| |
What is Theory?
 | Integrated sets of ideas that explain and predict some
phenomenon |
Theories of delinquency causation
 | used to develop laws and policies |
How to Evaluate Theory
 | Simple? |
 | Testable?
 | Concepts must be clear and measurable |
 | weakness in some psychiatric theory |
|
 | Emperically valid? |
 | Logically consistent? |
Supernatural Theory
 | demonic |
 | not empirically tested |
 | Mark 3:15
authority to cast out demons |
The Classical School
 | punishment must be severe enough that the offender
"thinks twice" |
 | free will
 | humans can be held responsible for their choices |
|
Cesare Beccaria
 | concern about the cruelty, arbitrariness, and
inefficiency of punishment |
 | punishment must be swift, certain, and proportional |
 | social contract
 | exchange of some freedoms for protection |
|
Jeremy Bentham
 | people are hedonistic, or pleasure-seeking |
 | calculate the probability of making a profit against
chances of arrest, conviction, and prison |
 | one result was a reduction in the number of capital
offenses |
The Neoclassical School
 | people are different |
Mitigating Circumstances
 | age or mental condition |
 | differences among people might explain differences in
their behavior |
Individual Justice
 | criminal law must reflect the differences among people |
 | determinism
 | criminal behavior is caused by prior conditions |
|
Modern Classical and Neoclassical
School Theory
 | borrowed from classical and neoclassical |
Cohen and Felson
 | routine activities theory |
 | likely and motivated offenders |
 | suitable targets |
 | absence of people to deter the would-be offenders |
Rational Choice Theory
 | offenders weigh the costs and benefits of a course of
action before they commit a crime |
 | criticisms |
 | most delinquents, because they are children, have been
shown to be irrational |
 | people may assess situations incorrectly |
Contemporary Deterrence Theory
 | juveniles might consider the effect of their actions on
friends and family (significant others) |
 | guilt or shame (conscience) |
 | inconclusive, not all delinquency is based on rational
decision-making |
 | have access to a limited amount of helpful information
about the likely outcomes of their illegal choices |
James Q. Wilson
 | bad choices because middle-class morality has collapsed
and is no longer taught by parents to children |
 | delinquents as caculators
 | need more severe policies |
|
Juvenile Justice Policy Applications
 | prevention based on classical and neoclassical |
The Justice Model
 | determinant or fixed-time sentences |
 | abolishment of parole |
 | use of prisons for punishing offenders, not rehabilitating |
 | punishment is deserved because of the harm caused
(retribution) |
The Utilitarian Punishment Model
 | offenders punished to protect society |
 | shock probation
 | incarcerated for a short period before probation begins |
|
 | boot camps
 | constantly drilled |
|
 | Scared Straight
 | meet with incarcerated felons, who threaten them |
|
 | existence of fundamental due process makes these difficult |
Does Crime Pay? By Morgan Reynold
 | likelihood of serving significant prison time is very low |
 | some association between punishment and crime rates |
 | increasing amount of offenders means early release for
others |
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 28
 | "Texas prison growth is fastest; If the state were
a country, it would have the world's highest incarceration rate, a study says." |
 | Texas Prison Rates |
|
|