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Choice Theory

Choice Theory. Chapter 4 SOC 112. Rational Choice. Crime: decision to violate law - greed / revenge / anger / lust / jealousy / etc. Development - rooted in Classical School - Cesare Beccaria (late 1700s) - fair / certain punishment - crime / punishment: proportional

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Choice Theory

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  1. Choice Theory Chapter 4 SOC 112

  2. Rational Choice • Crime: decision to violate law - greed / revenge / anger / lust / jealousy / etc. • Development - rooted in Classical School - Cesare Beccaria (late 1700s) - fair / certain punishment - crime / punishment: proportional - marginal deterrence • Classical Theory

  3. Choice, cont. - criminals choose - pleasure / pain principle a. Jeremy Bentham (early 1800s) - popularized - Utilitarianism b. Punishment - harmful / existence justified c. Four objectives:

  4. Choice, cont. i. Prevent all criminal offenses ii. Not prevent / convince criminal offenders to commit lesser iii. Ensure criminal uses no more force than is necessary iv. Prevent crime as cheaply as possible d. Classical approach declined • Positivistic view - gains mainstream acceptance

  5. Choice, cont. • Choice Theory emerges a. Public fear – mid 1970s - rehabilitation failed - crime increase - prison violence - media depictions b. Rational criminals – late 1970s - planning / fear punishment / - deserve to be penalized

  6. Choice, cont. c. Impact: crime control - tougher laws - mandatory sentencing - increase prison population • Concepts - factors considered: personal / situational a. Offense-specific crime: - react selectively - characteristics

  7. Concepts, cont. b. Offender-specific: - not automatons - random acts c. Crime versus criminality - crime: an event - criminality: personal trait • Structuring criminality - personal factors condition people

  8. Concepts, cont. a. Economic opportunity b. Learning / experience c. Knowledge of techniques • Structuring crime - rationally choose - where / when a. Choosing the crime (specialists)

  9. Concepts, cont. b. Time and place (select) c. Target (vulnerability) • Is crime rational? - rational / objective thought a. Theft - unplanned: involve risk assessment - boosters? - avoiding detection

  10. Is Crime Rational? - permeable neighborhood? b. Drug use - decision making - like a business c. Violence - vulnerable victims - careful planning - avoid detection - reinforcing

  11. Rational, cont. • Eliminating crime a. Situational crime prevention (1) Targets guarded (2) Defensible space (3) Specific crimes (4) Increase efforts - reduce opportunities

  12. Rational, cont. (5) Reduce rewards - value of crime (6) Increase risk - crime is risky (7) Increase guilt - embarrass offender (8) Costs / benefits

  13. Rational, cont. (a) Diffusion - prevent one / prevent another (b) Discouragement - target area / surrounding area (c) Displacement - effort in one / send to another (d) Extinction - short term

  14. General Deterrence • Threat of punishment - influences / controls - people’s fear a. Certainty of punishment - “tipping point” - crime persists b. Crime continues - small chance of arrest - reluctance to make arrest

  15. Deterrence, cont. - lenient punishment c. Increase police activity - possible - crackdowns - problem solving / community improvement d. Severity of punishment - certain crimes - not all criminal activity

  16. Deterrence, cont. e. Capital punishment - might actually increase - states: no difference - increase executions = reduce murder rate f. Informal sanctions - greater deterrent impact - disapproval / stigma / anger / indignation g. Shame / humiliation - powerful deterrent

  17. Deterrence, cont. - public humiliation - effect varies h. General deterrence rationality - need - greed - severity / speed 2. Specific deterrence (special / particular) - powerful sanctions / never repeat - deter crime?

  18. Deterrence, cont. (1) Majority not deterred (2) Defiance / not deterrence j. Incapacitation - reduce crime - other factors (1) Teenage population (2) Mandatory sentencing (3) Economic health (4) Gun laws

  19. Deterrence, cont. (5) Drug epidemic (6) Aggressive policing - logic behind: (1) Little evidence (2) Experienced inmates (3) Teens / young adults (4) Past crime age (5) Expensive (6) Accelerate upon release

  20. Deterrence, cont. k. Selective incapacitation - chronic career criminal - “Three strikes” (1) Age out soon (2) Severe sentences (3) Increased costs

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