What is a Theory?

An explanation for observed facts that relate to a particular aspect of life.

Theories of Criminal & Deviant Behavior

This explains why people do commit crimes or why they don't. Macro and Micro level theories.

Theories of Making & Enforcing the Criminal Law

This focuses on how some behaviors are defined as criminal.

Evaluating a Theory

1. Logical -- the theory makes sense. 2. General -- it doesn't only apply to one person. 3. Parsimonious (simple) -- we can understand what is being said rather than the complicated theories. 4. Testable -- must be falsifiable and NOT self-defining. 5. Empirical Validity (MOST IMPORTANT) -- must have evidence in support of it. 6. Useful

Measuring Crime

Most commonly used is the UCR -- Crimes known to police -- Crimes cleared by arrest

UCR Strengths

- Most accurate indicator of serious crimes - Good for macro-level crime data - Gathered annually by police nationwide.

UCR Weaknesses

- Rely on victim/witness reporting - Differences across agencies in definitions and reporting - No federal crimes - Hierarchy rule - Ony includes 8 offenses

Part 1 Index Offenses

Violent -- - Agg. Assault - Homicide - Forcible Rape - Robbery Property -- - Arson - Burglary - Larceny/Theft - Motor Vehicle Theft

Victimization Surveys (NCVS) STRENGTHS

- Good for uncovering "dark figure" crimes - Victims report frequency, type, and consequences of crime as well as offender characteristics (if known)

Victimization Surveys (NCVS) WEAKNESSES

- Problems with over reporting and underreporting crimes - Does not include variety of crimes

Self-Report Survey's STRENGTHS

- Good for uncovering "dark figure" of crime - Get information about person who is involved in crime - Useful for determining biases in official statistics

Self-Report Survey's WEAKNESSES

- Problems with over reporting and underreporting - Misunderstanding of questions - Overabundance of trivial offenses

What does probabilistic causality mean?

The cause of something doesn't guarantee the effect but increases the likelihood of another thing occurring.

What is one way NIBRS improved the UCR?

Includes more information about each incident within one event. You can get more information about the offender and victim. Improved hierchary rule.

What is the "dark figure of crime"?

Crimes that are not known to the police.

Cesare Beccaria

- Influenced by problems in how offenders were dealt with in Europe - Punishment should be swift, certain, and severe to prevent crime. - Laws and punishment should be known to the police.

Jeremy Bentham

- Hedonistic Calculus - All offenders are reasonable, rational persons.

Specific Deterrence

You have someone that has committed a crime; you are trying to stop them from committing it again.

General Deterrence

There is an example of someone doing something, so you are trying to stop everyone from doing this.

Objective Deterrence

People being deterred because of the actual likelihood of being caught or punished for committing a crime.

Perceptual Deterrence

Explains how the perceived certainty, severity, and clarity of punishment influence the decision-making of potential offenders.

Absolute Deterrence

That the existence of punishments can prevent individuals from committing crimes, even if the specific threat of punishments is not known.

Are homicides more likely to be interracial or intraracial?

Intraracial -- anti-black most targeted

What is the pleasure-pain principle?

People want to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

Lombroso

- Theory of atavism - Idea that born criminals v. other types of criminals - Stigmata - Positivism

Hooten

Work was highly criticized because of racist overtones.

Sheldon

- Somatotyping - Ectomorph, endomorph, mesomorph

What is Phrenology?

They feel around the skull for indentation or bumps.

According to routine activity theory, what three things must be present for a crime to occur?

1. Lack of someone with you 2. Motivated offender 3. Suitable target