Criminological Theory

JUVENILE DELINQUENCYAND THE JUSTICE SYSTEMWeek Three: Juvenile Theory

OBJECTIVES Individual and Group Projects – 6:30 Introduce several criminological theories –

6:45 BREAK – 8:00 Short videos – 8:15 Discussion – 8:45 Assignment – 9:30 PM

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT – DUE 11/23/15 Dispatches from Juvenile Hall Read entire book Randomly assigned 3 case studies on

11/09/15 5 – 7 pages; 12-point TNR; double-spaced Using theory, policy and practice Evaluate juveniles’ lives What may have lead to their involvement in

JJS? What could have helped them? Specifics

GROUP PROJECT – DUE 12/07/15 Book issues resolved? Everyone in group must read entire book Everyone must have active role Present to classmates

Summarize Juvenile Delinquency focus Criticisms Pose questions / discussion

Audio / visual aid (be creative) 20 minutes, plus discussion

THEORIES OF DELINQUENCYWeek Three

THEORY RELATIONSHIPSLeftist RightistIndividual Views

Choice Theory Trait TheoriesCriminal atavism (old) Lombroso

Biosocial (new)Psychological

Psychodynamic theory Freud

Behavioral theory

Sociological Views

Cognitive theory

Social Process Theories

Social Structure Theories

Critical Theories

Social learning theory

Social control theory

General theory of self control G&H

Integrated ViewsLife course Theories

TrajectoryLatent trait/propensity

Labeling theory & Reintegrative shaming

Social disorganization

Anomie/strain

Critical feminism

Power-control

Liberal feminism

THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Classical Choice

Rational Routine Activities

Trait Biological Psychological

Individual Views

Shoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.


Social Structure Social

disorganization Strain / anomie

Social Process Labeling Social Control Social Learning General Theory

Critical / Social Reaction Critical feminism Liberal feminism Power-control

Sociological Views



Life-course Trajectory Latent trait

Integrated Views


IND

IVIDUAL

INDIVIDUAL Choice

Rational Choice: individuals have free will and weight the consequences of their actions beforehand

Routine Activities: Crimes will occur if there is a motivated offender and a suitable target

Biological and Psychological Bio: the cause of crime can be found in child’s

physical or biological make-up Psych: cause can be found in child’s

psychological traits and characteristics Cog. Theory: delinquents analyze and perceive

information improperly


CLASSICALo If benefits outweigh the punishments, youths will

commit delinquent/criminal actso Proponents/theorists: Classical criminologists

Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham o Sub-theories/links: routine activities theoryo Solution: make punishment outweigh the crime; more

severity, faster and more consistent punishment response

o Critiques: classical criminologists did not promote severity of punishment; deterrence will not work if criminals are not rational, do not know punishments


RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY Predatory crimes and some property crime

will occur if there is a motivated offender and a suitable target

Proponents/theorists: Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson

Solution: Guard targets, monitor offenders, increase the risks, reduce the rewards

Critiques: deterrence will not work if criminals are not rational (and children are likely less rational than adult criminals), do not know punishments, increasing shame can be counterproductive


TRAIT (OLD SCHOOL) Origins of trait theory is Cesare Lombroso’s theory

of criminal atavism: criminals are evolutionary throwbacks

Poor methods, poor experimental design; no longer accepted but served as basis for contemporary trait theories


TRAIT THEORIES (CONTEMPORARY) A combination of personal trait and

environmental influences produce individual behavior patterns

Biosocial: the cause of delinquency can be found in a child’s physical or biological makeup

Psychological: the cause can be found in the child’s psychological traits and characteristics


TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL Biosocial influences:

Environmental contamination such as PCB or lead exposure Poor diet or over- or under-supply of certain chemicals, minerals Increased testosterone levels; alcohol, tobacco, drug exposure

in womb Genetic influences

Support: ~ 20% of offenders report a traumatic brain injury, suffer from antisocial traits throughout their lives

West & Farrington’s data: delinquent youths have criminal fathers MZ twins’ delinquency is much more closely associated than DZ

twins’; data from identical twins raised separately Solution: specialized attention, intervention (government

regulation, abortion, eugenics) Critique: Insensitive treatment by social control agents can cause

delinquency, some interventions unethicalShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.

TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL


TRAIT THEORIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL


TRAIT THEORIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL Delinquent behaviors are symptomatic of psychological problems

Freud’s psychodynamic theory: if parents fail to help a child develop superego properly, the child’s id may become dominant and lead to antisocial behavior

Different types of psychosis have since been named bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and so forth

Support: Juvenile offenders have a disproportionate amount of mental health problems, personality disturbance 88% of male and 92% of female incarcerated youth had a

psychiatric disorder Those particularly linked to delinquent behavior:

oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), clinical depression, eating disorders

Solution: prevention, treatment, counseling Critique: Some other variable or factor can be causing delinquent

behavior, like failure in school, or abuse; circular reasoning

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES: COGNITIVE THEORY

Delinquents perceive and analyze information improperly Support: Kohlberg’s studies find a majority of delinquents

have a lack of respect for the law and personalities marked by self-interest compared to non-delinquents

Non-delinquent youth exhibit higher stages of moral reasoning than delinquent youth

Nature theory: delinquents are mentally deficient (low IQ) Nurture theory: Low IQ is not hereditary but rather results

from an environment that encourages delinquent behavior Subsequent research has disputed any association between

intelligence and delinquency (Sutherland)


SOCIO

LOG

ICAL

SOCIAL Social disorganization

Delinquency occurs in high-poverty, low public order areas because of no social control

Strain / Anomie Legitimate means of attending goals does not

exist Social learning

Delinquent behavior is learning from the interaction with others

Social Control Delinquency is inhibited by strong relationships

with conventional individual and groupsShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.

BEHAVIORAL THEORY & SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Behavioral theory: People learn by observing how

others react to their behavior; behavior is reinforced by a positive reaction/event

Social learning theory: Learning and social experiences, within the context of norms and expectations, will determine behavior

Proponents/theorists: B.F. Skinner (behaviorist), Edwin Sutherland (sociologist), Donald Cressey (sociologist), Ronald L. Akers (sociologist)


SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Delinquent behavior is learned in interaction with others

(differential association) Family members and peers greatly influence a person’s

development Support: Besides own prior deviant behavior, the best single

predictor of onset, continuance, desistance of crime/delinquency is association with conforming or law-violating peers (frequency, duration, closeness)

Solution: Peer counseling, gang interventions, family and school programs, drug prevention and education programs

Critique: Some ways that theorists define principles of reinforcement rely on circular reasoning; order of association and delinquency is problematic

SOCIAL CONTROL THEORIES Delinquency is inhibited by strong relationships with

conventional individuals and groups If children develop strong commitments to conformity, they

will be able to resist pressures to violate the law; if these bonds are broken, they will feel free to break the law because they are not worried about jeopardizing their relationships

Proponents: Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson Hirschi’s social bond theory is the basis for social control

theory, and general theory of self-control theory follows from social control theory (G &H)

Social bond theory: The four elements attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs make up a person’s bond to society; the weaker these bonds are, the more likely the person will violate the lawShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,

MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.

SOCIAL CONTROL THEORIES: GENERAL THEORY OF SELF-CONTROL Individuals with low self-control will be much more

likely to engage in criminal acts The source of low self-control is ineffective or

incomplete socialization, especially ineffective child rearing

Support: Measures of self-control and attitudes consistent with low self-control correlate with delinquency/criminal behavior

Solution: Parenting skills training Critique: Many definitions of self-control are

circular; attitudinal measures get around this. Hirschi’s portrayal of delinquents as lone wolves seems to conflict with social learning theoriesShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,


SOCIAL REACTION/LABELING THEORY Becoming stigmatized or labeled by agents of social control,

informal and formal, creates and sustains delinquency If a child is perceived as deviant, (s)he may be treated as a

delinquent (labeled/stigmatized/marginalized), increasing the likelihood that (s)he will seek out other stigmatized individuals or reject the rejectors, internalize the deviant label (self-label) and subsequently commit delinquency/crime

Proponents: Howard Becker Solution: Avoid stigmatization, use restorative justice

programs rather than traditional adjudication when appropriate

Critique: Does not explain the decision to begin delinquency, and data supporting life course theory contradict labeling theory (aging out of crime). Empirical studies finds weak relationships


SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION Social disorganization theorists looked at area characteristics

rather than individuals’ characteristics and found that areas with low rates of delinquents had generally uniform, consistent, universal values and attitudes regarding law and social behavior and areas of low economic status were characterized by a wide range of norms

Delinquency rates were high in high-poverty, inner-city transitional neighborhoods—those that had changed from affluence to decay

These disorganized neighborhoods are incapable of social control

Later work finds collective efficacy, a sense of mutual trust and a willingness to intervene in the supervision of children and maintenance of public order, is the lynchpin

Proponents: Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay (from the University of Chicago), Robert Bursik, Robert Sampson

SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION Support: Urban centers consistently have higher

rates of arrests, convictions, incarcerations, and other measures of crime and delinquency

Solution: Reduce income inequality, expand employment opportunities, crime prevention efforts for children in low-income neighborhoods

Critique: Some of the measures of social disorganization rely on circular logic or are not clearly defined; collective efficacy measures get around this problem. Also, only a minority of the population is involved in crime.


SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Anomie, coined by Durkheim and extended by

Merton, is a state of normlessness in which the legitimate means of attaining the goals in a society are devalued and the goals (i.e. money) are revered above and beyond all

This anomic condition produces strain or pressure and youths may deal with this strain in different ways such as using deviant methods to achieve their goals or rejecting socially accepted goals and substituting deviant ones

Proponents: Robert Merton (classic strain theory), Robert Agnew (general strain theory)


SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAINMerton argued there are five ways people adapt to strain:1. Conformity: conformity to cultural goals and institutionalized means

(most common)2. Innovation: assimilation of goals, not means3. Ritualism: abandonment or reduction of goals, assimilation of

means4. Retreatism: relinquishment of both goals and means (least

common)5. Rebellion: attempt to introduce new social structure

SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Agnew argued that there are different types of strains and

some types are much more likely to cause delinquency/crime Major types of deviance-causing strains:

Failure to achieve goals Removal of positive/desired stimuli Confrontation with negative stimuli

Strains that are more likely to cause a criminal reaction: Strains that are seen as ‘high’ in magnitude Strains that are seen as unjust in nature Strains that are associated with low social control Strains that create some pressure or incentive for criminal

copingShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham, MD.Bohm, Robert M., & Brenda L. Vogel. (2011). A Primer on Crime and Delinquent Theory. Third Edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES: ANOMIE/STRAIN Support: Not much empirical work testing anomie

theory exists and, there is not much difference in the delinquency of youths who experience a large gap between their aspirations and youth who see a small gap

Solution: Basic social changes to redistribute opportunities, prevention and training programs in low-income communities; some versions of the theory suggest strengthening non-economic institutions

Critique: Difficult to assess, not much empirical evidence exists


GENDER THEORIES: LIBERAL FEMINISM Girls and women are less delinquent/criminal than

men because their social roles provide fewer opportunities to commit crime

As the roles of women become more similar to those of men, so will their crime patterns

Proponents/theorists: Freda Adler, Rita Simon Support: The types of crimes committed most and least

often by girls are nearly identical to those committed most and least often by boys; girls are joining gangs more than they used to

Solution: ? Critique: Neither the masculinity or the

opportunity hypotheses has received much empirical support


GENDER THEORIES: CRITICAL FEMINISM Gender inequality stems from the unequal power of men

and women and the exploitation of girls/women by men Delinquency begins with the onset of male supremacy and

women’s victimization and offending should decline as they are empowered socially, economically, and legally

Proponents: Meda Chesney-Lind, Jody Miller Support: Getting Played; girls who are victims of sexual

and other forms of abuse have higher rates of delinquency Solution: Reduce gender discrimination/gender pay gap,

reduce sex trafficking, prevention and treatment rather than punitive policies for girls, increase gender-based treatment in prisons

Critique: The economic marginalization hypothesis is not contradictory to masculinity or opportunity hypotheses

GENDER THEORIES: POWER-CONTROL THEORY Gender differences in delinquency are a function of

class difference that influence family life In egalitarian families and families with absent

fathers, daughters’ delinquency mirrors sons’ Proponents/theorists: John Hagan Support: It better explains the increase in female

delinquency than liberal or critical feminist theories Solution: Reduce gender discrimination/gender pay

gap, reduce sex trafficking Critique: Its class components are not supported in

some studies


INTEG

RATED

DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: LIFE COURSE THEORY

Delinquent behavior is a dynamic process, influenced by individual characteristics and social influences, and the factors that cause crime/delinquency can change drastically over a person’s life

Life events that enable people to desist are good/successful jobs and careers and a support spouse, particularly for men (the love of a child works for women); this is because these things increase their social capital, positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining

Proponents/theorists: John Laub and Robert Sampson (criminologists)


DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: LATENT TRAIT/PROPENSITY VIEW People have traits that cause them to commit

crime/delinquency and these traits are either present at birth or established early in development, and they remain stable over time; some traits are defective intelligence, impulsivity, genetic abnormalities, improper physical-chemical functioning of the brain, and environmental influences on brain function (drugs, chemicals, injuries)

Changes in rates of crime commission have to do with changes in opportunity to do it, not propensity to commit crime

Proponents/theorists: James Q. Wilson, Richard HerrnsteinShoemaker, Donald J. (2013). Juvenile Delinquency. Second edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: Lanham,


DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES: ADOLESCENT-LIMITED AND LIFE COURSE PERSISTENT Most young offenders follow one of two paths:

adolescent-limited, those who get into minor scrapes with the law, and life-course persistent, who beginning offending early and continue offending in adulthood

Proponents/theorists: Terrie Moffitt (psychologist)


DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES Solution: For Laub & Sampson, Moffitt—improve

parenting skills Oregon Social Learning Center Guiding Good Choices Multisystemic programs

Solution: For James Q. Wilson & Herrnstein—reduce opportunities a la deterrence and routine activities theory

Critique: The theories draw from a bunch of others and some question whether they constitute theories per se; does not explain why behavior stabilizes or changes in some cases


THE WIRE AND CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY Differential Association Rational Choice Theory Strain Anomie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIUlhWWIcNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQyWIorYjk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG_jBGIIFWw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpV18bqN16w

Scenarios of Juvenile

DelinquencyDiscussion

WHICH THEORY APPLIES? 15-year-old steals a candy bar from the

convenient store 12-year-old hits his mother with a curtain rod 13-year-old who repeatedly pulls the fire

alarm at here residential placement 17-year-old who punches out a fellow

detainee unconscious 16-year-old twin who sexually assaults his

12-year-old sister

FINAL NOTES Is there a universal theory of crime? Why is theory important? How does it affect me? I don’t want to be an academic, I want to be

a… Pigeon-holing

Theory of Juvenile

DelinquencyAssignment

HO

MEW

ORK

DUE:9/21

NEXT:Juvenile Justice: Past and Present

READ:Shoemaker (Ch. 2 & 13); Matza and Bernard & Kurlychek (pp. 10 - 29, on Blackboard); Caldwell (Juvenile Court, on Blackboard)

Recommended:None.

Assignment:Theory Paper (on Blackboard now)