Policy Implications of Theories of Crime Causation

Stephanie Foster

Policy Implications of Theories of Crime Causation

  • Theories must have empirical validity
  • Theories – what are they?

Public Policy

  • Dictionary.com: the principles, often unwritten, on which social laws are based.
  • The principle that injury to the public good is a basis for denying the legality of a contract or other transaction.
  • Robert Wolf, “Definitions of Policy Analysis”
  • Dean Kilpatrick, “Definitions of Public Policy and Law”

Policy Implications

  • Ask yourself, “If the theory is empirically valid, what solutions are suggested?”

Theories

Biological

  • Defect in the individual.
  • Punishment serves a different goal.
  • First to use scientific method

Biological

  • Defect in the individual.
  • Punishment serves a different goal.
  • First to use scientific method
  • “Born criminal”

Biological

  • Defect in the individual.
  • Punishment serves a different goal.
  • First to use scientific method
  • “Born criminal”
  • Five responses.

Psychological

  • Mental disturbance
  • Improper personality traits
  • Deviance is a symptom.

Psychological

  • Mental disturbance
  • Improper personality traits
  • Deviance is a symptom.
  • Testing difficulties

Psychological

  • Mental disturbance
  • Improper personality traits
  • Deviance is a symptom.
  • Testing difficulties
  • Policy Implications

Social Learning

  • Applied in:
    • Sociology
    • Psychology
    • Criminal Justice
    • Criminology
  • Differential Association Theory
  • Solutions

Social Control

  • Why do people conform?
  • Social Development Model (SDM)
  • Travis Hirschi
  • Policy Implications

Social disorganization & Strain

  • Emile Durkheim
  • Robert Agnew
  • Policy Implications

Deterrence

  • Classical Criminology
  • Centered on choice

Deterrence

  • Classical Criminology
  • Centered on choice
  • Policy Implications

Routine Activities

  • Three Elements:
    • Available target
    • Motivated offender
    • Lack of guardians

Routine Activities

  • Three Elements:
    • Available target
    • Motivated offender
    • Lack of guardians
  • Policy Implications

Labeling and Reintegrative Shaming

  • Formal and Informal applications
  • Cause and effect
  • Lemert and stages of deviance
  • “looking-glass self”

Labeling and Reintegrative Shaming

  • Formal and Informal applications
  • Cause and effect
  • Lemert and stages of deviance
  • “looking-glass self”
  • Policy Implications

Feminist Theories

  • Focus on patriarchy and the roles they play.
  • Women are not treated equally

Feminist Theories

  • Focus on patriarchy and the roles they play.
  • Women are not treated equally
  • Modern theories do not adequately explain female crime
  • Power-control theories
  • Major societal changes

How Public Policy is enacted

  • Legislative:
  • Executive:
  • Judicial:
  • Voter Initiatives

Administrative/ Private Enactment of Theories

The Problem with basing Criminal Justice Policies on empirically supported theories of crime causation

GLOBAL WARMING