Causes of Crime – Theories and Approaches While few people today would argue crime has but one cause, people still emphasize one factor over another. And they debate whether one factor is a cause or effect of another.

For convenience, we will put them into two groups: SOCIAL & CULTURAL INDIVIDUAL & SITUATIONAL Poverty Unemployment Racial discrimination Child abuse American values Violence in the media Biology Rational choice Guns Alcohol Drugs Write these in your notebook and be prepared to discuss...

Individual & Situational Factors “Opportunity makes the thief.” --- English proverb

Another approach to studying crime is to focus on the individual and on situational factors. Crimes, after all, are committed by particular individuals in particular situations. Are some individuals more likely to commit crimes? Do crimes arise more often in certain situations? What do YOU think?

Biology Some researchers believe that biological traits may predispose some people to crime.

Professors Herrnstein and Wilson in Crime and Human Nature cite various studies that may back this up. Studies of twins show that identical twins are much more likely than fraternal twins to have the same criminal records.

Even more startling is a study comparing two groups of adopted boys. The first group contained boys raised by non- criminal adopted parents but whose natural parents were criminals.

The second group had boys raised by criminal adopted parents but whose natural parents were not criminals.

Most people would think that the boys in the second group – raised by criminal parents – would be more likely to commit crimes. But the studies showed otherwise. The boys in the first group were more likely to have criminal records.

Herrnstein and Wilson point out several biological traits that predispose a person to crime. The first is simply being male. In ALL known societies, young males account for almost all known violent crimes. Experiments have shown male sex hormones increase aggression. Young males have trouble adjusting to the hormones. Many engage in rowdy behavior. Some commit crimes.

Herrnstein and Wilson point out several biological traits that predispose a person to crime. A second biological trait is intelligence. Studies have shown that criminals generally score low on intelligence tests. It isn’t really known why low intelligence and crime are related. One theory is that people with low intelligence may get frustrated with school, grow angry and resentful, and start committing delinquent acts.

These studies provoke much controversy. Critics cast doubt on the twin and adoption studies. They criticize classifying intelligence and temperament as biological traits. But the critics are far less harsh on Herrnstein and Wilson’s prescription for change. Early family and preschool programs may be far better repositories for the crime- prevention dollar than rehabilitation programs aimed – usually futilely – at the 19-or 20-year-old veteran offender.” “We know that a very small fraction of all young males commit so large a fraction of serious street crime that we can properly blame these chronic offenders for most such crime. We also know that chronic offenders typically begin their misconduct at an early age. Early family and preschool programs may be far better repositories for the crime- prevention dollar than rehabilitation programs aimed – usually futilely – at the 19-or 20-year-old veteran offender.”

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs More than 30 percent of state prison inmates report they were under the influence of drugs when they committed their crimes. Over half admit to using drugs during the month prior to their offense.

Alcohol But drugs are not the only substance linked to crime. Almost 40% of state inmates convicted of violent crimes had been drinking before they committed their crimes.

Alcohol The connection between crime and alcohol has long been noted. What to do about it is anther question. Reformers at the beginning of the 20 th century managed to pass the 18 th Amendment. Effective January 1920, it banned the sale and distribution of alcohol.

Alcohol But this amendment and laws supporting it were vastly unpopular. People flaunted the law and continued drinking. Gangsters grew rich smuggling and distributing alcohol. In 1933, the 21 st Amendment repealed the ill- fated 18 th, and alcohol has remained legal in most of the country ever since.

Guns About 40% of those convicted of murder and robbery reported carrying a firearm when they committed the crime. Some criminologists tie the easy access to guns, particularly handguns, to America’s high rate of violent crime.

Guns Guns and gun ownership are common in the U.S. – far more so than in other democracies, which have stricter gun laws.

Guns and Violent Crime Several studies have questioned the link between guns and violent crime. Although many criminals use guns, the studies have found no evidence that decreasing the availability of guns would lower homicide rates.

Guns and Violent Crime The debate on the link between guns and violence often rises over the issue of gun control. This is one of the most hotly debated topics in America.

Guns and Violent Crime One side argues that “guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” People on this side believe to stop violent crime, we must focus on criminals, not guns. The other side argues that “people with guns kill people.” Those on this side believe that violent crime can be lowered by making guns less available in society.

Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, however, have ruled that individuals have a constitutional right to own guns for self- defense.

Rational Choice

Many people believe crime involves rational choice on the part of criminals.

In its simplest form, this theory means that people choose to become criminals. They calculate the benefits and weigh the benefits against the costs.

The benefits could be economic gain or the thrill of committing the crime. The costs could be the risk of getting caught, the harshness of punishment, pangs of conscience, or any pain they could receive from the criminal act.

IF the benefits outweigh the costs, then they will commit the crime.

Rational Choice After making a cost-benefit analysis, certain people would be more likely to choose to commit crimes. Poor people would have more to gain than rich people. People without consciences - known as psychopaths or sociopaths – would feel freer to commit crimes than most people.

Another form of rational-choice theory does not attempt to explain why people become criminals. It simply notes that criminals act rationally in one sense at least: Most do not want to get caught. This means that criminals will most often take the easiest path to commit a crime and may be deterred if something stands in their way. Thus car thieves prefer an unlocked car to a locked car, a car without an alarm to one with an alarm, and an empty car to one with a person in it.

According to this theory, the way to cut crime is to make it more difficult, more risky, and less rewarding for the criminal. This can be done in many ways – stronger locks, increased police patrols, fewer people carrying cash, etc.

The question is: Do these techniques reduce crime or do they merely displace it? What happens, for example, if we make cars difficult to steal by equipping them with anti-theft devices? Will car thieves, frustrated with not being able to break into cars, turn to a different kind of stealing, such as committing daytime burglaries? Or will they stop committing crimes? Researchers have not conclusively answered these questions.