Deterrence Theory - Criminology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Criminal Justice

Download Deterrence Theory - Criminology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Criminal Justice in PDF only on Docsity! Rational Choice Theory and Deterrence Theory 1. Rational Choice Theory 2. Deterrence theory 3. Quiz # 3 Docsity.com Rational Choice Theory • Has been formulated in economics • It assumes that people are motivated by money and by the possibility of making a profit • This has allowed it to construct formal, and often predictive, models of human behavior Docsity.com Main Assumptions of Rational Choice Theory • They must make choices in relation to both their goals and the means for attaining these goals • Rational choice theories hold that individuals must anticipate the outcomes of alternative courses of action and calculate that which will be best for them • Rational individuals choose the alternative that is likely to give them the greatest satisfaction Docsity.com Rational Choice Theory • "Why do people engage in deviant and/or criminal acts?“ • personal choice • An understanding of personal choice is commonly based in a conception of rationality or rational choice • Early classical theorists, Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. Docsity.com Classical School • The human being is a rational actor • Rationality involves an end/means calculation • People (freely) choose all behavior, both conforming and deviant, based on their rational calculations • The central element of calculation involves a cost benefit analysis: Pleasure versus Pain Docsity.com Rational choice model • Background factors\: psychological characteristics (intelligence; family background; demographic factors, like what kind of neighborhood the criminal comes from • Situational factors: persuasion by friends, arguments with spouse, or whether the person has consumed alcohol or drugs use, Docsity.com Rational Choice Model • Motive is listed as need for money or status, but in this classical view of crime, there is really no need to think about motive. • Previous learning and experience refers to the previous success with similar target, criminal's self- perception of his/her own skills, ability to elude law enforcement, and get rid of the stuff afterwards. Docsity.com Rational choice model • Blocked opportunities : the criminal's assessment of what legitimate avenues are available for satisfying needs. The decision to be made is whether the same amount of money, for example, can be made by work, gambling, borrowing, or avenues other than crime • The amount of effort required fits into this as the amount of time spent considering and evaluating whether the rewards (and costs) of crime outweigh alternative avenues for satisfying the same needs. Docsity.com Paradox of the Prisoner’s Dilemma • Both prisoners end up by defecting even though they both know that they would be better off cooperating • Each of them thinks that non confessing is very risky • If one confesses, he may strike lucky (goes free) or get 5 years , at worst. Docsity.com Research on RCT • Tunnell (1992) found that repeat property offenders were unable to make reasonable assessment of the risk of arrest, did little planning for crime, and were uninformed about the legal penalties in the state where their crimes were commiteed Docsity.com Deterrence Theory • Rational choice theorists also recognize that the threat of punishment or the promise of a reward may motivate people just as much as the punishment or reward itself • Rational calculation would lead offenders to avoid committing crime • That is where deterrence theory comes from…. Docsity.com General Deterrence • General deterrence theory focuses on reducing the probability of deviance in the general population • Norms and laws are designed to produce and maintain the image that "negative" and disruptive behaviors will receive attention and punishment • Examples of control activities reflecting the concerns of this concept include: Drunk-driving crackdowns, publication and highly visible notices of laws and policies (Notice: Shoplifters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law), and the death penalty. Docsity.com Specific Deterrence • Specific deterrence focuses on punishing known deviants in order to prevent them from ever again violating the specific norms they have broken • Examples: shock sentencing, corporal punishment, mandatory arrests for certain behaviors (domestic violence), etc. Docsity.com Research on Deterrence Theory • Sherman (1990) asked people about their perception of the risks of being punished for specific offenses and about whether they have actually committed those offenses • Findings: Consistent association b/w offending and the perception of the certainty, but no association b/w offending and the perception of severity Docsity.com