Crime and Deviance: Theories and Prevention

Crime and Deviance

• Crime: behavior that breaks the law and is punishable by the state
• Deviance: behavior that goes against social norms and values
• Difference between crime and deviance: crime is a violation of the law, while deviance is a violation of social norms
• Examples of deviance: tattoos, piercings, alternative lifestyles

Social Construction of Crime

• Crime is a social construct: it is defined and shaped by society and its values
• Crime is relative: what is considered a crime in one society may not be in another
• Crime is influenced by:
  • Cultural norms and values
  • Political and economic factors
  • Social and economic inequalities
  • Media representation
• Examples of how crime is socially constructed: changing laws and attitudes towards drugs, homosexuality, and abortion

Crime Prevention Strategies

• Primary prevention: preventing crime from occurring in the first place
• Secondary prevention: intervening in situations that may lead to crime
• Tertiary prevention: dealing with the consequences of crime
• Examples of crime prevention strategies:
  • Environmental design (e.g. CCTV, street lighting)
  • Community-based initiatives (e.g. neighborhood watch)
  • Situational crime prevention (e.g. target hardening)
  • Restorative justice

Criminal Justice System

• The process of dealing with crime from arrest to sentencing
• Key components:
  • Police: investigation and arrest
  • Courts: trial and conviction
  • Prisons: punishment and rehabilitation
  • Probation: supervision and rehabilitation
• Criticisms of the criminal justice system:
  • Racial and social biases
  • Inefficiency and bureaucracy
  • Lack of rehabilitation and reintegration

Punishment and Sentencing

• Purposes of punishment:
  • Retribution: punishment as revenge
  • Deterrence: punishment as a deterrent to others
  • Rehabilitation: punishment as a means to reform
  • Incapacitation: punishment as a means to protect society
• Types of sentencing:
  • Custodial sentences: imprisonment
  • Non-custodial sentences: fines, community service, probation
  • Restorative justice: victim-offender mediation

Individual Theories

• Classical theory: crime is a result of individual choice and rational decision-making
• Positivist theory: crime is a result of individual factors such as biology, psychology, and sociology
• Examples of individual theories:
  • Cesare Lombroso's biological theory: crime is a result of physical characteristics
  • Sigmund Freud's psychological theory: crime is a result of unconscious motivations

Sociological Theories

• Sociological theory: crime is a result of social factors such as poverty, inequality, and socialization
• Examples of sociological theories:
  • Robert Merton's strain theory: crime is a result of blocked opportunities
  • Albert Cohen's subcultural theory: crime is a result of deviant subcultures
  • Emile Durkheim's anomie theory: crime is a result of social norms and values

Biological Theories

• Biological theory: crime is a result of biological factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, and evolution
• Examples of biological theories:
  • Genetic theory: crime is a result of genetic predisposition
  • Neurological theory: crime is a result of brain chemistry and function
  • Evolutionary theory: crime is a result of adaptive behavior