CRIM111: Age and Crime Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What ideas were proposed regarding the age-crime curve in their seminal article: 'Age and the explanation of crime' by Hirschi and Gottfredson (1983)?

The age-crime curve is the distribution of crime by age, showing peaks in late teens/early twenties, then a decline after 30. The age group around 15 to early 20s commits the largest proportion of known crime.

Prevalence is defined as _. Frequency is defined as __.

Proportion or share of the population who commit offences; Rate of offending of individual offenders.

What did McKissak (1974) find concerning the age-crime curve?

His study on two cohort groups found that irrespective of various conditions, both groups presented similar patterns of offending during ages 15 - 21.

What did Quetelet (1842) write concerning the age-crime curve?

He stated that of all causes influencing the propensity to crime, age is the most energetic. Signup and view all the answers

What common factor did Stattin et al (1993) and Farrington (1992) find linked to crime?

Low intelligence in formative years. Signup and view all the answers

What is impulsivity as defined by Trembly (1994), and how is it related to crime?

Impulsivity is defined as poor concentration, restlessness, and nervous system disorders, believed to be predictors of early onset of offending. Signup and view all the answers

How did Fieldman (1994) relate age and biology to crime?

Fieldman proposed that profound physical and emotional changes in early teenage years, along with changing social networks, relate crime to biological changes. Signup and view all the answers

What reasons did Fattah and Sacco (1989) give for why crime tends to decline with age?

They suggested the burn-out hypothesis, decline in physical strength, decrease in social interaction, and other factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the burn-out hypothesis?

Young people become less reckless and bored with criminality, finding it no longer provides excitement or challenge. Signup and view all the answers

What critiques did Farrington (1986, 1994) put forward on the age-crime curve?

He argued that age and crime cannot be studied independently from other variables, as life circumstances significantly influence behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

How is the politicization of youth crime a critique against the age-crime curve?

It suggests that governments exaggerate youth crime to gain political points, leading to harsher penalties and a focus on young people. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearson (1994) suggest about youth crime and social issues?

He argues that youth crime signals wider social ills, leading to justifications for harsher state interventions. Signup and view all the answers

What critique concerning the visibility of youth crime do Cuneen and White (2007) provide?

They state that youth crimes attract high visibility not because of seriousness but due to being committed in public and by groups. Signup and view all the answers

How does over-regulation of young people affect the age-crime curve pattern, according to Presdee (1994)?

Presdee suggests that over-reactive criminal justice responses can lead to criminal careers due to failure in social integration. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it suggested that crimes committed by the elderly have a very dark figure?

Factors include white-collar offending requiring senior status, underreporting of elderly crimes, and hidden abuse. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Age-Crime Curve

The age-crime curve illustrates the distribution of crime across different age groups, typically peaking in late teens/twenties, and sharply declining after age 30.
Crime prevalence remains consistent across various social and cultural contexts.
Individuals aged 15 to early 20s are responsible for the highest percentage of recorded crime.

Definitions of Key Terms

Prevalence: The proportion of the population engaging in criminal behavior.
Frequency: The rate at which individual offenders commit crimes.

Cohort Studies

McKissak's study revealed similar patterns of criminal behavior among post-war cohort groups aged 15-21, regardless of socio-economic factors, indicating that teenage crime is common and often involves minor offenses.

Influential Theories

Quetelet argued that age is the most significant factor influencing criminal propensity.
Stattin and Farrington linked low intelligence during formative years to criminal behavior.

Impulsivity and Criminal Behavior

Impulsivity, characterized by poor concentration and restlessness, is viewed as a predictor for early criminal activity.

Biological Influences on Crime

Fieldman emphasized that physical and emotional changes during early adolescence, along with evolving social networks, correlate with criminal behavior as a natural response to these changes.

Decline of Crime with Age

Fattah and Sacco suggested factors for crime decline with aging include:
- Burn-out hypothesis
- Reduced physical strength and social interaction
- Shift in aggressive tendencies
- Weaker motivations and stronger inhibitions
- Successful rehabilitation
- Lower detection rates of older offenders

Burn-Out Hypothesis

Youth often become less reckless over time, losing interest in crime due to its diminishing thrill and the consequences of detection.

Critiques of the Age-Crime Curve

Farrington argued that age cannot be studied in isolation from other variables like employment and familial influences, which play crucial roles across different ages.
Crime types like drug abuse and fraud may not decline with age, contradicting the general pattern.

Politicization of Youth Crime

The exaggeration of youth crime is often leveraged by governments for political gain, affecting policy decisions like reducing the age of criminal responsibility.

Pearson pointed out that youth crime is often framed in the context of broader societal issues such as family breakdown and lack of authority, justifying increased state intervention.

Visibility of Youth Crime

Cuneen and White noted that youth crime often attracts attention due to its public nature and the group involvement of young offenders, leading to over-policing.

Over-Regulation of Youth

Presdee indicated that strict responses from the criminal justice system can push young individuals towards a life of crime, highlighting the failure to integrate them into society.

Underreported Crimes Among the Elderly

Crimes committed by the elderly, especially white-collar offenses, often escape attention due to societal perceptions, lack of reporting, and hidden elements such as elder abuse.

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Description

Explore the key ideas related to the age-crime curve as proposed by Hirschi and Gottfredson in their 1983 article. Understand how crime distribution varies with age and the invariant trends across different social and cultural environments. Perfect for CRIM111 students wanting to grasp foundational concepts in criminology.