Deterrence Theory - Criminological Theory - Lecture Slides, Slides of Criminology

Download Deterrence Theory - Criminological Theory - Lecture Slides and more Slides Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! The Rational Offender Deterrence Theory Rational Choice Theory Routine Activities Theory Docsity.com Social Context • Classical School Criminology (1750s) – Bentham, Beccaria as “utilitarian philosophers” – Articulated a “general theory” of human behavior • Rebirth of Deterrence – Social Context of U.S. in the 1970s – Murray, Martinson, Economists Docsity.com Deterrence Theory • Criminal behavior (or crime rates) vary directly with _______ of FORMAL punishment. – Certainty – Severity – Swiftness • MICRO or MACRO? • Specific or General Docsity.com Marginal versus Absolute • Absolute deterrence: the existence of formal punishment reduces crime • Marginal: increases in existing formal punishment reduces crime further Docsity.com General Deterrence (Macro) • What should reduce crime rates? • Evidence: – Severity of Punishment • Death Penalty Research – Certainty of Punishment • Experiments in Certainty (KC patrol) – Swiftness of Punishment? Docsity.com Specific Deterrence • A person who commits a crime and is punished is less likely to commit additional crimes. – Swift, Certain, Severe (Marginal) • How test these propositions? Docsity.com Testing Specific Deterrence • Prison vs. Probation? – Perhaps, “time in prison” or “type of prison” • More realistically – Probation vs. Intensive Probation – Probation vs. Boot Camp Docsity.com Deterrence Review: • Deals only with formal legal sanctions. – Is this fair? • Empirical Support? – General Deterrence • Macro • Micro (Perceptual) – Specific Deterrence Docsity.com