Introduction to Criminology CRJ 210

Bentham Introduction to Criminology CRJ 210 Freud The Search For Causes Dr. Tom Luzinski Concluding Thoughts Marx Darwin 6/6/2014 1

Crime and Criminology • Crime occurs in all segments of society • Yet, for some reason, we are fixated on “street crime” • There are a wide range of offenses committed, not just street crime • The general public views crime as a major social problem • Yet, not to willing to get involved to stop it. • Most are fascinated with crime

What factors do you think contribute to crime? • I would hope by now that you at least consider our society suffers from a large underclass • Urban areas in which the poorest and wealthiest live in close proximity • Racism and discrimination exist • Failure of the educational system • Troubled American family • Easy access to handguns All effect crime and criminality to one extend or another…

What factors do you think contribute to crime? • A culture that defines success in terms of material wealth • Drug use • Peer support • Violence on TV • Glamorization and exploitation of the genre • Lack of punishment/rehabilitation • These factors are used in development of theory

1. We studied the “Classical Perspective” repudiates liberal approaches • People simply Choose to commit crime • It demands hard nosed law enforcement characterized with increases in arrests for criminal acts • Followed by swift and sure prosecution of those acts • Followed by conviction in courts for the acts • Culminated by harsh punishment

Therefore, the solutions to the problem of crime from a Classical - Conservative perspective: • First, eliminate social support for minority (black) families. These people should get jobs and go to work • Pass tougher crime laws and expand the range of criminal behaviors, • Increase the number of police on the street, drive them to enforce the laws. • Put “get tough” judges on the bench, • Impose longer prison terms more frequently, • Expand the penitentiary system, • Restrict judicial discretion, and curtail probation and parole, • The Death Penalty!

Why this classical approach does not work… • The resources of the criminal justice system are “maxed out” now. • To make our system run, it requires that 95% of all criminal cases are plea bargained. • A 1% increase in arrests by police officers will shut the system down • “Hook ‘em and book’ em” approaches create ripple effects elsewhere within the CJ system that it cannot cope with.

2. Biological Theories (Determinism) Basic Assumptions – • Human behavior is not human nature but is physiologically or genetically determined. • Choice is not an option! • Basic determinants of human behavior may be passed from generation to generation • Some behavior is the result of propensities inherited from more primitive developmental stages in the evolutionary process 6/6/2014 8

Why this is not satisfactory… • If you support the biological approach to understanding crime… • You must completely reject the notions of free will as influential on crime! • Classical Theory is not an option for you! • Hence, people cannot choose to commit crime, they are biologically predisposed to engage in it!

3. Sociological Approach • Most of the sociological research data points towards young males living in areas of disrepair with low rents, high unemployment rates and a high turnover of the population, all of this combined with a lack of directed policing and, no apparent, governmental intervention (poor amenities and public services) created a hotbed for gangs and sub-cultures to emerge (these areas are badged “zones of transition”) are the homes of the criminals of our society! • This also begs the question are all young males living in so called “zones of transition” destined to end up in a street gang?.

Deviance is behavior that does not follow common perceptions • An important sociological concept states that people conform, or perform to societal expectation or norms. • Conformity provides order in the society. Thus, when someone is doing something that the rest of society find unacceptable, or out of the ordinary, he or she is considered deviant. • While the definition of deviance may appear obvious, this is not necessarily the case for the sociology community. • The sociology of deviance contains definitions of an extensive nature, which are branched off into several perspective groups. • For example, sociologist Erving Goffman applies the concept of stigma, or more commonly, labeling; stating that ones behavior and actions deemed deviant are applied by others.

4. Politics and Crime • Conflict vs Consensus • Societies have a variety of groups, all competing for different goals and prizes • These groups are dynamic, and change • Sometimes groups might come together over a particular issue • Even a powerless group might obtain power by banding together

Conflict (cont) • Generally, there are likely to be some groups that consistently have more power than others • They determine the laws, and carry them out; different groups may be treated differently

Hypotheses about economy • Declining economy (poverty, need) hypothesis: as the economy gets worse, the crime rate will increase • Lack of legitimate job opportunities drives people to crime (strain) • Capitalism encourages greed, and the CJS criminalizes the greed of the poor (Marxist/radical)

Hypotheses (cont) • As the economy gets better, the crime rate will increase • When people are more affluent, there is more worth stealing, more temptations (i.e., auto theft) • With affluence, there are more criminal opportunities (drugs, gambling, etc.)

Hypotheses (cont) • Relative deprivation: Perceived economic inequality affects crime rate. People perceive inequality, feel unfairly treated, resentment and frustration, aggression and crime (envy hypothesis) • Outgrowth of reference group (or social comparison) theory. Satisfaction depends on who one compares oneself with--effects of television

Hypotheses (cont) • Common cause hypothesis: Unemployment and crime are caused by common factors • Impulsivity, low verbal intelligence, sensation-seeking, dropping out (drop-outs two times as likely to be unemployed)

Hypotheses (cont) • Crime may cause unemployment: if crime pays, people may become unemployed • No relationship

Part IIPutting it all Together, Dept. • If you accept the Classical Approach, you cannot accept any Neoclassic Approaches • Rational Choice and Determinism do not mix, they are antithetical and mutually exclusive.

Part III: Implications for Police Administration

The 6 Hypotheses of Policing Numbers of Police - The more police a city employs, the less crime it will have. Rapid Response to 911 - The shorter the police travel time from assignment to arrival at a crime scene, the less crime there will be. Random Patrols - Random patrols increase the perception of police "omnipresence," which deters crime in public places.

The 6 Hypotheses of Policing Directed Patrols - The more patrol presence is concentrated in "hot spots," the less crime there will be in those places. Reactive Arrests - The more arrests police make in response to reported or observed offences, the less crime there will be. Proactive Arrests - The higher the police-initiated arrest rate for high-risk offenders and offences, the lower the rates of serious violent crime.

Organization of the Police Professional (Bureaucratic) Model • Para-military structure • Hierarchical ranking • Job specialization • Patrol, homicide, traffic, etc. • Formal written routines and procedures • A rule and a form to fill out for everything! • Centralization of command • Top-down approach

Municipal Policing • Functions • Maintain public order • Control and prevent crime • Serve the community • Reactive: Incident-driven policing • Respond to emergency calls • Most calls for service are not criminal in nature • Proactive • Community policing / problem-oriented policing • Paper work • Police officers spend much of their time filling out paperwork

Patrol Function • Respond to calls • Deter crime through visibility • Maintain order & sense of security • Provide 24-hour services, most of which are not crime-related

Recent trends in policing Community policing Problem-oriented police Broken Windows/Zero Tolerance

Community Policing • Community policing arose in the late 1970s in the US due to estrangement of policing from communities • Kansas City Studies debunked the viability of random patrol as effective. • Major emphasis is on process: increased communications & partnerships between police and communities

Community Policing Partnerships with the community: • Commitment to community empowerment • Enhance informal social control • Community input/participation in problem-solving • More and better communications • Increased police accountability to the community • Police as part of the community • Police as peace officers, not simply law enforcement • Multi-agency cooperation Community-based!

Community Policing Transformed Organizational Structure • Objective: greater responsibility & autonomy for front-line constables to apply crime prevention strategies • Hierarchical, paramilitary, organizational model is flattened • Geographical decentralization • Shift in power: decentralized and personalized policing • Police officers are reflective of the community

Problem-Oriented Policing ala Herman Goldstein • Arose in the late 1980s from the crisis of police effectiveness in controlling crime • Police had become: • overwhelming reactive • only addressing symptoms • Emphasis of POP on outcome: making policing more effective at preventing crime by addressing root causes

Problem-Oriented Policing: • Proactive/preventative • Address (root) causes (20-40% is 40 to 60%) • Critical thinking and analysis • Involvement of community in defining problems and developing solutions • Intervention: most appropriate solution to the problem • Highly individualized solutions • More diversion / use of alternatives to CJS (creativity!)

Broken Windows/ Zero Tolerance • Broken Windows theory • Disorder is a crime magnet • Creates fear, attracts criminals • Central concern • Address non-criminal disorder and incivilities • Zero tolerance for even minor offences • New York City • Increased police powers for search and arrest • Crackdown on turnstile jumping, public urination, public drug use, loitering, trespassing, public drunkenness, etc.

Introduction to Criminology CRJ 210