SOC109 Lecture 8

• SOC109 Lecture 8 (20249).pdf

• Classical Criminology

• The enlightenment

  • 17th century europe
  • Scientifically studied humanity
  • Rationalism
  • They thought that more severe punishments are not going to be effective
  • Punishment should scale with crime

• Classical School

  • Individuals exercise rationality and free-will
  • Hedonistic calculus.
    • If you violate the law, it's because it's going to bring you more pleasure than pain.

• Objectives of punishment

  • General deterrence
    • Other people should not be going this crime
  • Specific deterrence
    • Deter a person from doing that crime again
  • Denunciation
    • Society as a whole is condemning an act
  • Incapacitation
    • Control the movement of dangerous offenders
    • Ankle bracelets
    • Supervision
    • Prison
  • Rehabilitation
    • Should have re-entry into society that should be successful
  • Reparations - Restitution
    • Repair the harm done to individuals or the society
  • Retribution
    • Revenge on the perpetrator

• Neo-Classical Theories and Deterrence

  • Tough on crime approach
  • Mandatory minimum sentences
  • Prevent people from offending again.
  • Making sure that people do their time.
  • How swiftly will I be punished?
  • How severe?
  • How certain?
    • Most important factor in deterrence

• Rational choice theory

  • The Reasoning Criminal
  • Every offender has their own rational choices and informed decisions on their crimes.
  • Involvement decisions
    • Background factors
    • Solutions to our needs
      • Does crime solve our problems?
  • Event decisions
    • These are immediate and situational factors.
    • Obstacles to committing crimes.
    • Example:
      • Police patrolling

• Routine Activities Theory

  • Changes in lifestyle contribute to increased victimization.
  • Need to be:
    • Motivated offender
    • Suitable target
    • Lack of capable guardian
      • formal
        • police officers
        • security guards
      • informal
        • neighbours
        • neighbourhood watch
        • cctv

• Situational Crime Prevention

  • Changing physical, social and organizational environment can reduce offenders.
  • Examples:
    • Increasing effort of crime
    • risk
    • rewards
    • provocations
      • don't allow an inciting incident
    • reducing excuses
      • make shit obvious

• Cons of rational choice

  • Illogical acts?
  • Self-destructive acts?
  • Repeat offenders?
  • Bounded rationality
    • They think it's a good decision
    • Others don't
  • Emotional or psychological states
    • Sedated states
    • Stimulated states