Theories of Crime Lecture

Introduction

• Discussion on why some people commit crimes and others don't.
• Focus on the classical school of crime and its impact on modern theories.

Classical School of Crime

• Originated as a response to barbaric justice systems prior to the 1800s.
• Focused on human free will and rationality.
• Key figure: Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham.
• Crime is seen as a rational choice to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.
• Punishments should be proportional and humane.

Neoclassical Theories

• Emerged in the 1970s in the U.S.
• Focus on deterrence through rational punishment systems.
• Critique of rehabilitation approaches that dominated earlier.

Deterrence Theory

• Assumes people are rational beings who consider consequences.
• General vs Specific Deterrence:
  • General: Punishment deters society at large.
  • Specific: Punishment deters the individual offender.
• Macro vs Micro Levels:
  • Macro: Effect on crime rates in larger areas.
  • Micro: Individual perceptions of risk.
• Importance of certainty over severity in punishment.

Research on Deterrence

• Mixed findings on the effectiveness of deterrence.
• Certainty of getting caught has more impact than severity of punishment.
• Examples like the Kansas City Patrol experiment showed limited effects.
• Saturation patrols and focused deterrence (David Kennedy's model) show some promise.

Scared Straight Programs

• Scared straight programs generally ineffective or counterproductive.
• Focus on severity rather than certainty.

Specific Deterrence

• High recidivism rates suggest limited effectiveness of prisons.
• Intensive supervision probation and boot camps show mixed results.
• Effective models incorporate rehabilitation and treatment.

Incapacitation

• Locking offenders up to prevent crime.
• Effective for high-rate, low-severity crimes (e.g., robbery).
• Less effective for serious crimes like homicide.
• Expensive and can have diminishing returns.

Conclusion

• Certainty of punishment is a key factor in effective deterrence.
• Complex interplay between social policies, punishment severity, and crime rates.
• Continuous exploration and adaptation in criminal justice policies necessary.