whether the behavior is harmful to anyone other than the actors and if society values those whom the behavior is harming. Looking at the example of homosexuality and tattoos; even if one considers that behavior self-destructive, it is difficult to imagine how the behavior harms anyone other than those involved in the lifestyle. In contrast, speeding and jaywalking, while far less deviant by community standards, both contribute to the risk of accidents that can cause serious injuries, financial harm, and even death. Therefore, what constitutes a crime seems to require a consideration of how deviant the behavior is combined with the risk of harm to others. Very deviant…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Criminal Behavior Ethical Principle in

05 under Resolving Ethical Issues in corporate situations is apt.

One Research Standard in the "Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research"

The one research standard that stands out as among the most important standards is "accuracy," which, along with "honesty, efficiency and objective" make up the four most fundamental standards from the Office of Research Integrity. In the peer-reviewed journal Criminology, professor John Laub writes that "…facts must come first" when reviewing various approaches to criminology. The point of Laub's essay -- which basically takes Edwin Sutherland to task for Sutherland's analysis of criminology and crime research -- is that Sutherland "…rejected key facts about crime that were contrary to his sociological paradigm" (Laub, 2006, p. 239). In other words, Sutherland took a sociological view of crime and ignored those facts that were not convenient to his theory. That is as troubling as a detective ignoring facts in a murder case because they detracted from the suspect the detective thought was guilty. Ignoring facts is one way of being inaccurate in any criminal investigation. It goes against the research standards that the ORI has put forward. Sutherland ignored facts that had to do with: a) the early "onset of…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Criminal Behavior Over the Last

Whereas terrorists, are focused on achieving idealistic goals that are concentrating on creating destruction, severely weakening their adversaries and making the general public fearful about conducting routine activities. (Kane, 2005) ("Terrorist Links to Other Crimes," 2007)

The rationale behind white collar crimes is based upon self-interest and greed. While terrorists, are more ideological and want to create some kind of lasting change through a campaign of violence. As a result, while collar criminals want to maintain the status quo in order to continue to reap these benefits. However, the terrorists want to create radical changes to the system or the policies of various governmental entities. (Kane, 2005) ("Terrorist Links to Other Crimes," 2007)

Describe possible conclusions which can be drawn based upon this comparison.

Possible conclusions which can be drawn are that both kinds of activities will utilize the same kinds of tools and tactics. This is a part of a larger strategy that is based upon deception in achieving their objectives. These areas allow them to avoid detection and to blend in with everyday society. (Kane, 2005) ("Terrorist Links to Other Crimes," 2007)

What makes them different is the underlying motivations and what they are trying to achieve. In…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Behavior

Video Game Violence

Criminal behavior

Criminal behavior literature review: Video game violence

One of the most controversial contentions in the recent debate over the causes of violence in American society is that violent video games give rise to violent behavior. After the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Arizona Sun reported that local organizers in the community of Southington, Arizona held a violent video game buy-back, much in the same way that other communities had buy-backs of firearms. "Although the organizers are careful to note there's no evidence violent games contributed to the Sandy Hook shooting, the implication is nonetheless clear. So too, the organizers claim that research links video games with other aggressive acts and desensitization" (Ferguson 2013). The head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) likewise made a link between criminality and video game violence -- but not the presence of guns in American society -- in a much-maligned press release.

However, according to the American Psychology Association, the link between criminal behavior and watching video games is far more dubious. "The American Psychological Association declined to participate in the 2011 Supreme Court case on video games, citing inconsistencies in the literature. Most studies of media…… [Read More]

Sources:

Criminal Behavior That Have Exhibited

This requires identification of the barriers to the readiness of the offender to change as well as the strengths of the offender that will enable their making those changes. Latessa relates that the failure of researchers and scholars to "bridge the gap among theory, research and practice" is striking and that suggestions for how promotion of change by academics and researchers include those of:

(1) leave the office -- be willing to attend and present at nonacademic conferences, conduct workshops for local professionals, testify at legislative hearings, and in general be willing to led the expertise and knowledge they posses;

(2) Make research understandable

(3) Include measures of program integrity and quality in research.

(4) Do a better job of preparing students:

(a) teach them the knowledge base;

(b) provide them better skills and competencies; and (c) expose them to other relevant disciplines. (Latessa, 2004)

Latessa (2004) states that he visited several state correctional systems and that this research highlighted the fact that many of these programs are successful at rehabilitating criminal offenders but as well he noted that some of these programs had components that resulted in higher rates of recidivism among criminal offenders.

First stated in Latessa's observations…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Criminal Behavior and How to

Criminology is not an abstract discipline. It is designed to have real world, real-life implications and thus must be undertaken with care. However, human beings' behavior cannot be perfectly controlled, and no experiment conducted in the field can be isolated from variables that may potentially affect the results, even with the inclusion of a control group. A faulty experiment could have far-reaching effects.

Beyond the ethics of studying crime, there are also methodological questions. What branch of the social sciences does criminology encompass? Psychology? The natural sciences? Sociology? History? This question influences the assumptions, patterns, and standards of evidence to which research is held. It has been said that the "paradigm for criminology should not be tied to any particular discipline" because of its multidisciplinary nature (Laub 2006: 240). However, this means that creating a universally agreed-upon body of ethical standards can be extremely difficult. The standards of falsifiability and rigorous scientific evidence may be different in the eyes of a qualitative researcher with a background in sociology vs. A scientist studying the neurology of the brain and genetic factors associated with criminology. This lack of a universal code of ethics may make criminology even more apt to fall into…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Theoretical Dimensions Involving Criminal Behavior

Criminal Acts and Offender Behavior

Theoretical Dimensions of Criminal Behavior

Laws exist to maintain order and peace and provide for the safety and well-being of all members of society. Acts that disrupt and threaten this system of order are deemed criminal in nature and are therefore punishable by law. The psychology of criminal behavior addresses the thought processes that result in deviant acts and the motivations that drive them. It is believed that criminal types operate from a self-centered framework that shows little, if any regard, for the safety and well-being of others (Merton, 1968).

There are generally three broad theoretical models of criminal behavior: biological, psychological, and sociological. Most theoretical models overlap in their analysis and point to the genetic predisposition of some individuals toward criminal behavior, as well as environmental influences (Morley & Hall, 2003). Most commonly both play a part in developing a person's tendency to engage in criminal activity. Criminal psychology examines the motivations, thoughts and intentions of those who defy the law on a habitual basis. The need to continually deviate from societal norms plays a large role in the psychological make-up of a criminal.

Abnormal psychological processes may have a variety of causes --…… [Read More]

References:

Causes Criminal Behavior There Is

What seems clear is that while not all criminality is stable, those people who begin offending at relatively young ages are generally those who are lifelong offenders. In this way, it can be said that some criminality is stable over time.

The stability of criminal behavior can have a significant impact on criminal justice policy. When rehabilitation efforts proved largely unsuccessful, there was a conservative swing back towards incarceration to drive down crime rates. While incarceration does not have the blanket effect of reducing crime rates, it does reduce crime rates when high-rate offenders are incarcerated. "Moreover, the incarceration of high-rate offend-ers is cost-effective, meaning that the financial cost of keeping them locked up off-sets the costs of the crimes they would commit if free. The same cannot be said of locking up low-rate offenders" (Wright et al., 2008). There is the idea that understanding the stability of criminal behavior is critical to ensuring the cost-efficient and practical functioning of the modern criminal justice system.

Genetic Factors Associated with Criminal Propensity

One of the interesting things that researchers have uncovered is that there are genetic factors that are associated with criminal propensity. Individual traits are heritable, and some of these…… [Read More]

Sources:

Brain Dysfunction in Criminal Behavior

Brain Dysfunction and Criminal Behavior

Criminal behavior can be caused by many things, social inequality, class differences, drug or alcohol addiction, peer pressure to name a few. These are all external conditions which can lead to criminal behavior. However, scientists are now starting to discover the link between dysfunction of the actions of the brain and a person's propensity to engage in criminal conduct. Individuals with brain dysfunction either caused by deformity in development or through a serious head injury have been linked to criminality and those who have committed serious criminal behaviors such as serial murder have, in many cases, been found to have experienced a severe injury to the brain or a congenital deformity when the brain was developing. Having said that, brain dysfunction does not inherently lead to criminality, as is proven by the fact that many people with head injuries or malformation do not become criminals, nor do all criminals possess brain dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to understand the connection between dysfunction and criminality but not to assume that it is the only factor which determines a person's potential criminal conduct.

The relationship between neurological dysfunction and criminal likelihood has been investigated recently with vigor…… [Read More]

References:

Theoretical Approaches to Criminal Behavior Different Perspectives

Theoretical Approaches to Criminal Behavior

Different perspectives of crime are essential when an explanation of why individuals engage in deviant behaviors and just a few become a nuisance to the society. Therefore there are various theories that have been put up in a bid to find out the causes of crime. A thorough explanation of the theories and the perspectives help in explaining the different reasons for occurrence of crime and the identification of factors that make an individual become a criminal. With these theories in place there is an understanding of an individual's behavior that will provide an insight into the reasoning and minds toward crime related behaviors.

The two main theories are classical and biological theories. Focus on rationality of human nature forms the basis for classical theory of crime. This means that an individual who chooses to take part in crime does so willingly without any other factors existing. If the benefits of being a criminal are more appealing when compared to the punishment that comes with committing crime then the criminal would choose to commit crime. People are in agreement with society structure that shapes behaviors. Social contracts and emphasis of law formation are what define…… [Read More]

Resources:

Classical Causes of Criminal Behavior

43)

Foundation and Focus The foundation for the Classical Theory to crime focused less on the criminal and targeted more on securing a rational, fair system for controlling and putting punishments in order. Little concern was given to causes of criminal behaviors. Significant words/definitions related to this theory include:

Classicism - The Enlightenment view of crime that stresses free will and rationality and the corresponding rationality of the justice system....

Free will - According to the classical school, people possess reason. This means that they can calculate the course of action that is in their self-interest. This in turn gives them a degree of freedom....

Just deserts - A justification for punishment which insists that offenders should be punished only as severely as they deserve. It was a reaction against the unfair excesses of rehabilitation and the 'get tough' drive from conservatives during the 1970s." (Carrabine, Iganski, Lee, Plummer & South, 2004, p. 375-376)

Causes Contributing to Frank's Crimes?

Contemporary criticisms of the classical theory challenge several of its contentions. One specific, "The idea of punishment as deterrent - rational beings will choose not to commit crimes if the punishment fits the crime, (Carrabine, Iganski, Lee, Plummer & South, 2004,…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Understanding Criminal Behavior

particular behaviors tend to cross into the realm of crime when they become obsessive and are actually acted upon. Apparently, many individuals within a society may actually think about committing crimes, but never take the actual physical steps to commit it in the flesh. Those who take precautionary measures and anticipate actions that represent the actual physical acting out of their thoughts is when behavior biases can become actual crime. One of the most appropriate schools of thought in criminology to explain this phenomenon is the theory of differential association. Originally described by Edwin Sutherland, differential association aims to explain deviance and how people go from thinking about criminal acts to actually committing criminal acts. Essentially, this theory believes that criminal acts and thoughts are learned through experience with crime. Criminal acts thus become a repercussion of intense motives, drives, and attitudes that have been learned by the individual through his or her experience within the society. Essentially, the individual lives in a world where they experience crime and thus they learn how to think and commit it from these experiences.

The media is very invasive in our everyday lives. It streams through 24/7 news programs and documentaries, making any…… [Read More]

Violent Criminal Behavior Uniqueness of

82).

Psychosocial background of these rapists is inclusive of physical as well as verbal abuse which can be from both or one of the parents. Abuse-based background is seen in more than 56% of the rapists in this category. More than 80% of the rapists belong to divorced households; most of these are adopted or have spent their childhood in foster care. Relationships of these rapists with women in the past have failed or did not work based on which hostile feelings have developed against the opposite sex.

Background profiling on rapists has shown that these normally are raised in single parent households with increased issues. Additionally they grow up being physically as well as verbally abused facing sexual deviances. The children facing these conditions are the ones that clearly show tendencies towards sexual promiscuity. In the case of adults, it has been seen that they are married later in life around 30 to 39 years of age having a residence in a low crime area in a middle class family and a middle class neighborhood.

Psychoanalyzing Rapists

There are four main characteristics of a rapist. These are inclusive of power assertiveness, power reassurance, sadistic or anger excitation and anger…… [Read More]

References:

Psychology Criminal Behavior Has Been

As explained by Gelles and Strauss in their works, "With the exception of the police and the military, the family is perhaps the most violent social group, and the home the most violent social setting, in our society. A person is more likely to be hit or killed in his or her home by another family member than anywhere else or by anyone else." (Gelles & Straus, 1985, p. 88). Therefore it is evident from this theory that the social connections and settings can impact upon a person's conduct and emotions and could force them to act violently, proving this theory to be true in explaining the biological connection with criminal behavior.

Another biological theory mentions that the gender differences, especially in cases of men, generate strings of violent reactions to the opposite gender. This theory argues that the natural superiority instincts in men push their brain functions to act aggressively and violently to any action of the female gender that attempts to point a finger against their manhood. Although this theory puts its focus on the biological traits of a gender, it does not provide definitive support to the fact that superiority causes men to display violence with women.…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Predicting Criminal Behavior Is There a Genetic Link

Crime

Understanding why crime occurs requires an appreciation for the complexity of human behavior. Behavior is not determined by one factor, but rather influenced by a host of interrelated factors. Modern biological theories in criminology differ from previous theories in that they examine the entire range of biological characteristics, including those that result from genetic defects (those that are inherited) and those that are environmentally induced. In addition, theories developed since the 1980s do not suggest that biological characteristics directly cause crime. Instead, researchers argue that certain biological conditions increase the likelihood that an individual will engage in some antisocial behavior that can be defined as criminal (Fishbein, 1990). Modern theories increasingly focus on the interaction between biological characteristics and the social environment, rather than looking solely at the effects of biology.

This paper explores the research regarding genetic causes or pre-dispositions to criminal behavior and examines the evidence which supports my hypothesis that predicting criminal behavior is not based on genetics or environmental factors alone, but an interaction between the two.

ABSTRACT

PREFACE STATEMENT

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Statement of the Problem

Target Audience

Social Relevance

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Chromosome Studies

Twin and Adoption Studies

Social Theories

Personality Traits…… [Read More]

Causes of Criminal Behavior

Causes of Criminal Behavior

Although crimes have been committed since times immemorial, a systematic study of the causes of criminal behavior (or why crimes are committed) is a relatively recent phenomenon. Various theories have been put forward and numerous research studies have been conducted to better understand the criminal mind in order to prevent or reduce crime. It is, perhaps, a tribute to the complexity of the human brain that most of these theories remain just "theories" with little evidence to support definite and irrefutable patterns of criminal behavior. This is not to suggest that all theories of "criminology" are worthless -- most of them do provide useful insight into the criminal mind and at least partially explain the reasons why crimes are committed by certain individuals. In this paper we shall explore some of the theories of criminal behavior that have attempted to throw light on the causes of criminal behavior. It includes a discussion of the 'serial killer' and the possible reasons behind their deviant behavior.

Background

The earliest theories about crimes attributed the 'evil' acts to the influence of demons or the planets (i.e., 'demonology' and 'astrology'). Religious scriptures and Christianity discuss crime in theological terms and…… [Read More]

Crime Theories Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior

Crime Theories

Psychological theories of criminal behavior focus on the individual, rather than on contextual factors (as sociological theories of crime do) or on biological factors (such as genetics). Personality, traits, and cognitions are all covered under the rubric of psychological theories of crime. One of the prevailing and most widely accepted psychological theory of crime is rational choice theory. Rational choice theory " is perhaps the most common reason why criminals do the things they do," accounting for a wide variety of criminal behaviors (Dechant, 2009). The theory was first suggested and developed by William Glasser, and has since become a default theory of explaining everything from petty theft to white-collar crime.

Rational choice theory is relatively straightforward. The individual is believed to be acting rationally, making decisions based on personal need, convenience, and expediency. The theory permits for individual differences, as each person may be motivated by different needs and goals. "The variety of reasons in which one offends can be based on a variety of personal needs, including: greed, revenge, need, anger, lust, jealousy, thrills, and vanity," (Dechant, 2009).

According to Turner (1991), rational choice theory is based on the assumption that human beings are "purposive and…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Self-Control Theory of Criminal Behavior

Whereas it remains true that African-Americans and other racial minorities continue to be overrepresented in the American prison population, both common sense and the general consensus of the criminal justice community and sociological experts suggest that this hardly a direct function of race. Rather, it merely reflects the unfortunate correlation between poverty, comparative lack of educational and employment opportunities in the American urban centers where many minorities reside, as well as of the social values that tend to prevail in many of those impoverished communities (Schmalleger 1997).

First, the quality of public school facilities and programs is directly related to the economic realities of their surrounding areas; second, within many segments of minority urban social culture, education is not valued the way it is in middle class and upper class communities and students who make the effort to apply themselves academically are more likely to be targeted for ridicule by other students than admired; and third, the urban environment is often dominated by street gangs and a criminal culture that elevates criminals to positions of perceived status on the streets (Pinizzotto 2007).

To make matters worse, urban gangs tend to recruit prospects for membership among middle school aged children who…… [Read More]

Resources:

Sociological Perspectives on Criminal Behavior

Crime

Three Perspectives on Crime

For decades sociologists have debated the causes of crime and criminal behavior and have created three sociological perspectives involving the cause of crime. Schmalleger identifies these three perspectives as Individual Responsibility Perspective, Social Problems Perspective, and Integrated Perspective. A discussion of current criminal activity can easily identify cases in which each of these perspectives can be applied.

The Individual Responsibility Perspective defines criminal behavior as the result of individual personal choices. According to Schmalleger, this perspective states that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own behavior and that some individuals choose to engage in criminal activity as opposed to following the law. HSBC is Europe's third largest bank and in 2013 it agreed to pay a $1.9 Billion fine "to resolve charges it enabled Latin American drug cartels to launder billions of dollars…." (Smythe, 2013) HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver and Chairman Douglas Flint were accused of failing to monitor wire transfers in excess of $650 Billion and close to $10 Billion in U.S. currency purchases. It could be argued that these gentlemen personally made the choice to engage in criminal behavior because they would be rewarded financially. In exchange for a deferred prosecution agreement, the…… [Read More]

References:

Mentally Ill and Criminal Behavior

Mental Illness and Crime

Virginia Tech is a prestigious private university on the east coast of America that might forever be associated with the skewed actions of one man. Seung-Hui Cho was a fourth year student at Virginia Tech and was responsible for the deadliest rampage this university has ever seen. Born in South Korea in 1984, it was eight years later that Cho received permanent residency in the United States. In the wake of such extreme violence and tragedy, people can't help but ask themselves if something could have been done instead to prevent this act of violence or if these actions could have been predicted in some manner. This is particularly true given the fact that Cho was ordered by a judge to receive mental health care in 2005. This paper will take a look at the relationship between mental illness and serious crimes.

• How often are mentally ill patients involved in serious crimes?

This is a really important question to ask, as there's a necessity to debunk much of the mythology between mental illness and crime. The media blows a great deal out of proportion

"In a study of crimes committed by people with serious mental…… [Read More]

Sources:

Understanding the Social Psychology and Criminal Behavior

Sociobiology Theory and Criminology

Criminology field has varying psychological and biological theories that explain the criminality and factors that predispose individuals to engaging in criminal behaviors. Biological theories consider criminal behavior as a product of biological abnormality or defect. The criminal cannot change their behaviors because of the variation of their biological traits, thereby, forcing them to act in a specific manner. However, biological theory is considered odd with the presence of psychological theories that try to explain the factors and reasons behind criminality. Unlike the earlier, psychological theories, consider criminality as a product of offenders due to defects of the mental functioning, adjustment to the environmental forces, and individual development (Baumeister & Vohs, 2007). Therefore, this essay analyzes the sociobiological theory that tries to explain the relationship between personality and criminality. The essay also analyzes the key elements that underpin the sociobiological theory and its philosophical basis.

Sociobiology refers to a theory that that uses evolutionary bases to create an understanding of the patterns of social behaviors that evolve through sexual selection and natural selection. Although the theory is considered to base its ideologies in the older scientific disciplines that include comparative psychology and ethology, it has grown to…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Incidence of Psychopathy and Criminal Behavior

Psychopathology of Criminal Behavior -- Part II

Psychopathology of Criminal Behavior

Each question must be 300 words long.

Look carefully and honestly at some of your own age, gender, ethnic, cultural beliefs, and/or attitudes and discuss how such factors may impact your functioning in the work of responding to psychopathy.

I feel fortunate to have taken classes in college that have allowed me to meet and mix with people who are quite different from me in terms of age, ethnicity, cultural beliefs, and mindset. In addition, I participate in community activities that bring me in contact with people who come from different socio-economic and religious groups. My own family has experienced quite a few change-ups from what my parents' and my grandparents' generation experienced. Academically, I have studied about variables that contribute to the development of psychopathy in vulnerable people, and I believe I have a robust understanding of mental health issues in our society. All these factors taken together have contributed to my take on social, political, and economic influences.

Because I have been around the block a few times, I am aware of how social structures influence the care and support that is provided to people with mental…… [Read More]

Biology and Criminal Behavior Research

Genetic makeup also shapes the talents and interests of individuals (Beaver, Chapter 3: Gene-Environment Interplay Explained, 2009). Genes help to determine what talents and interests an individual develops. At the same time, individuals tend to befriend others with the same talents and interests as a way to relate. Just the same as a football player will befriend other football players, a delinquent will befriend other delinquents as a way to relate to others. All research shows that genetic effects are more powerful in high-risk environments as opposed to low-risk environments (Beaver, Chapter 3: Gene-Environment Interplay Explained, 2009). The effects of the delinquents will be more powerful in scope than the example of football players. High-risk environments, such as abuse and violence, drugs and alcohol, and poverty can enhance the effects of the genetic makeup.

Biological factors combined with environmental factors play huge roles in the way individuals behave. Where the genes shape traits and characteristics, the environmental factors enhance those traits and characteristics. At the same time, environmental factors affect behavior as well. The individual genetic makeup will enhance the environmental factors where behavior is concerned. Where traits and characteristics remain relatively consistent over time, intervention measures can reshape the…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Animal Abuse and Violent Criminal Behavior in

Animal Abuse and Violent Criminal Behavior

In the peer reviewed article and literary review of Patterson-Kane and Piper's article from 2010 they did an article after researching and investigating whether there are alleged disagreements involving animals that are physically mistreated and people who are aggressive and carry out unlawful actions. Within the review of Patterson-Kane and Piper, they did a research using independent and dependent variables, and the independent ones are the ones that are used in an experimentation which is being maneuvered in the research in categorizing to the outcome on the dependent variable which is the response variable which is also looked after in the study that the independent ones causes the dependent one to change to help of the experiment. The survey was conducted to determine if there was perhaps violent intentions in criminals first begins with cruelty to animals and possibly also lead to them also harming their significant other and their own children, and was there also a possibility that this violence toward sadistic scandalous people was carried down to their own children.

The summary does have concepts because it contains information that has sound punctuality that goes further than the understandable motivations for the…… [Read More]

Theory and Criminal Behavior

Theories

Skinner's radical behaviorism has been used to provide explanations for a number of behavioral phenomenon including criminal behavior (Skinner, 1966). For instance, the crime of burglary offers an example of how antisocial behaviors are learned through reinforcement. Members of society that commonly engage in theft or burglary learn their trade via the reinforcing aspects of stealing. The need to steal may be initially activated by means of some form of need or desire to have material gain; however, for many individuals who habitually engage in thievery repeated stealing is positively reinforced by the tangible acquisition of goods provided by these activities. For many of these individuals this behavior is reinforced by the notion that it is easier to steal from others then to apply oneself, work hard, and take the chance on getting the lees than desired rewards. However, many habitual criminals actually put in as much effort into their chosen vocation as do people who do not engage in criminal activities for living.

The reinforcing aspects of burglary most likely operate on both positive and negative reinforcement principles. For example, the positive reinforcing principles of theft include the tangible rewards from the theft itself, the sense of exhilaration…… [Read More]

References:

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…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Criminal Justice Issues in School

Murder and rape are both legal terms that are used in contemporary society to describe the social construct of crime. Murder is a homicidal act resulting in death that is not permitted by the laws within society. Therefore, shooting a man to death as a lawful soldier engaged in a warranted military conflict with another country's group of soldiers is not considered murder. The same action between country members when there is no martial conflict, however, is considered murder. Rape consists of unpermitted sexual acts that have not been condoned by one of the parties. In most instances men rape women and other men, although women have been known to rape men as well.

Evolutionary theory accounts for murder by positing it as a conflict of interests between two parties that is resolved violently (Dal and Wilson, 1997, p. 53). Moreover, this theory considers the fact that most crimes are committed over a conflict of interest regarding the attainment of resources, which is frequently the case when criminals murder one another over territory in drug wars. Another example is "violence motivated by sexual rivalry" (Daly and Wilson, 1997, p. 54). However, Darwin's theory of adaptation is ultimately at the center…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Propensity There Is a

In the meantime, new brain cells are constantly being developed, even into old age, but such alterations in the brain are largely contingent on what the individual has experienced in his or her environment" (Wright et al., 2008). Therefore, one of the factors that can impact adult propensity to commit violence is whether the brain had the opportunity to develop normally in very early childhood. Of course, both social and biological factors can impact early brain development.

In many ways, criminals are not thought to respond to external stimuli in the same manner as non-criminals, and it is believed that there may be an underlying biological basis for these differences. The auto-nomic nervous system (ANS) is the part of the nervous system beyond the conscious control of the individual and is split into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action while the parasympathetic nervous system handles baseline tasks. In many criminals, the relationship between the two parts of the ANS operates differently than in non-criminals, with them exhibiting lower hear rates. These lower heart rates are thought to be the result of "a phenomenon known as vagotonia, which is…… [Read More]

Sources:

Criminal Law Foundations Evaluation Criminal Law Foundations

Criminal Law Foundations Evaluation

Criminal Law Foundations Paper

Constitution signifies different political contexts safeguarding the well-being of the citizens, as well as, the convicts in the state. The constitution gives an integrated model of a republic that dictates the roles, responsibilities of different arms of the legal and criminal justice system that ensure social equity and coercion. It is recognizable that each state has a unique political system characterized by "checks and balances" that separate power of authority, control, and legislation of the state. As such, scholars such as Thomas Aquinas of the medieval period considered the constitution as the divine power of the state that should be delivered in manners that ensure safety of the public and those in power. It is also recognizable that the constitutions of different states such as the U.S. have provision safeguards the interests of its citizens (Baron, 2003).

Discussion

This research paper focuses on the safeguards provided by the fourth, fifth, and the sixth amendments to the constitution of the United States in relation to adult and juvenile court proceedings. The paper also discusses the impacts of the safeguards to the daily operations of the adult and the juvenile courts.

Criminal procedures are…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Criminal Mind Fact or Fiction

When examining both sides of the spectrum, the evidence for the "criminal mind" existing vs. The "criminal mind" not existing, it seems that the evidence supporting the concept of a criminal mind may hold more ground. Individuals come to their state of being in so many different ways that it the idea that their mind is influenced by those different characteristics does not seem that far off from center. Following individuals from a young age and evaluating their temperament and finding that those different factors are the same ones that death row inmates have in common is significant evidence in and of itself. The influence of the environment has on an individual is significant as seen in it makes people happier, more susceptible to be depressed, motivated, among other traits (Fulker, & Cherny, 1995). To this end, the social influences that are had on someone can absolutely make a criminal come to be. The way that an individual react to different situations and to different people is something that the mind enables them to do; the mind is a powerful thing and the way it is molded can bring about spectacular things, both good and bad. Criminal activity is fueled…… [Read More]

Resources:

Criminal Justice Criminal Profiling or

If human behavior can be loosely predicted, then so too can criminal behavior.

4. Criminal profiling is not one hundred percent accurate or valid. It is an inexact science. Results of profiling are close to chance, which is one reason why the process is criticized and used cautiously. Officers of the law may be misled by an inaccurate or hasty profile, and in some cases might even apprehend innocent persons because they meet the characteristics listed in the profile. Generalizations, stereotypes, and false conclusions can be drawn during the process of criminal profiling. Biases and assumptions can cloud the profiling process, too. For example, the author's own assumptions about human behavior and demographic traits can cloud judgment during an investigation. Criminal profiling can in some cases derail an investigation by diverting attention away from the actual perpetrator to focus on a false lead. Therefore, criminal profiling should be used cautiously.

5. Criminal profiling can be improved by incorporating psychological theories and principles. For example, behavioral psychology examines the patterns of human behavior that can be scientifically tested. The most basic of all behavioral psychological patterns is based o Pavlov's experiments, in which a stimulus evokes a predictable response in the…… [Read More]

Criminals Language From a Psycholinguistics Point-Of-View

Criminal Psycholinguistics as a Predictor and/or Indicator of Criminality (rewritten for grammar)

Language is used differently. Humans use it in many forms and in many means. As it represents someone's character, language helps everyone to perceive what kind of profile a person has. Thus, this brought the researcher to explore the psycholinguistics of criminals.

In this thesis, the researcher will focus mainly on the collective study in determining a criminal based on the language he is using, mainly in verbal form. This means that this study aims to see results of the verbal psycholinguistics or the speech of a suspected criminal.

The study will answer research questions regarding how criminals speak; how criminals use techniques in concealing their profiles; how criminals operate through telephone conversations; how criminals manage upon being caught and how criminals answer questions in police interrogations.

There have been studies that explain the generality of criminals by which leads the intelligence and security force to capture them in a faster and more systematic means. (Criminals are basically melancholic that means that they would rather use the telephone in arranging notorious operations than to talk to his victims face-to-face. -- need to check this/back up with a citation)…… [Read More]

Sources:

Criminal Justice - Gender Crime

2. According to Merton's strain theory, who should commit more crime males or females? What is true in reality?

According to Merton's original strain theory, the primary source of strain in modern society relates to financial success and social status (Agnew & Brezina 1997).

As the theory goes, males are more likely to succumb to the negative influences of strains simply because financial success and social status are more commonly considered to be within the realm of social expectations of males. Later theorists have suggested that Merton's strain theory focused too narrowly on socioeconomic factors because strain consists of many more elements, including those that pertain more to females. Generally, males do commit more crime than females (Ogle, et al. 1995), but this is less a function of strain theory, necessarily, than the fact that myriad other influences that lie wholly outside the realm of principles related to strain theory also contribute to criminal behavior. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Agnew, R., Brezina, T. (1997). Relational Problems with Peers, Gender, and Delinquency; Youth & Society, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 84-111. Ogle, R., Maier-Katkin, D., Bernard, T. (1995). A Theory of…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Justice Is About the Laws Which

Criminal justice is about the laws which are related to criminal behaviour. Criminal justice includes the area where judiciary is involved for e.g., police and lawyers. Lawyers are directly associated with the crime because they can defend or prosecute the criminals. As a professional field of study criminal justice involves studying the behaviour. The aim of the study is to gain knowledge and awareness of rules, laws and rights of victims and suspect both.

In Criminal Justice ethics, diversity and conflict plays a major role. As a student of Criminal Justice I have learned that ethics is important in making moral judgments which demonstrates clearly that what is right and what is wrong. An ethical framework of justice is required to make fair decisions. When we talk about ethics in criminal justice here, we are suppose to forget about the emotions, personal values and instincts that can create or raise questions over a decision. Ethics in criminal justice study stimulates analyzing and questioning habits which are essential to make fair decisions. It also supports in analyzing the ethical consequences of decisions. In criminal justice ethics tells us how to manage and relate the policies regarding the major concerns of law…… [Read More]

Resources:

Criminal Justice Management

Criminal Justice Management

Mapping Crime Hotspots to Deter Crime

Reducing crime is a constant concern of law enforcement and community leaders. Police strategies for reducing crime rely heavily on deterrence, in the form of police patrols (reviewed by Koper, 1995, p. 649-650). Research has shown that a police presence reminds offenders and potential offenders of the certainty of punishment, which is a more effective deterrent than the promised severity of a punishment. The findings from early studies on the effectiveness of police patrols as a crime deterrent were mixed, but with publication of a well-controlled Kansas City study in 1986 the debate moved on to what factors influence the deterrence effect.

Of the variables that have been found to influence criminal activity, geographic location stands out (Koper, 1995, p. 652). A study done in Minneapolis revealed that just 3.3% of the city's addresses and intersections accounted for over 50% of the requests for police help. These 'hotspots' for criminal activity included those where serious crimes occurred, such as robbery, criminal sexual assault, and auto theft. By focusing preventive policing efforts on hotspots, deterrence would be predicted to have the greatest impact.

Another variable suspected of influencing the deterrence effect is…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Criminal Justice Theory and Policy

The reduction occurs through allowing the counties to acquire other methods of jailing apart from the prisons. This includes out-of custody rehabilitative treatments, which could serve in reducing the number of the criminals taken to the prisons. However, the AB109 criminals must be individuals whose crime are not violent and not that serious as provided by the law. This means that that jailing of the A109 criminals in other alternative would involve selection from the other criminals. However the unstated implication is that it would be much difficult to rate a crime as either more serious or not serious. Consequently, the rationale provides higher chances of biasness of selecting some non-serious cases while leaving others.

Implication of the policy

The criminal justice implication of the policy will mainly affect the non-violent arrestees. The decision of keeping them in custody, would affect their ability to avoid recividism future. The social implications include pressure on the local sheriffs and Mims who might not be having enough cash of keeping the inmates. The locals do not have enough cash to keep the large number of realigned inmates. Further, the State government would have to restrain in spending some cash on finding the better…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Criminal Justice Response Cesare Beccaria

These methods of informal deterrence would help to prevent Bobby's criminal behavior.

Since he already committed the crime, Bobby would certainly need to be punished. However, Beccaria strongly argued that punishment must not be cruel, and must fit the crime. Clearly, Bobby never intended to hurt the homeowner; he broke into the home when he knew she would not be there.

Depending on the amount of property stolen, Bobby would have to pay the consequences. If this is his first offense, Bobby could be sentenced to a public form of community service, such as picking up trash by the roadside. He would also have to regularly report to a counselor. Parents could impose a strict curfew. This mixture of informal and formal methods of deterrence would help to stop Bobby from engaging in more criminal behavior.

Works Cited

Beccaria, Cesare. 1963. On Crimes and Punishment.…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Justice Victimization Whether One Is a

Criminal Justice

Victimization

Whether one is a survivor of violent crime or dealing with financial crime victimization, it is vital to recognize that all victims experience some type of loss. While there are different kinds of losses, each can be intense, depending upon the viewpoint of victims and survivors (Victims of Crime Overview, 2012). There appear to be two different views on how victims should deal with being a victim of a crime. One view says that victims of crime should rely on the criminal justice system in order to deal with their victimization while the other view says that victims of crime should rely upon private support and insurance payments to deal with their victimization.

Those who believe that the criminal justice system should contribute to helping victims believe that helping the victim to cope is the responsibility of all of society. Law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional and human service systems have come to realize that due process and human rights exist not only for the criminal defendant but also for the victim of criminal behavior and because of this many communities have set up victim assistance programs. The goal of these programs is to assist victims in…… [Read More]

Criminal Psychopathology Is the Science

He suggested the British model of profiling instead, based on the "bottom up" type of processing, which analyzes existing evidence of specific similarities between offense and offender characteristics. The CSA uses the reverse, the "top down" processing, which relies on subjective conclusions derived from investigative experience of crimes and criminal interviews by the police and investigators (Hayden).

Motive is the reason behind the commission of a crime (Zandt 2006). It is not an element of a crime, which needs to be proven in court. But some utterly heinous or unnatural crime may require it for the jury to understand and appreciate why it is committed. An example is the killing of one's own spouse or child. Prosecutors must clearly establish the motive, which is the offender's reason for committing what is considered unreasonable, heinous or unnatural. The prosecution must prove and convince the jury, explain and show how anyone can commit that offense or crime. The questions asked when investigating are who, what, when, where, why and how in order to solve a crime. Who is the victim, the crime, when it is committed, where and how it is committed. Of these questions, the less obvious or evident "why" is…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Justice - Policing Criminal

To the extent that crime is a function of larger social issues, it is unrealistic to expect those underlying social problems to be rectified by law enforcement efforts. Even with respect to specific incidence of criminal behavior, law enforcement authorities must address two competing interests that fall within the purview and responsibility of law enforcement.

Specifically, poverty, unwanted pregnancy, lack of educational and vocational opportunities, and perceived social "disenfranchisement" within communities contribute heavily to crime in those areas but none of those social factors are capable of being redressed directly by law enforcement authorities. Likewise, even within the realm of law enforcement responsibilities, emphasis on quality-of-life-oriented policing and crime prevention-oriented policing conflict with the goal of preventing crime in light of empirical evidence and anecdotal experience demonstrating that efforts directed at the former do not necessarily achieve the goals of the latter appreciably.

In that regard, directed police patrols and crackdowns on specific types of crimes has proven effective at addressing those types of criminal activity, but they do not provide a substantial benefit with respect to overall crime rates in the community outside of those targeted types of crimes or outside of directed areas of increased police activity.

Conversely,…… [Read More]

Criminal Justice - Gender and

In that regard, Agnew's version of strain theory no longer explains the marked difference in male and female homicide rates, simply because it downplays the importance of the types of strains described by Merton. Whereas Merton's strains were associated more with the types of failures more likely to be experienced by males, Agnew's strains included many types of strains that, at least arguably, could be said to plague females even more than males.

Merton conceived of the source of strain as predominantly a function of identity roles and social success as defined in the cultural environment; Agnew added the many other sources of potential strain that relate to expectations of the individual rather than necessarily of society (Macionis 2003). More specifically, Agnew (1992) suggested that individuals vary substantially from one another and form many elements of their ideal "role model" more autonomously: whereas some individuals (of either gender) may value their athleticism, for just one example, others might maintain completely different criteria for defining their own self-worth. Therefore, in Agnew's formulation of Merton's strain theory, the specific components of the value system are arbitrary except in their subjective importance to the individual. However, the consequences to the individual (at least…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Criminal Justice Forensics Undercover Is a

However, as criminals become more aware of undercover tactics, the covert officer is required to provide more and more proof that he is indeed a criminal- which leads to the officer committing acts that compromise his or her integrity for the sake of maintaining cover. By understanding the often conflicting nature of these goals, deception and integrity, we can see how an undercover officer can become confused, lost, and susceptible to temptation (i.e. criminal behavior).

By examining both aspects- environmental factors and personality factors- we take into account both sides of a complex relationship. These two groups of factors, when combined together, shed some light on the exact nature of criminal tendencies amongst police officers.

Definition of Terms

Covert: another term for undercover, meaning the use of deception for the purpose of gathering information or intelligence.

Non-covert: police officers that, even in plain clothes, maintain their own true identity instead of a false one.

Personality tests: various types will be used from the literature.

Undercover: describes a method of operation that includes inserting an operative in an environment with a false persona, for the purpose of gathering information/intelligence.

Deviance: used to describe behavior that is inconsistent with the norms, values…… [Read More]

Resources:

Criminal Justice Theories Drift Theory Suggests That

Criminal Justice Theories

Drift theory suggests that people drift from one extreme to another during the course of their lifetimes. When applied in the context of criminal justice, it reflects the idea that people drift between conventional and criminal behaviors. After a crime is committed, the individual may balance that criminality by drifting back towards conventional behavior. In this way, criminality is partly chosen, but also partly determined, because the willingness to commit a crime comes with preparation and desperation. Preparation does not imply that the person has actively prepared to engage in criminal behavior but that the person has placed himself in a position where it is possible to commit a crime. Fatalism contributes to drift, with people being more likely to commit crimes when they feel as if their options have been limited and that they lack control. Furthermore, with drift comes an underlying sense of injustice, so that offenders are more likely to drift towards criminal behavior when they feel as if an injustice has occurred

The containment theory is that every person has some proclivity for criminal behavior in them, but that they are contained from doing so because of internal and external constraints. Containment theory…… [Read More]

References:

Criminal Justice Theory

Criminal Justice Theory and the Los Angeles County Probation Department

Criminal and antisocial behaviors have been studied in the field of criminology for many years. Criminologists are very interested to learn what types of things cause specific criminal and antisocial behaviors. While criminal behavior and antisocial behavior are not always related, they often have close ties. Criminologists and other researchers are looking to find commonalities between certain genetic makeups and deviant behavior. They believe that many people are genetically predisposed to be violent, and if these people can be located they can be treated.

That does not mean that criminologists are in favor of testing everyone's genetic makeup on the planet to see if any of them show violent tendencies. What they are interested in doing, however, is studying criminals who already have a history of violent and deviant behavior to see what other traits they have, and what their genetic makeup looks like. If it can be shown that many people with a specific character trait become criminals, then this character trait can be looked for in other individuals throughout society. If it is found, this individual can be subjected to closer scrutiny. This kind of work could be…… [Read More]

Sources:

Criminal Decision Making The Elements of the

Criminal Decision Making: The Elements of the Culture of the Street and Party Life and Their Relation to Criminal Decision-Making

Understanding offenders' lifestyles and the process by which they choose to commit criminal acts is critical particularly because it has important implications for crime control. Very often, certain elements of the street and party life influence the offender's assessment of the risks and rewards of crime. According to Shover and Honaker (1992), commitment to drugs and partying, as well as street culture, leads to alienation of offenders from mainstream society and pushes them away from a conventional life. Over time, they adopt a socially bounded rationality and become accustomed to a criminal lifestyle to a point where they break the law as a result of addiction, rather that free will. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the role played by these lifestyles in shaping the motivation for crime because it will help determine effective methods that should be taken to reduce property crime such as auto theft and burglary, homicides, murders, and many other forms of violent crimes. Hotchstetler (2001) also states that it is essential to focus on mental processes, interactions and actions that link offenders backgrounds to criminal…… [Read More]